Biodegradable Products Institute
The Biodegradable Products Institute is a nonprofit founded in 1998 that provides third-party compostability certification of products and packaging against ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 standards in North America, serving over 200 manufacturers with more than 48,000 certified products in its public catalog.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Biodegradable Products Institute does
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), founded in 1998 and headquartered in New York, is a member-based nonprofit organization that serves as North America's leading third-party certifier of compostable products and packaging. BPI verifies that products meet ASTM D6400 (plastics) and ASTM D6868 (coatings on paper/fiber) standards through laboratory testing covering disintegration, biodegradation, ecotoxicity, regulated metals, and total fluorine content. The organization also enforces eligibility criteria beyond the ASTM baseline, including a 100 ppm total fluorine limit and a signed statement of no intentionally added PFAS, implemented as a phase-out completed by the end of 2019. A public searchable catalog currently lists 48,869 certified products from over 200 companies.
BPI generates revenue through four primary streams: one-time certification application fees ($1,500 for Commercial Only; $3,000 for Commercial & Home; certifications valid for 3 years), recurring annual licensing fees for use of the BPI Certification Mark, $500/year sublicensing fees, and tiered membership dues (with a free foundation tier for composters, government, and academia). Go-to-market is sales-led, with direct application intake via the BPI website, supplemented by an educational webinar series, an annual industry Summit (2025 in Atlanta; 2026 in Detroit), and policy advocacy at state and federal levels. Customers are horizontal across the value chain: product and packaging manufacturers (primary paying segment), commercial composters and municipalities (free members who anchor downstream acceptance), and foodservice brands and retailers (end users of certified packaging).
Beyond certification, BPI has formal strategic partnerships with the US Composting Council (USCC) for joint EPR policy guidance and with DIN CERTCO for international verification. The organization operates a Composing Microgrants Program (over $47,000 awarded to 12 composters across North America in 2024–2025) and a Licensee Portal for managing certifications, mark usage, and public catalog listings. Board representation spans AgRecycle, Amy's Kitchen, Georgia-Pacific, PepsiCo, Chick-fil-A, and NatureWorks, reflecting a stakeholder-governed model rather than investor-driven governance.
Biodegradable Products Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Biodegradable Products Institute
- Legal name
- Biodegradable Products Institute
- Website
- https://bpiworld.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Biodegradable Products Institute is a nonprofit founded in 1998 that provides third-party compostability certification of products and packaging against ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 standards in North America, serving over 200 manufacturers with more than 48,000 certified products in its public catalog.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Biodegradable Products Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Compostability Certification Services
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biodegradation/Compostability Testing, Certification & Standards Services (IMANANAI), Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC)
Keywords
Where Biodegradable Products Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Biodegradable Products Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Certification Fees: Application fees for new certifications: $1,500 USD for Commercial Only certifications and $3,000 USD for Commercial & Home certifications. Recertification fees are $1,000 USD and $2,000 USD respectively. Certifications are valid for 3 years.
- Licensing Fees: Annual licensing fees charged for the use of the BPI Certification Marks. The cost is dependent upon the number of certificates held by the licensee.
- Sublicensing Fees: Annual cost of $500/year USD per licensee for sublicensing with a non-licensee, prorated based on original certificate expiration date.
- Membership Fees: BPI is organized as a member-based nonprofit association with membership fees. BPI offers different membership categories with varying benefits and annual costs. Composters, government, and academia can join as Foundation Members with a waived membership fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Commercial Only Certification - New |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Commercial & Home Certification - New |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Commercial Only Recertification |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Commercial & Home Recertification |
| Subscription | Annual | Sublicensing |
| Subscription | Annual | Foundation Membership (Composters, Government, Academia) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Biodegradable Products Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BPI provides third-party certification of compostable products and packaging through its Commercial Only and Commercial & Home compostability certification programs. Certification is granted to manufacturers that meet ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 standards following laboratory testing for disintegration, biodegradation, ecotoxicity, regulated metals, and total fluorine. BPI also licenses the use of its Certification Mark, sublicenses certified products, and operates a membership program for industry stakeholders.
Product overview
BPI is a member-based nonprofit organization that serves as North America's leading authority on compostable products and packaging. The organization operates primarily as a certification body offering two distinct certification programs: Commercial Only Certification and Commercial & Home Certification. The core product is the BPI Certification Mark, which third-party verifies that products meet ASTM D6400 and D6868 standards for compostability. BPI maintains a searchable product catalog with over 48,000 certified items across categories including bags, foodservice items, packaging, resins, components, molded fiber, and agricultural products. Beyond certification, BPI offers advocacy and policy services, an educational webinar series, annual summits, a licensee portal for managing certifications, and membership programs for industry stakeholders. The organization also supports composting infrastructure development through microgrants and strategic partnerships with organizations like the US Composting Council.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Only Compostability Certification Third-party certification verifying that products will break down in commercial compost facilities, requiring testing at 58+/-2°C for up to 84 days for disintegration, 6 months for biodegradation, and screening for ecotoxicity, regulated metals, and total fluorine. Targeted at manufacturers of compostable products and packaging.
