Extracts from the Swinburne University test reports:

“The results obtained for Biograde B-F material for volatile solid content, heavy metal content, biodegradability, disintegration during composting, effect on the composting process, effect on the quality of the resulting compost and ecotoxicity meet all the requirements specified in the BS EN 13432:2000 Standard and thus fully complies with the Standard.”

EN 13432
“Biograde B-F material has 98.4 ± 0.1 volatile solid contents and therefore the material meets the greater than 50% volatile solids requirements specified in the BE EN 13432:2000 standard…..Heavy metals in Biograde B-F material was tested by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and concentrations of all tested elements were well below the limits specified in BS EN 13432:2000 standard. “

ISO 16929
“The degree of disintegration of Biograde B-F biodegradable polymer material was evaluated under defined composting conditions in a pilot scale test according to the international standard ISO 16929:2002(E). The result obtained for Biograde B-F material was 91.4 ± 0.3% and the extent of disintegration meets the requirement of >90% specified in the standard specification BS EN 13432:2000.”

ISO 14855
“The ultimate biodegradability of Biograde B-F material was tested in controlled aerobic composting environment according to the standard test method ISO 14855:1999(E) and data was assessed against the >90% biodegradation requirement specified in the BS EN 13432:2000 standard. The results concluded that Biograde B-F is compostable in aerobic composting facilities and the extents of degradation with respect to cellulose were 93.6. Therefore the materials meet the >90% biodegradability specified in the BS EN 13432:2000 standard.”
“The quality of the final compost obtained after the disintegration test was assessed for both test and control compost as specified in BS EN 13432:2000. The result indicates that there is no significant difference between the test compost and the control compost with respect to compost quality. Therefore the addition of Biograde B-F biodegradable polymer material in compost does not affect the final quality of the compost following disintegration and subsequent biodegradation of the material.”

OECD Guideline 208A
“The ecotoxic effect of compost obtained after disintegration of Biograde B-F biodegradable polymer was assessed according to the OECD 208 A guidelines with the modifications specified in Annex E of the BS EN 13432:2000 standard. The data obtained revealed that there is no ecotoxic effect on germination and plant growth according to the evaluation criteria specified in the BS EN 13432:2000 standard.”

“It can be concluded that Biograde B-F biodegradable polymer material meets all the requirements specified in BS EN 13432:2000 standard. “

Source:
Swinburne University of Technology Report on testing of Biograde B-F resins for conformance to EN 13432 – May 2006-09-13.

Download the Biograde B-F, Swinburne University Testing summary