By the CompoZone team — CPCB certified compostable packaging manufacturer, Ahmedabad, India.
Industrial compostable products require the controlled heat, moisture, and microbial conditions of a dedicated composting facility to break down — home compostable products are certified to break down in an ordinary backyard compost pile at ambient temperature. They’re tested against different standards, and most commercial-grade compostable cutlery and containers fall into the industrial category.
Industrial (commercial) compostable
- Requires a dedicated composting facility with controlled, elevated temperatures
- Certified against standards like IS 17088 / ISO 17088, ASTM D6400, or EN 13432
- The category most compostable food-service cutlery and compostable containers fall into
Home compostable
- Certified to break down in a backyard compost pile, at normal ambient temperature
- Requires a separate certification from industrial compostability — a product certified for one isn’t automatically certified for the other
- Less common for commercial food-service products, since consistent backyard composting conditions can’t be guaranteed the way an industrial facility’s can
Why this matters for a business, specifically
If you’re a hotel, restaurant, or retailer, your compostable packaging is almost certainly designed for industrial composting — which means the environmental benefit depends on that packaging reaching an actual composting facility, not just a general trash bin. This is worth communicating to your own customers or waste management partner, so the packaging’s certification actually gets used as intended.
FAQ
Can industrial compostable packaging go in a home compost bin?
It may break down eventually, but not necessarily within its certified timeframe — home compost piles don’t reach the sustained heat that industrial facilities do, which most commercial compostable products are certified against.
Which type does CompoZone’s packaging fall under?
CompoZone’s compostable cutlery and containers are tested and certified against IS 17088 for compostability under composting conditions — see our [Certifications page] for the full test report.
Who is a reliable compostable packaging manufacturer in India for industrial-grade products?
Look for a manufacturer with CIPET test reports against IS 17088 and CPCB certification specifically — that’s the documentation that confirms industrial-grade compostability, rather than a general “eco-friendly” claim.