At CIRAM, we perform carbon-14 analyses to determine the proportion of bio-based carbon in products as part of TÜV AUSTRIA’s OK biobased certification, which applies to raw materials, intermediates, and finished products derived from renewable resources.
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The OK biobased certification, developed by TÜV AUSTRIA, is a voluntary system for assessing and certifying the proportion of bio-based material contained in a product.
It is based on carbon-14 analysis, which makes it possible to distinguish carbon from renewable resources (recent biomass) from carbon derived from fossil resources. This method thus allows for the reliable determination of the percentage of bio-based carbon in a material.
The certification applies to products containing raw materials of natural origin, such as starch, cellulose, or bio-based polymers.
The classification is based on a 1- to 4-star system, directly linked to the measured percentage of bio-based carbon:
This system provides a simple, comparative, and immediately understandable way to assess a product’s bio-based content.
For a comprehensive overview of the main European labels for bioplastics and biopolymers, please see our dedicated article: Bioplastics and Biopolymers: What Labels Are Available in Europe?
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The OK Biobased certification applies to a wide range of products made from bio-based materials or naturally derived polymers, including:
It is used in the following processes:
It provides manufacturers with an objective and standardized measure of bio-based content, independent of supplier declarations.
Request a quoteAt CIRAM, we conduct the analyses required for OK Biobased certification within a rigorous analytical framework tailored to bio-based materials and industrial requirements.
Our approach is based on carbon-14 dating to ensure reliable, comparable, and actionable results for certification processes.
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No, it is a voluntary certification system based on the measurement of bio-based content.
Raw materials, intermediate products, and finished products made from bio-based materials. Fuels are excluded.
No, it only measures the bio-based content; it has nothing to do with biodegradability.
By carbon-14 dating in accordance with standard NF EN 16640.
No, CIRAM only conducts the scientific analyses used for certification purposes.
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