Test laboratories, worldwide approval

For each of the steps in the flow diagram, Figure 1, standards organizations worldwide have developed very similar and entirely appropriate laboratory simulation methods for testing plastics for use in various environments such as compost, soil, water, etc. Developing plastics may, therefore, be tested and approved as environmentally degradable in a particular environment, such as soil, compost, seawater and freshwater. Based on these methods, specifications have been established for what is and what is not disposable in such sites or use environments. 

Each national and international standards arganizatimi, government, and private industries from each country, listed above and others, use their own standard test methods for the evaluation of the products and materials. Consequently, there are literally thousands of standard test methods used on a worldwide basis [37-41], The national and international standards organizations list their test methods in catalogues for standards such as the European Conunittee for Standardization, CEN [42], FM Approvals [43], Underwriter s Laboratories (UL) [44], International Standards Organization (ISO) [45], American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) [46] and others. 

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