Policy storm is coming: EU SUP ban is upgraded again

        In July 2024, the European Commission officially issued Regulation (EU) 2024/1782, which clearly stipulates that since January 1, 2025, all disposable plastic packaging containing PBAT components must be certified for industrial composting by EN13432. This new regulation will have a direct impact on the $8.5 billion global PBAT market. As the largest producer of PBAT in China (accounting for 63% of global production capacity), exporters are facing unprecedented compliance challenges.

Core points of the new regulation

Expanded scope of mandatory certification: PBAT/PBS and other petroleum-based biodegradable materials have been added

Toughened testing standards: the degradation rate requirement has been raised from 90% to 95% (within 180 days)

Standardized labeling: “Industrial composting only” warning labels must be displayed

EN13432 Certification Explained: 5 Keys Companies Must Know

1. Re-engineering of Certification Process (2024 New Version)

Cycle Time Extension: Increase from the original 90 days to 120 working days

New Item: Ecotoxicity Test (Earthworm Survival Rate ≥90%)

Fee Increase: Individual Product Certification Fee Approx. €12,000 (Increase of 40%)

2. Technical Indicator Ceilings

Test Items Compliance Requirements Typical PBAT Performance

Disintegration rate ≥90% (12 weeks) Typically 85-92%

Heavy metal content ≤50mg/kg Typically 30-45mg/kg

Biodegradability ≥90% (180 days) Up to 93% for high quality products

3. Certification “death traps”

Mixed material dilemma: PBAT+PLA combinations need to be certified separately

Thickness limitations: additional testing required for more than 300 μm

Colorant risk: products containing titanium dioxide have a 27% drop in pass rate

A breakthrough for Chinese companies

1. Raw material side: process innovation is imminent

Blondech solution: molecular weight modulation to increase degradation rate to 94.5%

Wanhua breakthrough: development of heavy metal-free catalyst system (8% cost increase)

2. Certification side: the art of time management

Prioritized tests:

Disintegration test (8 weeks in advance)

Eco-toxicity (4 weeks)

Heavy metals (2 weeks)

Green channel: 20% shorter timeframe for agreements with TÜV and others Green channel: 20% time reduction by signing annual frame agreement with TÜV and other organizations

3. Market side: precise product positioning

High pass rate categories: courier bags (89%), mulch film (86%)

High risk categories: straws (only 43%), transparent food containers (57%)

Panoramic analysis of alternatives

1. PHA route

Advantage: naturally meets the requirements of home composting

Bottleneck: price is still 2.3 times higher than that of PBAT

2. Cellulose-based materials

Latest progress: nanocellulose reinforced PBAT pass rate increased to 91%

Representative company: Finland Paptic has mass production of supermarket tote bags

Practical timetable: countdown 180 days action guide

Q3 2024

Complete pre-testing of existing formulas

Select a certification body (recommended: TÜV/SGS)

Q4 2024

Submit formal certification application (October 31st at the latest)

Modify package marking system

Q1 2025

Upload to EPD system immediately after obtaining certificate

Train overseas distributors to recognize new labels

Cost measurement of non-compliance

Direct losses: fines for individual products €0.8-1.2/item

Hidden costs: risk of being taken down by Amazon and other platforms (impact factor 2.3)