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Leading the Circular Revolution
Zerkom - 100% Certified Compostable
EU
Official certifications for companies according to new EU directives for consumer protection

ZERKOM® 100% certified
compostable

Welcome to ZERKOM®, the only government-recognized accreditation body for 100% compostable packaging & products in Europe. With the entry into force of the new EmpCo Directive, unverified environmental claims are prohibited. Our official seal of quality offers you full legal certainty, effectively protects against warnings, and guarantees that you can continue to advertise competitively with "100% compostable" from 2026 onwards.

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Certification for Compostable Packaging & Products

This certification guarantees that packaging and products are compostable and can be disposed of in an eco-friendly manner.

Packaging & Product Life Cycle Analysis

Life cycle analysis evaluates environmental impacts, from production to disposal of packaging and products.

Eco-Friendly Packaging & Product Solutions

Ecological packaging and product solutions offer green alternatives that reduce waste and promote sustainable practices.

Sustainability Consulting for Services

Sustainability consulting for services helps companies implement environmentally friendly practices and increase efficiency.

Packaging & product types and costs. Contact us for more information.
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Certainty through ZERKOM

We officially confirm that your product is indeed "100% compostable" – in accordance with the EmpCo Directive.

Protect your company now against false environmental claims and legal warnings.

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ZERKOM® provides a guarantee for product properties

We offer transparent pricing to help your company make the right decision

Certification of Packaging & Products

Certification of packaging and products ensures high quality standards and safety, promotes consumer trust, and supports companies in complying with legal requirements.

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Awarding of Quality Seals

Awarding of quality seals confirms compliance with standards and criteria, increases consumer trust, and makes the brand stand out in a competitive market.

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Transparent Packaging & Product Solutions

Transparent packaging & product solutions allow for visibility and presentation of products, promote consumer trust, and support sustainable practices through eco-friendly materials.

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NEW EU DIRECTIVE
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Action Required: Make your claims legally secure according to EmpCo

EU Directive 2024/825 massively tightens the requirements. Use the ZERKOM® inspection standard as your guide for implementation.

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Directive (EU) 2024/825
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Compliance & Legal Certainty

The Necessity of the ZERKOM® Inspection Standard for Businesses

Verification of environmental and sustainability claims according to EU EmpCo Directive (EU) 2024/825

The ZERKOM® EmpCo Inspection Standard translates the requirements of the EU EmpCo Directive (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition) into an objective, independent, and verifiable certification and testing procedure for environmental and sustainability claims ("Green Claims").

It is aimed at companies, authorities, and market participants who wish to verify or prove environmental and sustainability claims in a legally secure, transparent, and comprehensible manner.

1. Purpose of the Inspection Standard

This inspection standard serves the objective, independent, and comprehensible verification of environmental and sustainability claims ("Green Claims") within the meaning of EU Directive (EU) 2024/825 (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition – EmpCo).

The goal is to provide a concrete and verifiable implementation of abstract legal requirements, thereby creating transparency, comparability, and legal certainty.

2. Scope of Application

The ZERKOM® EmpCo Inspection Standard applies to:

  • Product-related environmental and sustainability claims,
  • Company-related sustainability claims,
  • Terms, labels, seals, and symbols used,
  • Advertising, sales, and communication materials (B2C and indirectly B2B).

3. Legal Basis

The inspection standard is based specifically on:

  • Directive (EU) 2024/825 (EmpCo),
  • Directive 2005/29/EC (Unfair Commercial Practices – UCPD),
  • Relevant EU regulations, particularly in the areas of circular economy and packaging law,
  • National implementing laws (e.g., Unfair Competition Act).

4. Inspection Methodology

ZERKOM® verifies environmental and sustainability claims based on the following four pillars:

4.1 Concreteness

  • Is the claim formulated clearly, specifically, and unambiguously?
  • Are generic terms such as "environmentally friendly," "sustainable," or "green" avoided or sufficiently specified?

4.2 Verifiability

  • Is there reliable, verifiable, and comprehensible evidence?
  • Is this documented, reproducible, and up to date?

4.3 Relevance and Completeness

  • Does the claim refer to the essential environmental or sustainability aspect?
  • Are relevant limitations, conditions, or requirements presented transparently?

