A CPCB certificate is the approval India’s Central Pollution Control Board gives makers and sellers of compostable plastic bags and products. Under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, they cannot market these products without it. It rests on IS/ISO 17088 test reports and brings a certificate number, a QR code and an industrial-composting label that buyers can verify.
What a CPCB certificate is, who needs one, how it differs from IS 17088, and how to check a compostable packaging supplier’s certificate in five minutes.
Search for compostable bags in India and two words appear on almost every supplier page: “CPCB certified”. Most buyers nod and move on. Very few know what the certificate is, who issues it, or how to check it.
This guide explains the CPCB certificate for compostable packaging in plain language. You will learn what it is and why the law requires it. You will also see how it differs from IS 17088. Then you will learn to verify a supplier’s certificate in about five minutes.
The rules changed in 2024. This guide follows the Plastic Waste Management Rules, as amended in March 2024, plus CPCB’s clarification of 8 September 2026.
What Is a CPCB Certificate?
CPCB stands for the Central Pollution Control Board, India’s national pollution regulator. It was set up in 1974 and works under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
A CPCB certificate for compostable packaging is CPCB’s permission to market compostable plastic carry bags and products in India. CPCB issues it through its Compostable Plastic E-Certification portal, after the product passes testing to the Indian standard IS/ISO 17088.
So when a supplier says “CPCB certified”, they should hold this certificate, with a number you can check. It does not mean CPCB has endorsed the company in general.
A CPCB certificate is not a quality badge. It is legal permission to sell a product as compostable in India.
Is a CPCB Certificate Mandatory for Compostable Packaging?
Yes, for compostable plastic carry bags and commodities. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 say that manufacturers and sellers must obtain a certificate from CPCB before marketing or selling them.
The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024 restated this for compostable and biodegradable plastic carry bags and commodities. They came into force on 14 March 2024. They also tie compostable products to IS/ISO 17088:2021 and require the label “Compostable only under industrial composting”.
Skipping the certificate is not a paperwork slip. CPCB reports non-compliance to the State Pollution Control Board for action. It has also issued notices to companies selling bags with missing or forged certificates.
What Does a CPCB Certificate Actually Prove?
Three things. Each one matters when you are the person signing the purchase order.
- The product passed the test. Samples from the manufacturer’s own unit are tested at CIPET or another laboratory CPCB recognises, against IS/ISO 17088. The full report covers disintegration, ultimate aerobic biodegradation, plant toxicity (seed germination) and heavy metals.
- The factory is registered. The unit holds the registration its State Pollution Control Board requires. CPCB also reviews its process flow, raw material purchases and sales records.
- The product can be traced. The certificate number is printed on the product, with a QR code and the required label. A buyer can then match a pack to a certified unit.
It does not prove the product will break down at home, in a landfill or in your garden. Indian rules require the label “Compostable only under industrial composting” because the testing assumes a managed composting facility. Our guide to home composting vs industrial composting explains the difference.
CPCB Certificate vs IS 17088: What Is the Difference?
People mix these two up all the time. The simplest way to separate them: IS/ISO 17088 is the exam, and the CPCB certificate is the licence you receive after passing it.
| At a glance | IS/ISO 17088 | CPCB certificate | EN 13432, BPI, OK Compost |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A technical standard for compostable plastics | A certificate issued to a named manufacturer or seller | Foreign certification schemes |
| Set or issued by | Bureau of Indian Standards, based on ISO 17088 | Central Pollution Control Board | Bodies outside India |
| Needed to sell in India | It is the test the law points to | Yes, before marketing or selling | No, and it cannot replace the CPCB certificate |
| What to ask for | The lab test report | Certificate number and validity date | A copy, as extra proof for export buyers |
A product can pass IS/ISO 17088 and still be illegal to sell if the maker never obtained the CPCB certificate. For the full testing detail, read our guide to IS 17088 certification.
How a Manufacturer Gets a CPCB Certificate
You do not apply as a buyer. But the route shows why a real certificate is hard to fake. In short:
- Register the unit. The manufacturer first holds the State Pollution Control Board registration needed to make compostable carry bags or products.
