The word "biodegradable" has almost no legal meaning in Indian packaging without a certification behind it. This article maps the certifications that actually apply to water bottles, what each one really tests, and what specific documents a serious buyer should request before signing a supply contract.
IS ISO 17088. The Indian Baseline
Adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards from ISO 17088, this is the Indian national standard for specifications of compostable plastics. It certifies that a plastic will fully disintegrate and biodegrade under industrial composting conditions (58 degrees Celsius, controlled moisture, 180 days) without leaving toxic residues or heavy metal contamination in the resulting compost.
What to ask for: the actual test report from an NABL accredited laboratory, referenced by the exact SKU or resin lot number. A generic statement of compliance without a lab report is not sufficient for a rigorous procurement process.
EN 13432. The European Equivalent
The European standard tests for the same properties as IS ISO 17088 and is often cited on international brand bottles. If your supplier operates on export markets they will typically have this certification alongside or instead of the Indian one. Both standards are near equivalent for buyer purposes.
TUV OK Compost INDUSTRIAL and TUV OK Compost HOME
TUV Austria issues a marks based scheme that is well recognised globally. The INDUSTRIAL mark is broadly equivalent to IS ISO 17088. The HOME mark is a considerably stricter test, requiring full breakdown at ambient garden temperatures (typically 20 to 30 degrees Celsius) within twelve months.
Most PLA water bottles today certify to INDUSTRIAL only. If a supplier claims HOME compostability for a rigid PLA bottle, ask to see the TUV certificate, because HOME compostability for a bottle wall thickness is still an active research area rather than a mass market reality.
ASTM D6400. The US Standard
The American equivalent, again broadly aligned with IS ISO 17088 and EN 13432. Relevant if you are procuring for a US export line or a US brand licensee. The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) mark in North America verifies compliance.
Claims That Are Not Certifications
- "Biodegradable" with no standard cited. essentially meaningless. some fossil PET marketed this way only fragments into microplastics under UV.
- "Plant based". describes the feedstock, not the end of life. plant based PET is chemically identical to fossil PET and does not biodegrade.
- "Eco friendly". no defined technical meaning.
- "Marine degradable". a specific ASTM D7081 mark exists but is rarely tested for bottles. treat unqualified marine claims sceptically.
- "Oxo biodegradable". these plastics fragment into microplastics under UV and are banned in the EU. red flag.
What to Include in Your Purchase Order
Buyers who want to lock in credibility should add three clauses to their supply agreement:
- The supplier will provide the IS ISO 17088 certificate, lot linked, on delivery of each production batch.
- The supplier will provide a food contact migration test report to IS 9845 for each new resin grade introduced to the line.
- The supplier will make available for buyer audit the raw lab test reports supporting all sustainability claims on the packaging.
Green ORA's Certification Stack
For full transparency, our current PLA range holds IS ISO 17088 certification from an NABL accredited lab, IS 14543 for the packaged water itself, IS 9845 migration testing per resin lot, and third party heavy metals screening on both bottle and cap. Every one of these certificates is downloadable from the customer portal on request. no signup required.
If you are drafting an RFP and would like our certification stack summarised as a single one page annexure, our team ships one within 24 hours of enquiry.