Panaji: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has warned manufacturers, importers, brand owners and other stakeholders against misusing
the terms ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable’ in product labelling, advertisements and marketing communications.
It stated that no manufacturer of biodegradable plastic carry bags or commodities has been granted certification under the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016.
The clarification comes after The Navhind Times found plastic bags being sold as ‘100% biodegradable’. Some products carried official-looking certifications and IS markings and were being sold at higher prices.
In a September 8 public notice, it stated compostable plastics, defined under Rule 3(e), must undergo biological degradation during composting to produce carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds and biomass without leaving visible or toxic residues. Such materials must conform to IS/ISO 17088:2021, as amended.
Biodegradable plastics, covered under Rule 3(ac), are a separate category. They must degrade in specified environments, such as soil, landfills or marine settings, without leaving microplastics or toxic residues. They must conform to the relevant Bureau of Indian Standards specification, IS 17899 T:2022, and obtain CPCB certification.
The board said that, as of July 23, it had certified 371 manufacturers of compostable plastic carry bags and commodities. However, no manufacturer of biodegradable plastic carry bags or commodities had been granted CPCB certification under the PWM Rules.
The notice also requires precise labelling. Compostable products must carry the declaration “compostable only under industrial composting”, while biodegradable products must specify the number of days required for degradation and the receiving environment.
CPCB said the two terms cannot be used interchangeably. Non-compliant products must be reported to the relevant State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee, along with samples and manufacturer details.
