The Biodegradability and Compostability of Materials Unit (MATBIO) at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC) has received recognition as a registered laboratory from the international certification body TÜV Austria to conduct domestic composting tests, with the OK Compost Home certification.
MATBIO Unit, coordinated by the Food Polymer Structure and Functionality (BIOFUN) laboratory and integrated into IATA's Packaging Group, has been offering specialized scientific-technical services since 2023 in biodegradation in various media and material compostability, particularly for items intended to replace single-use plastics. It also conducts industrial composting tests, having received the OK Compost Industrial recognition in December 2025.
MATBIO Unit, coordinated by the Food Polymer Structure and Functionality (BIOFUN) laboratory and integrated into IATA's Packaging Group, has been offering specialized scientific-technical services since 2023 in biodegradation in various media and material compostability, particularly for items intended to replace single-use plastics. It also conducts industrial composting tests, having received the OK Compost Industrial recognition in December 2025.
With the OK Compost Home certification, valid until September 2031, MATBIO can perform tests for biodegradation, disintegration, ecotoxicity, heavy metals, and fluorine on products. If these products receive the seal, it implies they can also be composted at low temperatures, thus being disposable in domestic composting. OK Compost Home aims to guarantee the complete biodegradation of products according to specific requirements, even in domestic composting.
The OK Compost Home certification has served as a basis for developing several international standards, including the European standard EN 17427 (2022) for packaging, the Australian AS 5810 (2010) for biodegradable plastics suitable for home composting, and the French NF T 51-800 (2015).
Alcira Reyes, technical manager of the MATBIO service, states that this certification supports the Unit's role in advising, analyzing, and characterizing packaging and materials provided by companies. "Our work enables companies to move towards greater sustainability and guarantee the domestic compostability of their products," she assures.
Alcira Reyes, technical manager of the MATBIO service, states that this certification supports the Unit's role in advising, analyzing, and characterizing packaging and materials provided by companies. "Our work enables companies to move towards greater sustainability and guarantee the domestic compostability of their products," she assures.
MATBIO's services include biodegradation tests in compost medium according to UNE-EN ISO 14855:2019, and in soil medium according to UNE-EN ISO 17556:2020. It also conducts comprehensive compostability tests according to UNE-EN 13432:2001, including material characterization, biodegradability tests, disintegration, and ecotoxicity assessment. Furthermore, it offers biodegradation tests in marine or aqueous environments.
In December, it received the OK Compost Industrial certification from TÜV Austria, recognizing MATBIO for tests within the context of the Seedling and OK Compost Industrial certifications.
In December, it received the OK Compost Industrial certification from TÜV Austria, recognizing MATBIO for tests within the context of the Seedling and OK Compost Industrial certifications.
As a complement, MATBIO provides technical assistance to research centers and companies for formulation validation and the development of personalized collaborative projects. The Unit is part of the Interdisciplinary Thematic Platform for Sustainable Plastics towards a Circular Economy (PTI+ SusPlast CSIC), driving innovative solutions for the design, production, use, and recycling of plastics.