- Commercial & Home Compostability Certification Dual certification verifying products break down in both commercial compost facilities and properly managed home compost bins. Requires testing at 25+/-2°C for up to 180 days for disintegration and 12 months for biodegradation, built on top of commercial certification. Targeted at manufacturers seeking broader compostability claims.
- BPI Certified Product Catalog
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 200 companies certified globally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Biodegradable Products Institute
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Biodegradable Products Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Biodegradable Products Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- SwayminorUS-based packaging startup Sway has entered a partnership with BPI through the 1% for the Planet network, designating BPI as a recipient of 1% of its annual sales. Sway, a certified 1% for the Planet Business Member since 2020, will work with BPI to obtain home compostability certification for its packaging in North America.
- US Composting Council (USCC)coreUSCC and BPI have a formal strategic partnership approved by both Boards. The partnership includes joint guidance on compostable products in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, a joint task force, and collaboration on a model bill for labeling compostable products. This partnership has already contributed to passing Colorado's first-of-its-kind EPR bill with composting provisions.
- City of YpsilantiminorCity of Ypsilanti partnered with BPI and My Green Michigan for the food scrap drop-off pilot program serving up to 300 households.
- My Green MichiganminorLocal organics hauler partnering with BPI, Closed Loop Partners' Composting Consortium, and City of Ypsilanti for the Washtenaw County food scrap drop-off program.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Biodegradable Products Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification group with sustainability and consumer products testing offerings. Comparable as a broad incumbent with infrastructure to enter or expand in compostability certification.
- SGS: World-leading testing, inspection, and certification company with broad sustainability and packaging testing capabilities. Comparable as a scaled incumbent that could compete with BPI on compostability testing services globally.
- Intertek: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) provider with packaging and sustainability testing capabilities. Comparable as an established incumbent that could compete in compostability certification for packaging manufacturers.
- TÜV SÜD: Global testing and certification organization with sustainability, packaging, and product safety services. Comparable as a broad incumbent with the scale and lab network to compete in compostability certification if it chooses to expand its offering.
- NSF International: Major global testing, inspection, and certification organization. While not specializing in compostability, NSF offers testing services in adjacent categories and could enter or expand compostability certification, representing a broad-based incumbent threat.
Others
- Closed Loop Partners: Investment firm and platform focused on circular economy, including the Composting Consortium that co-funds BPI-aligned infrastructure grants. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than direct certification competitor.
- US Composting Council: National trade and advocacy organization for the composting industry. Not a certification body itself, but a strategic BPI partner shaping policy and infrastructure. Comparable as an industry ecosystem player with overlapping stakeholder relationships.
Direct peers
- DIN CERTCO: German certification body offering compostability certification under its own scheme and through partnerships. Already a BPI third-party verification partner, but also a direct competitor for North American and global compostability marks.
- TÜV Austria (OK Compost): Operates the OK Compost and OK Compost HOME certification schemes, the most globally recognized compostability marks. Direct competitor to BPI in certifying compostable products and packaging, with stronger international footprint especially in Europe.
Emerging players
- Compost Manufacturing Alliance: Industry alliance that verifies compostable products through lab testing for acceptance by commercial composters. Adjacent certification model targeting the same composter-confidence problem BPI addresses, with potentially overlapping membership across the value chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Biodegradable Products Institute social profiles
Digital presenceBiodegradable Products Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Biodegradable Products Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Biodegradable Products Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Biodegradable Products Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Biodegradable Products Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Biodegradable Products Institute
What does Biodegradable Products Institute do?
BPI provides third-party certification of compostable products and packaging through its Commercial Only and Commercial & Home compostability certification programs. Certification is granted to manufacturers that meet ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 standards following laboratory testing for disintegration, biodegradation, ecotoxicity, regulated metals, and total fluorine. BPI also licenses the use of its Certification Mark, sublicenses certified products, and operates a membership program for industry stakeholders.
Is Biodegradable Products Institute a public or private company?
Biodegradable Products Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Biodegradable Products Institute founded?
Biodegradable Products Institute was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Biodegradable Products Institute based?
Biodegradable Products Institute is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Biodegradable Products Institute make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Certification Fees are the primary driver. The others are licensing Fees, sublicensing Fees and membership Fees.
Who are Biodegradable Products Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bureau Veritas, SGS, Intertek, TÜV SÜD and NSF International. Others are Closed Loop Partners and US Composting Council. Direct peers are DIN CERTCO and TÜV Austria (OK Compost). Compost Manufacturing Alliance is listed as an emerging player.
Does Biodegradable Products Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Biodegradable Products Institute.
What industry is Biodegradable Products Institute in?
Biodegradable Products Institute's product category is Compostability Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAMAK, Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC), with a secondary code of IMANANAI, Biodegradation/Compostability Testing, Certification & Standards Services. Its SIC code is 8734.