Home compostable certification: what it means and what ZERO's products hold

Home compostable certification is independent confirmation that a product breaks down under the conditions of a typical backyard compost bin, not just in a hot industrial facility. In Australia the standard is AS 5810. Overseas, the best-known scheme is TÜV Austria's OK compost HOME. Here's what that actually means for you.

Why home composting needs its own certification

A commercial composting facility runs hot and is actively managed. Your compost bin doesn't. It sits at roughly backyard temperature, gets turned now and then, and holds whatever the household throws at it. Something that disappears quickly in a facility might barely change in that environment. So home compostable products are tested separately, under cooler conditions and over a longer timeframe.

The schemes you'll see

• AS 5810 (Australia). The Australian home compostable standard. Certification to it runs through the Australasian Bioplastics Association, which licenses a home compostable logo for products that pass.
• OK compost HOME (TÜV Austria). A European home compostable scheme, widely seen on products sold in Australia.
• DIN CERTCO (Germany). A European certifier that also certifies home compostable products.

These schemes test similar things but are run independently. A product certified under one isn't automatically certified under another.

What gets tested

• Biodegradation at ambient temperatures, over a period of up to about 12 months, to show the material converts to CO₂, water and biomass.
• Disintegration, to show the material physically falls apart so you're not left with visible fragments in your compost.
• Ecotoxicity, to show the finished compost doesn't harm plant growth. AS 5810 also includes an earthworm test.
• Chemical limits on heavy metals and other substances, so the compost stays clean.

Testing is done by independent laboratories, and the certifier reviews the results before a product can carry its mark.

How to read a home compostable label

1. Look for the word "home". "Compostable" on its own often means industrial only.
2. Look for a named scheme. AS 5810, OK compost HOME or DIN CERTCO, not just a leaf graphic.
3. Read the disposal instructions. They should tell you whether it's your own compost, your council's FOGO bin, or both.
4. Check your council before putting anything compostable in the green bin. Certification doesn't guarantee kerbside acceptance.

Getting the best out of your home compost

• Tear or cut bags and film into smaller pieces. More surface area, faster breakdown.
• Keep a mix of greens (food scraps) and browns (dry leaves, shredded paper).
• Keep it moist, like a wrung-out sponge, and turn it when you can.
• Be patient. Home composting takes months, and a cool or dry heap takes longer.

What ZERO's products hold

ZERO's bags and wrap are certified home compostable under European schemes. Here they are by scheme name:

• Cling Wrap – DIN CERTCO and TÜV Austria OK compost HOME. Made from bioplastic: mainly PLA made from sugarcane, with about 20% PBAT for stretch. Remove the detachable cutter blade before composting the box and film.
• Resealable Food Storage Bags – TÜV Austria OK compost HOME. Made from PBAT, corn starch and calcium carbonate, tested for food contact, and freezer-friendly.
• Compostable Produce Bags – Commercial Roll – TÜV Austria OK compost HOME. 470 single-use roll bags for greengrocers, supermarkets and markets.
• Nappy Waste Bag and Puppy Waste Bag – certified home compostable.

One exception worth knowing: our Commercial Cleaning Cloth holds a different certification. It's certified biodegradable in soil (TÜV Austria OK biodegradable SOIL), a separate scheme from home compostable, so it breaks down in soil at everyday temperatures, no compost heap needed. You can add it to your home compost too.

Our products carry European home compostable certifications rather than the ABA's Australian marks, so you'll see those scheme names on our packs.

Further reading

• AS 4736 vs AS 5810: Australia's two compostable standards
• Compostable certifications explained
• How to spot greenwashing on compostable products

FAQ

Is home compostable the same as biodegradable?

No. Home compostable means it's been tested to break down in a home compost within a set time and without harming the soil. Biodegradable on its own has no timeframe or test behind it.

Can home compostable products go in my FOGO bin?

Only if your council accepts them. Check your council's website.

Can I put home compostable bags in soft plastics recycling?

No. Keep compostables out of plastics recycling. Compost them instead.