Audit & Certification
TÜV Austria India > Solution > Sustainability > OK renewable Solution: OK renewable Audit & Certification Solution: OK renewable TÜV AUSTRIA INDIA – Pune TÜV AUSTRIA INDIA – Pune TÜV AUSTRIA \| India No.102, Karan Tej Bonita, Vasantrao Deshmukh Path, CTS No.1187/16, Plot No.549, Ghole Road, Shivajinagar, Pune 411005 Pune India +912046354691 Send email No.102, Karan Tej Bonita, Vasantrao Deshmukh Path, CTS No.1187/16, Plot No.549, Ghole Road, Shivajinagar, Pune 411005 Pune India TÜV AUSTRIA INDIA – Pune TÜV AUSTRIA is a Member in Good Standing of TIC Council \| TÜV (R) Accreditation All accreditations FAQ What is the difference between “OK compost INDUSTRIAL” and “OK compost HOME”? Products that are solely OK compost INDUSTRIAL-certified are those that compost only in industrial composting facilities (at temperatures between 55 to 60°C), so products that are solely OK compost INDUSTRIAL-certified should not go into the garden compost. Conversely, OK compost HOME refers to products that also compost at lower temperatures, so they can go into the compost heap in your garden at home, hence the title “HOME”. Is there any difference between “biodegradable” and “compostable”? People often get “biodegradable” and “compostable” mixed up but they do not mean the same thing. A biodegradable product may be broken down by microorganisms but this does not necessarily imply that the product can be converted into good quality compost. Biodegradability and compostability rely heavily on the environment where the product is broken down. As each environment (compost, soil, water, …) has different temperatures and microorganisms, the speed of the biodegradation process may vary from one site to another. For example, bioplastics which are biodegradable in an industrial composting plant (the most aggressive atmosphere regime) are not always biodegradable in water or soil, or even in a compost bin in the garden (owing to the lower temperatures). What tests are required to qualify for an OK compost INDUSTRIAL certificate? The European Norm about compostability of packaging (EN 13432) requires (besides a clear and detailed description of the product) 4 tests: test on biodegradation (chemical break down of the polymer of fibres) test on disintegration (physically falling apart of the product in small fragments) test on ecotoxicity (test if the composted product does not exert any negative effect on plants) test on heavy metals content NOTE – Biodegradation, ecotoxicity and heavy metal content are characteristics of the material, whereas disintegration is a characteristic of the material and shape (final product). "OK compost HOME is a certification scheme for products that are degradable in home composting. It is the basis of several standards." TÜV AUSTRIA Certification Scheme: OK Renewable Renewability plays a key role in reducing carbon footprints, especially Scope 3 emissions across value chains. As industries and consumers demand verified climate action, OK renewable certification provides a transparent way to confirm renewable carbon use. The scheme ensures products meet strict, clearly defined renewable carbon requirements. The nova Institute launched the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) in 2020 to accelerate the shift away from fossil carbon. One of its first actions was the creation of a multi‑sector labelling working group, which included TÜV AUSTRIA. This collaboration led to the development of the Renewable Carbon Share (RCS) concept, now implemented through the OK renewable certification scheme. What Is Renewable Carbon? Renewable carbon includes all carbon sources that avoid adding new fossil carbon from the geosphere. These sources support a circular carbon economy and enable climate‑friendly material use. Renewable carbon can originate from: Biosphere (biomass) Atmosphere (captured CO₂) Technosphere (recycling) It does not include carbon from fossil sources. OK renewable allows these renewable sources to be combined into one clear, verified statement. Understanding the Renewable Carbon Share (RCS) The Renewable Carbon Share (RCS) expresses how much renewable carbon a product contains or replaces. An RCS value of x% means: x% of the carbon‑containing mass originates from renewable sources (renewable‑based), and/or An equivalent amount of fossil feedstock has been replaced by renewable feedstock during production (renewable‑attributed). Established certificates document both approaches. The scheme focuses on the mass containing renewable carbon, not only the carbon itself. This approach ensures fair recognition of bio‑based materials such as PLA, where bio‑based oxygen also replaces fossil carbon. Recognized Underlying Certification Schemes At launch, OK renewable accepted the following established certification schemes: NEN Biobased DIN Geprüft (DIN CERTCO) Flustix Recycled ISCC+ OK biobased & OK recycled (TÜV AUSTRIA) RecyClass RedCert² RSB An Advisory Committee with experts from RCI, nova Institute, and TÜV AUSTRIA reviewed and validated the scheme. Multiple case studies tested its robustness before market introduction. Transparent and Trustworthy Labelling Like all TÜV AUSTRIA conformity marks, OK renewable clearly communicates: The certification scope The certifying body The certificate holder (via the S‑code) The quantified renewable carbon share This clarity builds trust and supports credible sustainability communication across global markets. More Tags: Sustainability Audit & Certification OKcert - OK certification Related solutions from the same sector: Sustainability ISO 14046 Water Footprint and Sustainability Sustainability Show more OK Recycled Sustainability Show more OK biobased Sustainability Show more OK compost HOME Sustainability Show more All Solutions Discover more sectors: Industry Automotive Municipalities Machinery Communications Technology Trade & Commerce Agriculture Tourism Foodstuffs Transport & Traffic Certification Construction & Real Estate Electronics Leisure & Entertainment Health & Medicine Energy OK Certification Center +3225322911 \| okcert@tuv-a.com
OK Certification Center +3225322911 \| okcert@tuv-a.com

