OWS becomes Normec OWS!
We are proudly announcing that OWS will be known as Normec OWS from now on!
Different kinds of man-made material can end up in soil either through unintended or intended use. Mulch film, plant pots, fertilizer coating, and body bags, for example, are purposeful products for which biodegradability offers big benefits. Normec OWS offers different types of soil degradation testing to determine the (bio)degradation, chemical characteristics, and ecotoxicity of materials in accordance with the available standards.
The soil degradation test results can be used for different purposes, including certification, making marketing or legal claims, or for supporting research & development. For certification purposes, our testing is performed in accordance with the available standards, as required by the existing certificates.
In Europe, these include DIN CERTCO – Biodegradable in Soil (based on EN 17033) and TÜV AUSTRIA – OK Biodegradable Soil. Both certificates require biodegradation in soil, heavy metals & fluorine, and ecotoxicity testing.
Soil is a less aggressive environment than industrial or home composting. The certification requirement for biodegradation in soil, in accordance with the ISO 17556 and ASTM D5988 standards, is therefore 90% carbon to CO₂ conversion at 25°C in two years. Besides certification conditions, we also offer testing under screening conditions for research and development purposes.
For disintegration testing, we offer both quantitative and qualitative testing. Quantitative testing, under certification conditions, determines how the material breaks down into smaller pieces. Qualitative testing, under screening conditions, visually shows how a product breaks down and can be used to test the effect of different product thicknesses.
By testing the chemical characteristics of the product, we can quantify the heavy metals and fluorine contained. If these are above threshold values as stipulated in the EN 13432 standard, they could have a negative effect on the soil quality after biodegradation.
Any toxic effect of residuals, which are left behind after biodegradation, could potentially have a damaging effect on the soil ecosystem. We offer different kinds of ecotoxicity tests, including plant, worm, nitrification toxicity testing, and microbial toxicity testing, in accordance with the available standards, to evaluate this.
Plant toxicity testing, for example, in accordance with the OECD 208 test method, prescribes the use of three plant species and can be performed on different kinds of materials, as well as intermediates, final products, inks, adhesives, varnishes, masterbatches, and additives.
Earthworm toxicity testing, which is required for the certification of mulch films, for example, is done in accordance with the OECD 207 test method.
We are proudly announcing that OWS will be known as Normec OWS from now on!
Our managing director Bruno De Wilde recently had an interview with the French Packaging Council.
OWS has released its environmental report from 2021.
