In the last several years, biodegradable packaging has increased in the market. Biodegradable packaging does not consist of petroleum-based plastics and normally consists of a modified starch. If you are packaging products or have a “green” store, it is imperative that you test the material to determine if it is biodegradable.
Instructions
Water Test
1
Cut a piece of the biodegradable packaging material off or take a piece to use the sample. If testing more than one material source, separate them.
2
Prepare a glass of water for each type of packaging material and drop the piece of the packaging material into the glass of water.
3
Set a timer to determine how long it takes to dissolve.

Soil/Compost Test
4
Cut a piece off or get a sample of some of the biodegradable packaging material.
5
Prepare a container of soil or a compost bin for each type of material that you want to test and bury the packaging material. If you choose multiple packaging types to compare different brands, label each container accurately.
6
Note the time and date that you put the packaging material in the soil or compost bin.
7
Check the packaging material on a regular basis and make note of the status of how much it has degraded since burying it. Make the final check four weeks after burying or composting the items.

Tips & Warnings
Biodegradable packaging should not be toxic to children or pets, but you may want to keep your packaging material test away from them to eliminate disparity in the test results.
Do not stir the water or move the material, as it will throw off the results of your biodegradability test.