ISO 23977
In today’s sustainability-driven global economy, environmental responsibility has become a top priority. ISO 23977:2020 offers an international framework for testing the aerobic biodegradation of plastics in seawater. With the increasing concern over marine plastic pollution, this standard supports manufacturers, environmental agencies, and testing laboratories in evaluating how their plastic materials degrade under marine conditions.
Quality Asia Certification provides ISO 23977:2020 certification services to help businesses validate their environmental claims and demonstrate compliance with global biodegradability norms. Gain credibility and market trust with a certification that aligns with growing ecological expectations.
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What is ISO 23977?
ISO 23977:2020 – Plastics — Determination of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials exposed to seawater — Part 1 & Part 2 – is a two-part international standard designed to assess the biodegradation of plastic materials in seawater environments:
- Part 1: Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide.
- Part 2: Method by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respirometer.
This standard is essential for manufacturers who want to assess and label their products as biodegradable in marine conditions, ensuring transparency and accountability in product sustainability claims.
Why is ISO 23977 important?
As global policies tighten around plastic pollution and marine litter, businesses in packaging, consumer goods, and plastics manufacturing must prove the environmental safety of their products. ISO 23977:2020 provides an internationally recognized method to evaluate whether a product truly biodegrades in seawater, helping you align with green regulations and meet market demand for sustainable alternatives.
Choosing ISO 23977:2020 certification also differentiates your brand in industries where eco-conscious consumers and importers demand scientific validation of environmental claims.
What are the benefits of ISO 23977?
- Scientifically proven biodegradation testing using real-world marine conditions.
- Supports environmental marketing claims, reducing risks of greenwashing accusations.
- Aligns with European and international directives on single-use plastics and marine safety.
- Builds consumer trust and meets rising expectations for ecological responsibility.
- Enables manufacturers to enter eco-labeling schemes and sustainable product markets.
What kind of businesses can benefit from ISO 23977?
Certification to ISO 23977:2020 provides tangible advantages for business growth, reputation, and market expansion:
✅ Regulatory Compliance: Meet national and international environmental laws related to plastic waste and marine pollution.
✅ Brand Image Enhancement: Showcase your commitment to marine conservation and sustainability to investors, clients, and consumers.
✅ Market Access Expansion: Enter sustainability-conscious markets in the EU, North America, and Australia with recognized biodegradable certifications.
✅ Product Differentiation: Stand out from competitors by proving your products biodegrade under marine conditions.
✅ Risk Reduction: Avoid penalties, bans, or customer backlash due to false biodegradability claims.
✅ Innovation Enablement: Support R&D for new bio-based materials by adopting tested international benchmarks.
✅ Supply Chain Transparency: Offer traceable and verifiable data for suppliers and partners looking to align with ESG goals.
Top Tips on making ISO 9001 effective for you.
#1
Top management commitment while practicing and accomplishing the standard is the key to success.
#2
Keeping staff informed about the ongoing practices, a well-communicated plan would increase the motivation and zeal of working in them.
#3
Making sure that the various departments of the organization work as a team for the benefit of the organization and customers as well.
#4
Review systems, policies, processes, and procedures for a smooth working of QMS.
#5
Speaking to customers & suppliers while getting feedback & working on improvements.
#6
Training staff carrying out the internal audits with the opportunity for improvement.
#7
Celebrate your achievement and use the QualityAsia Assurance Mark on your literature, promotional material, and website.
#8
Ensure continuous improvement by regularly reviewing and updating your quality management practices.
#9
Promote a culture of quality by encouraging innovation, accountability, and employee involvement at every level of the organization.
Why QualityAsia?
QualityAsia always vanguard in the auditing and governing of internationally acclaimed standards practices. At QualityAsia, we focus on driving the success of our clients through creating excellence with our trained professional auditors. The content of our service provision, comply with international certification rules defined by the accreditation bodies without burning a hole in your pocket. We will take you through the journey of audits with our best kept audit practices, viz.:
Initial Certification – Stage 1 (Preparatory Phase)
- Thorough documented information review.
- Exchange of information with staff through online or onsite presence.
- Identification of key performances, processes & objectives as per the standard requisites.
- Analysis of facilities, infrastructure, systems and processes in regard with the requested certification scope with a resource allocation review.
Initial Certification – Stage 2 (On-site Audit)
- Measurement, reporting & reviewing the performances against key performances objectives.
- Reviewing the suitability of the system meeting the legal, regulatory & contractual requirements.
- Operational control of processes, internal audits & management reviews while understanding the responsibilities for the policies.
- Conclusion based on prescriptive requirements, policy, performance objectives, staff skill, operations, procedures, internal audits, etc.
Surveillance & Certification Renewal
Drawing out the scrutiny on various aspects of the previously done audits on effectiveness while reviewing the various processes and control of the operations in the QMS and finally going for the recertification.
