AN OVERVIEW OF METHODS FOR BIODEGRADABILITY TESTING OF BIOPOLYMERS AND PACKAGING MATERIALS

This paper gives an overview of the methods used at the Technical Rese arch Centre of Finland (VTT) for the biodegradability testing of solid polymers and packaging materials. Biodegradability of each polymer in cluded in the packaging material should be separately tested. Aquatic aerobic and anaerobic tests and, in specific cases. enzymatic tests ar e used for screening purposes. The application of aquatic aerobic test s-an automated Sturm test (OECD 301B; ASTM D5209) and a VTT headspace test as well as an anaerobic test (ASTM D5210)-is discussed. Three com posting tests and their applications are summarized. These tests are r egarded as important because they can be used to simulate the biodegra dability under real-life conditions. Several tests are needed to deter mine the fate of the polymer under real conditions and to study its bi odegradability in different environments. The time needed for complete biodegradation of polymers in nature is impossible to predict with la boratory tests and should be studied in vivo.