SGS-Certified Biodegradable Foil Balloons: A Composting Report Verification Guide

A compostable claim is only as strong as the laboratory report behind it. The report we hold for the biodegradable foil balloon line is SGS report number SHMR220700361301, tested under ISO 14855-1:2012. This briefing explains what the standard measures, what the report documents for the tested sample, and how the biodegradation file combines with the RoHS and EN71 reports in a B2B compliance package.

This guide is written for importers, procurement managers, and CSR audit teams who are evaluating a compostable balloon SKU. Numeric specifications, MOQ thresholds, and storage parameters in this briefing are confirmed at quotation stage against a specific program.

1. Why a Third-Party Test Report Matters for a Compostable Claim

A self-declared compostability claim is not a compliance document. Under the EU Green Claims Directive and the FTC Green Guides, a broad "biodegradable" claim without a specified environment, timeline, and test protocol is treated as greenwashing and carries financial penalties. The item that turns a claim into a compliance document is an independent laboratory test report that names the standard, the test conditions, and the measured result.

The report we hold for the biodegradable foil balloon line is SGS report number SHMR220700361301. It is a material-level test under controlled industrial composting conditions. The standard applied is ISO 14855-1:2012.

For a B2B buyer, the sourcing consequence is that the biodegradation file has to name the standard and the test conditions. A supplier that cannot produce the report cannot support the buyer's own reporting obligation. The report is a required part of the sourcing package, not an optional item.

2. The SGS Report We Hold: SHMR220700361301

The biodegradation test report we hold for the biodegradable balloon line is SGS report number SHMR220700361301. The report documents the biodegradation behaviour of a PLA degrading balloon sample under controlled industrial composting conditions.

The result is a material-level test result under the conditions specified in the report. It is not a guarantee that a specific SKU will decompose in a home compost pile or in the open environment. Coverage of a specific SKU by this report is confirmed at quotation stage.

3. What ISO 14855-1:2012 Measures

ISO 14855-1:2012 is the international standard for determining the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions. The method measures the amount of carbon dioxide evolved by microorganisms as they consume the test material as a carbon source. The measured CO2 evolution is compared against a reference material to calculate the percentage of biodegradation.

The standard is a laboratory method, not a field test. The test runs under defined temperature and humidity conditions over a defined test period. The report we hold documents the measured result for the tested sample under those conditions over a 45-day test period.

4. ISO 14855-1:2012, EN 13432, and ASTM D6400 Are Different Standards

A common confusion in a compliance file is to treat ISO 14855-1:2012, EN 13432, and ASTM D6400 as interchangeable. They are not. They are three distinct standards with different scopes, different test conditions, and different pass criteria.

The report we hold is under ISO 14855-1:2012. If a destination market requires EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 documentation, tell us at the quotation stage and we will confirm whether it can be arranged for the program. For a market-by-market comparison of home and industrial composting pathways, see the compostable balloons home vs industrial guide.

5. Anti-Greenwashing and Regulatory Context

Three regulatory frameworks affect how a compostability claim can be made in a major market. Each one treats the claim differently, and each one sets a documentation requirement.

• EU Green Claims Directive — a broad, unsubstantiated "biodegradable" claim without a specified environment, timeline, and test protocol is treated as greenwashing and carries financial penalties. A claim backed by a test report that names the standard is the pathway that a buyer can use in their own reporting.
• EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) (EU) 2019/904 — sets marking and reporting obligations for listed single-use plastic items. Several member states have layered national EPR fees on top. Compostability is one material pathway that can change the fee category, depending on the member state's implementing rules.
• California SB 54 — requires covered materials to meet 25% source reduction by 2032 and 100% recyclable or compostable by 2032. Compostable constructions are one pathway that producers use to align with the compostable branch of that requirement.

6. Sourcing Parameters for a Compostable Program

A custom printed or custom shaped program runs the print line and the sealing line against a defined order. The parameters that matter for unit economics are set per program.

7. Test Reports We Hold

• EN71 — SGS report number SHTY130500007975-01. Coverage: foil balloon sample, EN71 Parts 1, 2, and 3. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage.
• RoHS (EU) 2015/863 — SGS report number SHAHG2207652301. Coverage: tested DEGRADING BALLOON sample. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage.
• Biodegradation (ISO 14855-1:2012) — SGS report number SHMR220700361301. Coverage: PLA degrading balloon sample under controlled industrial composting conditions. Test material average biodegradation 77.8% within a 45-day test period.
• PEBA member — Pro Environment Balloon Alliance member.

If a destination market requires a standard outside this list, tell us at the quotation stage and we will confirm whether it can be arranged for the program.

8. Composting Compliance FAQ

9. Related Reading

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