...and what that means for composting systems, circularity, and a waste-free future.

At EcoSafe Zero Waste, we believe that compostable products should do exactly what they promise: break down and return to the soil. That’s why we don’t just rely on lab standards; we test for the real world.

And today, we’re thrilled to share that EcoSafe compostable bags and film products are now officially CMA-IAW certified, which means they’re proven to break down in every major commercial composting facility in North America. Let's unpack why this matters.

Why CMA Certification Matters

Not all compostables are created equal. And not all compostable products perform the same way once they leave the box.

That's where the Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) comes in. CMA is an industry-led, field-testing approval program designed to answer a crucial question:

“Will this compostable product actually break down in real compost facilities?”

CMA composter approval provides the real-world check, confirming a product actually breaks down in the compost pile across different facility processes and technologies, so composters can trust it performs beyond the lab.

CMA is a global leader in providing industrial composting facilities with an acceptance standard for compostables by performing field disintegration testing through several prominent processing methods to ensure products sent to industrial compost facilities adequately break down within the production cycle.

When products labeled “compostable” are not tested in real-world systems, the result can be costly for compost facility operators, end users, and municipalities. Instead of a singular approach to compostables, CMA connects supply chain leaders with top compost manufacturing facilities nationwide, ensuring mutual success as co-creators of compost and compostables.

CMA Testing Explained: Commercial Compost Systems & Compostable Testing

Each test approves a product for a specific compost system. CMA was developed to perform field disintegration testing across the primary composting systems in commercial use:

CMA-I: In-Vessel Composting
Products are tested in fully enclosed, controlled environments (think high-tech, oxygen-aerated compost bunkers like Cedar Grove Composting).

CMA-A: Aerated Static Pile
Products are tested in piles where air is circulated through the compost pile. There’s no turning, making it common in medium-scale facilities.

CMA-W: Windrow Composting
Products are tested in the long, outdoor rows of compost turned with heavy machinery and exposed to nature, which is a go-to method in many regions.

 

CMA-S is a special category for approved substrate products (like wood cutlery and uncoated paper goods) that don’t have formal ASTM standards but are known to add safe carbon. 

So What’s CMA-IAW?

It’s the ultimate designation. CMA-IAW means a product has been tested and proven across all three major composting systems: In-Vessel, Aerated Static Pile, and Windrow.

And yes, EcoSafe compostable film products (bags, liners, gloves, and more) are now part of this top-tier group.This means our bags offer unmatched flexibility and reliability. Whether your organics go to a fully controlled facility or a more open-air process, our products will do what they’re designed for: break down into healthy compost.

In practice, this gives:

• Composters assurance of performance in their systems
• Haulers alignment with diverse regional infrastructure
• Businesses & cities confidence in program compatibility

What Certifications to Look Out For

True circularity depends on proof, not promises. By meeting both laboratory standards and field-based composting requirements, EcoSafe holds dual North American compostability certifications from BPI and CMA.

The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is North America’s leading organization for certified compostable materials, products, and packaging, representing more than 600 member companies and tens of thousands of certified items. As the foremost association for the circular bioeconomy, BPI brings together the entire compostable products value chain and facilitates inclusive, science-based dialogue to build consensus on standards, labeling, claims, and policy.

BPI’s certification program uses ASTM compostability standards as a foundation, with additional requirements that prohibit PFAS, ensure clear labeling, and apply eligibility criteria to keep contamination out and help ensure that organic waste is diverted from landfills and returned to the soil through composting.

CMA Approval provides the real-world check, confirming a product actually breaks down in the compost pile across different facility processes and technologies, so composters can trust it performs beyond the lab. CMA is a global leader in providing industrial composting facilities with an acceptance standard for compostables by performing field disintegration testing through several prominent processing methods to ensure products sent to industrial compost facilities adequately break down within the production cycle.

When products labeled “compostable” are not tested in real-world systems, the result can be costly for compost facility operators, end users, and municipalities. CMA connects supply chain leaders with top compost manufacturing facilities nationwide, ensuring mutual success as co-creators of compost and compostables.

When paired together, BPI and CMA complete the compostable packaging circle: one ensures products are designed responsibly, the other confirms they break down where it matters, on the compost pad.

Example: Our Compostable Liners

EcoSafe’s CMA-IAW badge means our bags are proven to break down in:

🧱 Covered, in-vessel facilities
💨 Aerated static pile operations
🌾 Windrow compost processes

From high-tech facilities to open-air composting, EcoSafe Zero Waste bags perform. And that reliability supports cleaner compost, fewer contamination issues, and a smoother path toward more circular organics programs.

Why This Matters for the Future

Compostable products are only as useful as the systems that receive them. CMA composter approval is a powerful tool to build trust, prevent contamination, and unite product manufacturers, composters, and regulators around what really works.

At EcoSafe Zero Waste, we're not just selling bags; we're advocating for a circular waste system that nourishes soil, strengthens communities, and supports climate-resilient ecosystems.

This is one more step toward the world we want to grow.

Want to explore CMA-approved products?

Check out the CMA Product Database or ask your local composter which lists they accept.

With soil in our hearts and systems on our minds,

Sammy Davies
Director of Sustainability & Brand @ EcoSafe® Zero Waste Inc.