Eco-Certification Standards for Packaging in Poland

The certification landscape

Environmental certification for packaging in Poland operates across three levels: mandatory compliance standards (required by law), harmonised European standards (referenced in regulation), and voluntary ecolabels (market-facing certifications that signal environmental credentials to buyers and consumers).

No single certification covers all packaging types or all environmental claims. Producers typically hold multiple certifications depending on material type, target market, and buyer requirements.

EN 13432 – industrial compostability

EN 13432 is the principal standard for compostability claims in the EU. It specifies four criteria that packaging materials must meet:

Biodegradability: At least 90% of the organic carbon is converted to CO₂ within 6 months at 58°C.
Disintegration: At least 90% of the material passes through a 2mm sieve within 12 weeks in a composting matrix.
Ecotoxicity: Compost containing the degraded material must not inhibit plant growth compared to a reference compost.
Heavy metals and fluorine: Concentrations must fall below defined limits per EN 13432 Annex A.

Certification bodies active in Poland

Testing and certification to EN 13432 is carried out by accredited bodies. In Poland, producers commonly use:

TÜV Rheinland Polska (Warsaw) — accredited to conduct and certify EN 13432 testing.
Bureau Veritas Poland — offers packaging material testing with recognition across EU markets.
Intertek Poland — provides full certification pathway from sample testing to label licensing.

Results from accredited EU laboratories are mutually recognised. A certificate issued by a German body, for example, is accepted for market claims in Poland under EU harmonisation rules.

The OK Compost label

The most recognised consumer-facing compostability label in Europe is the OK Compost INDUSTRIAL mark, administered by TÜV Austria (formerly VINÇOTTE). Products certified under EN 13432 may apply to carry this logo. A separate OK Compost HOME certification exists for materials that degrade at lower temperatures (20–30°C), representing a higher performance threshold.

As of 2026, the EU Green Claims Directive requires that all environmental labels on products sold in the EU are based on approved methodologies. Compostability claims not backed by EN 13432 or an equivalent standard are considered misleading under the Directive.

EU Ecolabel for tissue and packaging paper

The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme established under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, administered in Poland by the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute (IOŚ-PIB) as the competent body. For packaging products, the scheme covers tissue paper, printed paper, and some converted paper products.

Application process in Poland

Submit an application to IOŚ-PIB with product specification and supporting test data.
Pay the application fee (reduced fees apply for SMEs and applicants from developing countries).
IOŚ-PIB assesses compliance with the product group criteria defined in the applicable EU Ecolabel Decision.
On approval, a licence agreement is signed and the Ecolabel flower logo may be used on the product.
Licences are valid for the duration of the applicable criteria set, after which renewal is required.

Product group criteria are reviewed periodically by the European Commission. Producers must monitor updates and verify ongoing compliance. Contact details for IOŚ-PIB: ios.edu.pl.

FSC certification for paper and board packaging

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme is the primary chain-of-custody standard for paper fibre in packaging. FSC certification does not certify the packaging product itself — it certifies the chain of custody of the fibre from forest to final product.

Two key certification types

FSC Forest Management certification applies to forest operations. FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification applies to processors, converters, and manufacturers who wish to pass FSC claims through the supply chain.

Polish packaging manufacturers handling paper or board that originates from FSC-certified forests must hold an active CoC certificate to make FSC claims. CoC certification is issued by FSC-accredited certification bodies, including Rainforest Alliance and Bureau Veritas. The Polish FSC national office provides a list of accredited bodies: pl.fsc.org.

Mixed sources and percentage claims

Where 100% FSC-certified inputs are not available, FSC allows percentage-based claims (e.g., FSC Mix X%) under defined conditions. The percentage must be calculated using an FSC-approved credit system and verified by the certification body.

Recycled content claims and ISO 14021

Self-declared environmental claims — including statements about recycled content — are governed by ISO 14021. For Poland and the EU, claims must be:

Accurate and verifiable by the claimant
Relevant to the specific product (not the company generally)
Distinguishing pre-consumer from post-consumer recycled content where the distinction is material
Not implying third-party verification unless independently verified

ISO 14021 is published in Polish by the Polish Committee for Standardization (PKN) as PN-EN ISO 14021.

Documentation requirements

Regardless of certification scheme, producers should maintain:

Test reports from accredited laboratories, with full specification of test conditions
Material safety data sheets for all inputs with potential migration risk
Copies of current certificate licences with validity dates
Supplier declarations for all claimed recycled or certified inputs
Records of any changes to formulation, production process, or material sourcing