- Test the product. Samples go to CIPET or another CPCB-recognised laboratory for testing to IS/ISO 17088.
- Apply on the portal. The application includes the test report, a process flow diagram, raw material records, sales documents and the fee.
- Receive the certificate. CPCB can issue a provisional certificate on an interim report covering the first two tests. It is valid for six months and can be extended by six. A final certificate follows the full four-part report.
- Print and report. Each product carries the certificate number, the compostable label and a QR code. The manufacturer keeps reporting to CPCB.
CPCB also verifies certified units in the field and runs market surveys. It can cancel a certificate if the conditions are not met.
How to Check a CPCB Certificate Before You Buy
Ask for the certificate before you ask for the price. Then run these six checks. They take about five minutes.
- Get the certificate number and validity date. A supplier who hesitates is giving you an answer.
- Match the names. The company and plant address on the certificate should match the firm invoicing you. A trader should show the certified manufacturer’s authorisation letter.
- Find it on CPCB’s list. Its Compostable Plastic E-Certification dashboard names certified manufacturers and sellers, with validity dates and provisional or final status.
- Check the product. The certificate should cover what you are buying, such as carry bags, courier bags or films. The company alone is not enough.
- Read the pack. Look for the certificate number, the label “Compostable only under industrial composting” and a QR code that resolves.
- Ask for the test report. It should name IS/ISO 17088 and the laboratory, and match the product you will receive.
5 Signs a “CPCB Certified” Claim Is Not What It Seems
- A logo but no number. A real certificate always has a number and a validity date.
- The word “biodegradable” instead of “compostable”. In its clarification of 8 September 2026, CPCB said the two terms must not be used interchangeably. It also reported that, as of 23 July 2026, 371 manufacturers held compostable plastic certification. None held it for biodegradable plastic carry bags or commodities.
- A home-compostable promise. Indian rules require the industrial-composting label. A “compost it at home” claim on a CPCB certified product deserves a question.
- A certificate that does not fit. It is expired, still provisional, or issued to another company, plant or product.
- A foreign certificate offered instead. EN 13432, BPI and OK Compost are respected abroad. None of them replaces the CPCB certificate in India.
For the wider buyer checklist, see our guide to spotting greenwashing in eco-friendly packaging. To see why the two words are different, read compostable vs biodegradable packaging.
Why a CPCB Certificate Matters for Compostable Packaging
A certificate looks like paperwork. In practice it protects three things you care about.
- Your legal position. Selling compostable bags without the certificate breaks the Plastic Waste Management Rules. Your marketing claims lose their footing too.
- Your brand’s credibility. A certificate number turns “eco-friendly” from a slogan into a claim anyone can check, which is exactly what greenwashing lacks.
- Your sales. Large retailers, quick commerce platforms and export buyers increasingly ask for documents before they list a product. A buyer who can show the certificate clears those checks faster.
One more thing to know. The CPCB certificate covers the packaging itself. If your brand puts packaged goods on the market, you may also have separate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) duties. These are registered on CPCB’s centralised portal, and compostable plastic has its own category there. Ask your compliance adviser which duties apply to you. For the wider picture, read our guide to India’s single-use plastic ban.
Which Packin Club Products Come With a CPCB Certificate?
Packin Club’s compostable range is made to IS 17088 and is CPCB certified. When you request a quote, ask us for the certificate number, validity date and test report. Then check them on CPCB’s list. A genuine supplier hands over all three without hesitation.
Here is where the certificate applies across our range:
- Retail and e-commerce: compostable carry bags, compostable courier bags, garment bags and compostable grocery bags.
- Waste and hygiene: compostable garbage bags, compostable pet poop bags and compostable medical waste bags.
- Food and hospitality: compostable pouches, compostable bread pouch and compostable cling film.
- Agriculture: mulch film and nursery bags.
- Industrial and logistics: compostable stretch film and compostable shrink film.
Request Our Certificate and Samples
Not sure which product suits your business? Tell us what you ship. We will send samples and a quote within two business days, along with our certificate details. Request a quote.