scope:

This document specifies two methods of determining the degree of disintegration of test materials when exposed to a well-managed home composting conditions:

- weight evaluation method (WE method) using sieving and evaluation by weighing;

- surface evaluation method (SE method) using photographic slide frames and evaluation by surface area measurement.

The method is not applicable to the determination of the biodegradability of test materials under home composting conditions. Additional testing is necessary to be able to claim home compostability.

NOTE 1 The weight evaluation method using minimum 3 replicates is corresponding to the quantitative determination of disintegration, as expressed in prEN 17427¹.

NOTE 2 The weight evaluation method using 2 replicates and the surface evaluation method are corresponding to the qualitative determination of disintegration as expressed in prEN 17427¹.

¹ These notes could be deleted once prEN 17427 will be updated using the new names of the methods.