4.4 Independence

  • Is the verification conducted independently of the economic interests of the audited company?
  • Is there a clear separation between standard ownership, trademark rights, and the verification decision?

5. Inspection Process

The inspection process takes place in the following steps:

  1. Application by the audit participant
  2. Document and data verification
  3. Plausibility and consistency check
  4. Evaluation of results
  5. Certification decision
  6. Entry into the ZERKOM® register

6. Withdrawal and Sanctions

In the event of a loss of requirements, misleading use, or lack of updating, the following measures may be taken:

  • Withdrawal of certification,
  • Deletion from the ZERKOM® register,
  • Prohibition of further use of seals or certificate references.

7. Transparency

The inspection criteria, the verification process, and the certificate register are publicly accessible to ensure comprehensible tracking by authorities, the market, and consumers.

ZERKOM® – Translating regulation into verifiable reality

Legal notice: The ZERKOM® EmpCo Inspection Standard represents a private-law inspection and certification procedure and does not replace an official authority decision. It serves the purpose of objective proof and risk minimization within the meaning of applicable EU consumer protection and competition regulations.
ZERKOM® – Translating regulation into verifiable reality

Certification Process & Legislation

New Legal Market Situation: The EmpCo Directive enters into full force on Sept 27, 2026

With the entry into force of the EU EmpCo Directive (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition), the market for ecological product information is fundamentally changing. From Sept 27, 2026, environmental and sustainability claims are strictly regulated.

Claims such as "compostable," "biodegradable," "environmentally friendly," or "CO₂ neutral" may only be used in the future if they are supported by independent, verifiable evidence.

For manufacturers, this means:

  • Self-claims without verification are prohibited.
  • Environmental logos and labels must be government-recognized or strictly certified.
  • Lack of evidence can lead to fines, warnings, and market bans.
  • Only independent certification bodies may confirm the authenticity of such claims.

Why ZERKOM® is crucial now

ZERKOM® is the only government-recognized certification body in Germany and Europe that confirms the "100% compostable" guarantee with an official, verified warranty mark. This type of certification alone fully meets the requirements of the new EmpCo Directive.

  • ✔ Legally secure claim "100% compostable"
    Only with ZERKOM® certification may this statement continue to be used publicly in the future.
  • ✔ Protection against warnings and market bans
    Seals without independent verification will be prohibited in the future. ZERKOM® prevents this risk.
  • ✔ Official testing processes according to EU specifications
    Documented in a legally compliant procedure that fully fulfills the EmpCo requirements.
  • ✔ Competitive advantage from 2026
    Manufacturers with the ZERKOM® seal can continue to advertise credibly even after the deadline.

ZERKOM® is the solution for the new legal situation. With ZERKOM®, your product receives a recognized seal of approval and permission to continue advertising safely.

New Market Situation since January 17, 2024

EU Law to Restrict Greenwashing
With the entry into force of the new EU law to restrict greenwashing on January 17, 2024, the requirement for clearly recognizable guarantee information and the introduction of a new label for guarantees that go beyond legal warranties was mandated.

ZERKOM® Provides Security

The ZERKOM® sustainability seal in the form of a warranty mark is unique and closes the protection gap for quality seals. While conventional quality seals only represent a snapshot at the time of testing, ZERKOM® offers a permanent and legally binding guarantee or warranty for product properties.

Questionable sustainability seals or greenwashing can damage the image in the long term, lead to the loss of customers as well as financial losses and even legal consequences.

Advantages of the ZERKOM® Sustainability Seal

The ZERKOM® seal offers companies the opportunity to stand out from the competition with a genuine green sustainability seal and provides advantages for all actors involved – from manufacturers to resellers and end consumers. This leads to positive reporting, consumer approval, and a positive image transfer from ZERKOM®'s uncompromisingly green sustainability seal to the respective company.

Consumers have security for the first time with a sustainability seal that guarantees product properties in a legally binding manner. As the only sustainability seal for 100% compostable products and packaging, ZERKOM® already complies with the new EU directives and thus offers companies planning security for the coming years and laws today.

