Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology Boosts Compostability Testing to Support Sustainable Business Practices

Biodegradation is a cornerstone to environmental well-being. As a planet of consumers, we might not be aware of the impact of our day-to-day consumption, but experts across the globe monitor how our actions affect one of our most precious resources: soil.

The Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST) is working to help businesses make their mark, but with a smaller footprint: with materials that biodegrade effectively. Two new pieces of equipment installed at WIST will enhance this effort, a respirometer to measure ultimate biodegradation and a plant growth chamber. These sophisticated tools offer WIST the opportunity to further evaluate product and packaging sustainability.

Our new respirometer evaluates the action of microorganisms as they metabolize biodegradable materials—in simple terms, how much carbon dioxide is given off as materials decompose. The degree of respiration gives critical insight into how much and how quickly a material biodegrades. A range of products can be evaluated using a respirometer, including food waste, textiles, and plastics; WIST’s respirometer will primarily test plastics and paper products against nationally recognized and adopted compostability specifications to help our clients better understand and market their product’s lifecycle.

Alongside the new respirometer technology, WIST’s new plant growth chamber evaluates any ecotoxic effects of composted materials. The biodegradation of the materials is an important measure, but that measurement is not enough without also knowing if this degraded material is harmful to other living organisms. The plant growth chamber offers a real opportunity to compare a test sample against the control sample.

Integrating advanced technologies like our new respirometer and plant growth chamber marks a significant step forward in evaluating ultimate biodegradability, disintegration, and ecotoxicity—the key components of compostability. By enhancing our understanding of how materials interact with the environment, we can help our clients make informed choices that promote sustainability and protect our ecosystems.

With these new tools at our disposal, we support industry as it increasingly prioritizes more sustainable practices. The testing that these innovations support plays a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future through accountable business practices.

WIST is here to help you with your compostability and recyclability testing service needs. With our years of experience, technical expertise, and state-of-the-art equipment, we can assist you with the credentialing that you need to set your sustainable product apart from the others.

Contact WIST today for more information at 715-346-2111.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0135 awarded to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System on behalf of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point via the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Wisconsin Department of Administration.