nova-Institute Releases Updated Poster on Biodegradable Polymers Across Different Environments

The nova-Institute has published an updated version of its reference poster, ‘Biodegradable Polymers in Various Environments’, under the PerPlacsBio project. The revised edition provides an expanded overview of the biodegradability of polymers across different environments based on recognised standards and certification systems.

According to the institute, the updated poster incorporates recent scientific and regulatory developments and is designed to support evaluation of biodegradable alternatives for applications in agriculture and forestry.

The 2026 version classifies PBSA, PBS and PBAT as having ‘proven biodegradability’ in soil, marine and freshwater environments, while PBS has also been recognised for home composting applications. The update reflects the inclusion of additional material-specific testing data.

The revised poster also includes expanded references to standards such as ISO 17088 for industrial compostability, ISO 23517 for soil biodegradability and NF T 51-800 for home composting. Corrections have also been made to descriptions related to EN 17033, ISO 23517 and marine biodegradation standards and certifications.

Additional updates include:
• A new explanatory footnote clarifying the term ‘biodegradability not proven’
• Revised information on slower-biodegrading polymers, including updated findings on PLA degradation in marine environments
• Inclusion of the PerPlacsBio project logo
• Availability of the poster in German for the first time

The poster outlines biodegradation behaviour in marine, freshwater, soil and composting environments based on established testing frameworks and certification schemes. It also states that biodegradability depends on environmental conditions and material-specific characteristics and should be verified through standardised testing.

The initiative involves collaboration between nova-Institute experts in Germany and partner organisations including Normec OWS (Belgium), Hydra Marine Science (Italy/Germany), IKT Stuttgart (Germany), Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands), DIN CERTCO (Germany), and TÜV AUSTRIA (Austria/Belgium).

The PerPlacsBio project was launched at the end of 2025 by the University of Münster, the University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg and nova-Institute. The two-year project is funded by the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) under the Sustainable Renewable Resources programme and focuses on evaluating bio-based and biodegradable plastics in agriculture and forestry applications.

The poster is available for download in English and German in both PNG and PDF formats through the Renewable Carbon Initiative website.