ISO 17556 Plastics - Test for Determination of Ultimate Aerobic Biodegradability of Plastic Materials in Soil

EUROLAB, with its state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, provides precise and fast testing services within the scope of ISO 17556 testing. This standard specifies a method for determining the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in soil by measuring the oxygen demand or the amount of carbon dioxide released in a sealed respirator.

The standard is designed to provide optimum biodegradation by adjusting the moisture of the test soil.

If a non-adapted soil is used as the inoculum, the test simulates biodegradation processes that occur in a natural environment; If a previously exposed soil is used, the method can be used to investigate the potential biodegradability of a test material.

This method applies to the following materials:

• Natural and/or synthetic polymers, copolymers or mixtures thereof;
• Plastic materials containing additives such as plasticizers or colorants;
• water soluble polymers.

It does not apply to materials that inhibit the activity of microorganisms in the soil under test conditions. Inhibitory effects can be measured using an inhibition control or by any other suitable method. If the test material inhibits microorganisms in the soil, a lower concentration of test material, another soil type, or a previously exposed soil may be used.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with ISO 17556 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.