TÜV Austria India > Solution > Sustainability > OK renewable

Solution: OK renewable

TÜV AUSTRIA INDIA – Pune

TÜV AUSTRIA | India

No.102, Karan Tej Bonita, Vasantrao Deshmukh Path, CTS No.1187/16, Plot No.549, Ghole Road, Shivajinagar, Pune 411005 Pune India

+912046354691

Send email

TÜV AUSTRIA is a Member in Good Standing of TIC Council | TÜV (R)

Accreditation

All accreditations

FAQ

What is the difference between “OK compost INDUSTRIAL” and “OK compost HOME”?

Products that are solely OK compost INDUSTRIAL-certified are those that compost only in industrial composting facilities (at temperatures between 55 to 60°C), so products that are solely OK compost INDUSTRIAL-certified should not go into the garden compost.

Conversely, OK compost HOME refers to products that also compost at lower temperatures, so they can go into the compost heap in your garden at home, hence the title “HOME”.

Is there any difference between “biodegradable” and “compostable”?

People often get “biodegradable” and “compostable” mixed up but they do not mean the same thing. A biodegradable product may be broken down by microorganisms but this does not necessarily imply that the product can be converted into good quality compost.
Biodegradability and compostability rely heavily on the environment where the product is broken down. As each environment (compost, soil, water, …) has different temperatures and microorganisms, the speed of the biodegradation process may vary from one site to another.
For example, bioplastics which are biodegradable in an industrial composting plant (the most aggressive atmosphere regime) are not always biodegradable in water or soil, or even in a compost bin in the garden (owing to the lower temperatures).

What tests are required to qualify for an OK compost INDUSTRIAL certificate?

The European Norm about compostability of packaging (EN 13432) requires (besides a clear and detailed description of the product) 4 tests:
test on biodegradation (chemical break down of the polymer of fibres)
test on disintegration (physically falling apart of the product in small fragments)
test on ecotoxicity (test if the composted product does not exert any negative effect on plants)
test on heavy metals content

NOTE – Biodegradation, ecotoxicity and heavy metal content are characteristics of the material, whereas disintegration is a characteristic of the material and shape (final product).

"OK compost HOME is a certification scheme for products that are degradable in home composting. It is the basis of several standards."

TÜV AUSTRIA Certification Scheme: OK Renewable

Renewability plays a key role in reducing carbon footprints, especially Scope 3 emissions across value chains. As industries and consumers demand verified climate action, OK renewable certification provides a transparent way to confirm renewable carbon use. The scheme ensures products meet strict, clearly defined renewable carbon requirements.

The nova Institute launched the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) in 2020 to accelerate the shift away from fossil carbon. One of its first actions was the creation of a multi‑sector labelling working group, which included TÜV AUSTRIA. This collaboration led to the development of the Renewable Carbon Share (RCS) concept, now implemented through the OK renewable certification scheme.

What Is Renewable Carbon?

Renewable carbon includes all carbon sources that avoid adding new fossil carbon from the geosphere. These sources support a circular carbon economy and enable climate‑friendly material use.

Renewable carbon can originate from:

Biosphere (biomass)
Atmosphere (captured CO₂)
Technosphere (recycling)

It does not include carbon from fossil sources. OK renewable allows these renewable sources to be combined into one clear, verified statement.

Understanding the Renewable Carbon Share (RCS)

The Renewable Carbon Share (RCS) expresses how much renewable carbon a product contains or replaces. An RCS value of x% means:

x% of the carbon‑containing mass originates from renewable sources (renewable‑based), and/or
An equivalent amount of fossil feedstock has been replaced by renewable feedstock during production (renewable‑attributed).

Established certificates document both approaches.

The scheme focuses on the mass containing renewable carbon, not only the carbon itself. This approach ensures fair recognition of bio‑based materials such as PLA, where bio‑based oxygen also replaces fossil carbon.

Recognized Underlying Certification Schemes

At launch, OK renewable accepted the following established certification schemes:

NEN Biobased
DIN Geprüft (DIN CERTCO)
Flustix Recycled
ISCC+
OK biobased & OK recycled (TÜV AUSTRIA)
RecyClass
RedCert²
RSB

An Advisory Committee with experts from RCI, nova Institute, and TÜV AUSTRIA reviewed and validated the scheme. Multiple case studies tested its robustness before market introduction.