Today, the terms biodegradation, biodegradable materials, compostability etc. are very common, but frequently misused. This is a source of misunderstanding. Misuse of the terms can lead customers to very costly mistakes.
The European Standard EN13432 "Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation - Testing scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging", resolves this problem by defining the characteristics that a material must have, in order to be defined as "compostable". EN13432 is a reference point for manufacturers, public authorities, composters and consumers. The Australia Standard AS4736-2006 is closely based upon EN13432 with the addition of a worm eco-toxicity test.