  • ✔ Legally secure statement "100% compostable"
  • ✔ Protection against warnings and market bans
  • ✔ Official testing processes according to EU specifications
  • ✔ Competitive advantage from 2026

The Mark "100% Compostable" Assumes Warranty

The Green Dot and the Green Button are already well known. Now there is also the "100% Compostable" mark, made possible by the Trademark Law Modernization Act, which came into force on January 14, 2020. This law created a new trademark category with the "warranty mark." This allows signs to be registered with which a trademark owner assumes the warranty for certain properties of the goods and services of other providers.

In contrast to the origin function of an individual mark, the warranty mark has a guarantee function.

Protection Gap for Quality Seals Closed

Previously, even objective quality seals could only be protected as a trademark to a very limited extent. The warranty mark closes a protection gap in the registration of such seals.

The "100% Compostable" mark uses this new possibility and offers companies and consumers security through a sustainability seal that guarantees product properties in a legally binding manner.

What are Warranty Marks?

A warranty mark is a special type of trademark that serves to guarantee certain properties or quality features of goods or services. These marks are not used by the manufacturer of the products themselves, but by an independent body that verifies and certifies compliance with certain standards.

Consequence: Quality Seal

A quality seal is a visible sign (often in the form of a logo) that is applied to products to indicate that they meet the standards set by the warranty mark. Only the holder of the warranty mark has the right to award this quality seal.

Difference from a Word Mark or Fanciful Mark

Word Mark: A word mark consists of one or more words and serves to distinguish the goods or services of one company from those of other companies.

Fanciful Mark: A fanciful mark is a special type of word mark consisting of an invented word that has no direct meaning (e.g., "Kodak").

In contrast, a warranty mark does not primarily serve to distinguish the origin of products, but to confirm certain quality standards.

Warranty Mark "100% Compostable Packaging & Products"

The warranty mark "100% Compostable Packaging & Products" guarantees the consumer: Eco-friendliness, Quality control, and Trust.

Advantages of Certification

Certification of 100% compostable packaging & products by ZERKOM® not only offers companies the opportunity to build customer trust, but also demonstrates their commitment to sustainability.

Press Release European Parliament Federal Ministry of Justice German Patent and Trade Mark Office

Why choose compostable
packaging & products?

Compostable packaging & products are eco-friendly, reduce waste, and promote sustainable disposal, making them an ideal choice for businesses and consumers who want to protect the environment.

Excellent Solutions
Zerkom offers excellent solutions for sustainable packaging & products.
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ABOUT US

Pioneering in certified
compostable packaging & products

Zerkom is an officially recognized accreditation body specializing in the certification of 100% compostable packaging & products. Our goal is to support companies in making their packaging & products more environmentally friendly. Trust in our expertise and experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 100% compostable mean? +
100% compostable means that the material can be completely biodegraded and leaves no harmful residues. To ensure this, extensive laboratory tests must be conducted, including an earthworm toxicity test.
Why should I have my packaging or products certified? +
In order to comply with the law against greenwashing and since, according to the EU directive, it is not permitted to refer to compostable packaging or products with other seals, the certification process includes the issuance of an official certificate and the awarding of the quality seal. By certifying your packaging or products, you demonstrate your commitment to sustainability and gain the trust of your customers.
How does the certification process work? +
The certification process includes a comprehensive analysis of your packaging or products, extensive tests in accordance with the warranty mark registered with the DPMA, as well as the issuance of an official certificate and the awarding of the quality seal.
Cost of certification? +
At Zerkom, we understand that certifying your packaging or products should be sustainable and cost-effective. We offer transparent pricing to ensure that your company makes the right decision.
What steps does the certification process include? +
The certification process at Zerkom includes a comprehensive analysis, testing of materials including a laboratory earthworm toxicity test, the issuance of the certificate, and the awarding of the official quality seal. By certifying your packaging or products, you demonstrate your commitment to sustainability and gain the trust of your customers.
What requirements must be met? +
To meet legal requirements, the guidelines of the standards for the warranty mark registered with the DPMA must be fulfilled. An earthworm compliance test and the use of agricultural waste, among other things, are also required.
What is the goal of the certification process? +
The certification process aims to comply with the law against greenwashing, to award a quality seal, to provide security for companies, and to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Contact Us

Get in touch for further information and individual consultation.

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Contact Information

+49 (0) 30 3486261
info@zerkom.de
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Eco-friendly solution

Details regarding certifications for
eco-friendliness

Packaging Legislation & Compliance

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Trusted Certification Marks

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