Chinese researchers tested TÜV Austria OK compost INDUSTRIAL-certified plastics under controlled laboratory composting. After 60 days at 58°C, rigid PLA/PBAT cutlery showed 57.4% mass loss, while polyester-containing residues remained. Their model projected approximately 103 days to reach 90% disintegration, exceeding the 84-day benchmark. The findings raise questions about certification testing, although the researchers did not directly test 84 days.
Source: Ajmal et al., Waste Management, October 30, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2026.115852
