Standards and labels

• EN 13432:2000

  EN 13432 is a European standard that sets out the requirements for the collection, transport and treatment of animal by-products not intended for human consumption. It covers the hygiene and safety requirements for these materials. The standard includes requirements for things like storage, transportation, and treatment of the by-products, as well as the equipment used in these processes. Possible test results would include measurements of things like temperature and pH to ensure that the by-products are being handled and treated properly.

  Test results

  Compostability Passed

  In the standard EN 13432:2000, when a product receives a pass for compostability, it indicates that the product meets specific criteria for biodegradability, disintegration during composting, and the absence of negative effects on the composting process, including low levels of heavy metals and no adverse effects on plant growth. This standard outlines a rigorous test procedure where the biodegradation process of a material is quantified through measurements of CO2 evolution, with the requirement that at least 90% of the material must biodegrade within a specified time frame (usually six months). The disintegration is tested by composting the material and then screening the remaining fragments to ensure that no more than 10% of the original mass remains undecomposed on a dry matter basis after 12 weeks. The impact on compost quality is assessed through practical composting trials and ecotoxicity tests, ensuring that the compost can support plant growth without transmitting toxic substances. Consequently, products achieving a pass under this standard are considered environmentally benign at their end-of-life stage, contributing positively to the sustainability goals of waste management by returning biodegradable material to the natural ecological cycle effectively.

• Seedling symbol

  Seedling symbol is a logo used to indicate that a product is made from certified sustainable wood. It means that the wood used to make the product comes from responsibly managed forests, where trees are replanted after they are cut down. To use the Seedling symbol, companies must prove that the wood used in their products comes from certified sustainable forests. The Seedling symbol is governed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which is an independent organization that sets standards for responsible forest management. Products with the seedling symbol meets the requirements set by FSC for responsible forest management and it is recognized in Europe.

• FSC Mix

  FSC Mix is a label that indicates that a product contains a mix of wood from both responsibly managed forests (FSC certified) and other sources. In Europe, to use the FSC Mix label, a company must ensure that the wood used in the product is from legal and responsibly managed sources. Additionally, the company must have a system in place to track the wood used in the product and be able to prove that it comes from a mix of FSC certified and other sources.

• Nordic Swan Ecolabel

  Nordic Swan Ecolabel is a label used to indicate that a product is environmentally friendly and meets certain sustainability standards. The label is used in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland) and it is granted by the Nordic Ecolabelling, an independent organization. The standards set by the Nordic Ecolabelling are based on the EU criteria for eco-labeling and they cover a wide range of products, from cleaning products to electrical appliances. To be awarded the Nordic Swan label, products must meet strict environmental criteria and they must be produced with the aim to reduce the environmental impact.