New ASTM Rule Could Upend "Eco-Friendly" Ag Plastics

ASTM's stricter compostability standard pushes agri-plastic firms to prove soil-safe performance or risk losing market access.

21 Feb 2025

The US agricultural plastics sector is preparing for stricter biodegradation requirements as ASTM International moves to tighten its compostability standards. A forthcoming revision of ASTM D6954-24, under Work Item WK89575, will raise expectations for how plastics break down in soil, reshaping the market for mulch films and similar products.

The changes will set clearer benchmarks for speed and completeness of degradation, challenging companies to prove that products marketed as biodegradable deliver in real conditions. Many existing products could lose compostable status unless reengineered.

Industry groups are already responding. Novamont and Eastman Chemical are developing bio-based materials designed to decompose more reliably and without leaving harmful residues. "This shift is long overdue," said a materials analyst involved in the revisions. "We're moving from vague claims to verifiable performance, and that's going to redefine leadership in this space."

Testing laboratories and certification bodies anticipate longer assessment periods and more demanding procedures. Smaller manufacturers in particular may face higher costs and longer lead times, increasing the risk of product delays or withdrawal from the market.

Supporters argue the stricter approach could strengthen credibility in global markets where regulators and buyers are demanding clearer evidence of environmental performance. Harmonised standards may also create new opportunities for US producers to compete abroad.

The draft is expected to move to the ballot phase later this year. Although the final text is not yet confirmed, the prospect of tighter rules is already driving investment decisions and product development across the sector.

For companies able to meet the new criteria, the revisions promise greater transparency and competitive advantage. For others, they represent a critical test of resilience as the definition of sustainable farm plastics is redefined.