EN 13432 vs ASTM D6400: what to ask a supplier before ordering compostable packaging

Compostability claims are only useful to a buyer if the documentation behind them matches the grade being ordered. EN 13432 is the European standard and ASTM D6400 the North American one for plastics designed to compost in municipal and industrial facilities; ASTM D6868 covers coated paper and fibre products. Both assume sustained industrial heat, not a garden heap. Ask the supplier for the certificate for the specific grade and gauge you are buying, check the certificate body and validity, and confirm how the item must be labelled in your destination market. Industrial composting collection is not available in every market, so a product that passes the standard may still have no suitable end-of-life route locally.