SGS Test Reports for Foil Balloons: What B2B Buyers Should Verify
An SGS test report can help buyers assess a foil balloon's tested properties, but its meaning depends on the sample, test method, reported result and scope. This guide explains how to review biodegradation, restricted-substance and toy-safety documentation—and how to distinguish a laboratory test report from a product certification.
1. What Does “SGS Tested” Mean for Foil Balloons?
SGS provides testing, inspection and verification services. When a supplier describes a balloon as “SGS tested,” buyers should ask to see the underlying report rather than relying on the phrase alone. The wording does not identify the test method, establish that a sample passed, or show whether the laboratory tested a raw material, a component or the finished balloon.
A useful report review begins with four questions: What sample was tested? Which method was used? What result did the laboratory record? And what conclusion, if any, did the report reach under the stated criteria?
For foil balloon sourcing, different documents may address different concerns. A biodegradation report is not interchangeable with a restricted-substance report or a toy-safety report. Each must be evaluated against its own scope and the buyer's intended market.
| Assessment Area | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Biodegradation | The tested sample, test method, composting conditions, test duration, reported result and conclusion. Do not assume that one biodegradation result establishes every compostability requirement. |
| Disintegration | Whether physical breakdown was assessed and which criteria applied. Disintegration and biodegradation are related but distinct measurements. |
| Ecotoxicity | Whether the applicable scheme requires assessment of the resulting compost's effect on plants or other specified indicators. |
| Restricted substances | Which chemicals were included, which limits or requirements applied, and whether the tested sample matches the intended product. |
| Toy safety | The applicable EN 71 parts, sample description, test items and intended age group or use, where relevant. |
Buyer takeaway: Ask for the complete report and check the sample description, method, result, date and scope. A report's existence alone is not proof that every product in a supplier's catalogue meets the same requirements.
2. How to Read an SGS Test Report: Five Essential Checks
When reviewing an SGS test report for foil balloons, do not stop at a headline result. These five checks help determine what the document actually supports.
Check 1: The Test Standard or Method
Confirm the exact standard and edition stated in the report. For example, ASTM D5338 and ISO 14855 describe methods for assessing aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions. EN 13432 addresses requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation. These references serve different purposes and should not be treated as equivalent.
Check whether the report cites a test method, a product standard or a certification scheme. The document's conclusion should be interpreted according to the actual method and acceptance criteria stated in it.
Check 2: The Sample Description
Read the sample name and description carefully. A report may refer to a polymer sample, a material formulation, a component or a finished balloon. These are not automatically equivalent. Ask the supplier to explain how the tested sample relates to the product being quoted.
Check 3: The Result and Conclusion
Look for the measured result, the test conditions, any applicable acceptance criteria and the laboratory's stated conclusion. Do not infer a universal pass threshold from a percentage alone. Whether a result meets a requirement depends on the relevant standard, scheme and test details.
Check 4: The Tested Product Versus the Finished Balloon
A finished foil balloon may include a substrate, metallized or printed surfaces, inks, a valve and sealed areas. A report on a raw material does not by itself establish the performance or compliance of the assembled balloon. Ask whether the sample represents the finished product and whether the report covers the specific model or formulation under consideration.
Check 5: The Report Date and Product Changes
Check when the report was issued and whether the material formulation, supplier, printing system or product construction has changed since testing. A report does not automatically become invalid simply because it is older, but its relevance to current production should be confirmed.
Important: A laboratory report is evidence for the sample and scope documented in that report. It should not be presented as proof that every SKU, colour, print design or material variation has been tested.
3. SGS Reports Available from FAIR: Report Details and Scope
The following information identifies the reports referenced by FAIR. Buyers should review the original documents to verify the sample descriptions, test methods, results and stated conclusions before using them for a regulatory, certification or purchasing decision.
Biodegradation Test Report — SGS No. SHMR220700361301
Test method: ISO 14855-1:2012. Sample description: “PLA degrading balloon,” as stated in the report.
Reported conditions: (58 ± 2) °C, 3.8 L composting vessels, and a 45-day test period from 18 August 2022 to 2 October 2022.
Reported results: Average biodegradation of the test material was 77.8%; the reference material (cellulose) averaged 76.7%; and the reported average biodegradation relative to the reference was 101.4%. The report states “Pass” against the validity criteria of the ISO 14855-1:2012 method.
How to interpret this result: These figures refer to the sample and conditions documented in this report. They should not be generalized to every foil balloon or interpreted as proof of EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 certification. Buyers should verify the report's issuing laboratory details, accreditation status, applicable scope and acceptance by the relevant destination market.
Restricted Substances Report — SGS No. SHAHG2207652301
Standard stated: RoHS (EU) 2015/863. Sample description: “DEGRADING BALLOON,” as stated in the report.
The supplied report information states that cadmium, lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, PBDEs and certain phthalate plasticizers were reported as “Not Detected.”
Scope limitation: “Not Detected” applies to the substances, test methods and reporting limits covered by the document. It does not mean that every possible chemical was tested, and it does not establish biodegradability. Review the original report for the full analyte list and detection or quantification limits.
For related information, see the RoHS test report page.
Toy Safety Test Report — SGS No. SHTY130500007975-01
Standard stated: EN 71 Parts 1, 2 and 3. Sample description: Foil balloon, as identified in the report.
This document is a separate toy-safety testing record. Buyers should check the original report to confirm which requirements were tested, the results for each part, the tested sample and the relevance to the intended product and target market.
For additional context, see EN 71 testing for foil balloons.
These are separate documents with different scopes, not a single combined environmental or product certification. Whether a particular SKU is covered must be confirmed against the actual report and product specifications. Where needed, request the original documents and arrange additional testing for the intended product.
For background on biodegradable balloon materials, see our related resource: Are Balloons Biodegradable?
4. What a Biodegradation Report Does—and Does Not—Establish
A biodegradation report provides evidence about the tested sample under the conditions specified in the document. It does not automatically establish toy safety, restricted-substance compliance, compostability certification or performance in every natural environment.
| Report Evidence | What Should Not Be Assumed |
|---|---|
| A measured biodegradation result under specified laboratory conditions | That the finished balloon will biodegrade at the same rate in every environment or disposal system. |
| Results for a named material or sample | That all colours, printed designs, valves, constructions or product models have the same result. |
| A test performed under a named method | That the product automatically meets every requirement of a separate certification scheme. |
| A restricted-substance result for the listed test items | That every chemical or every legal requirement has been assessed. |
| Toy-safety results for the tested sample and stated test items | That the product is suitable for every age group, use or market without further assessment. |
Industrial Composting Is Not the Same as Ocean Degradation
Controlled composting tests use specified environmental conditions. They do not, by themselves, demonstrate how a material behaves in seawater, ordinary soil, a landfill or an unmanaged outdoor environment. A claim about one environment should not be supported solely by a test conducted in another.
Biodegradation and Toy Safety Are Different Questions
Biodegradation testing and toy-safety testing assess different properties. A biodegradation result does not establish compliance with EN 71 or restricted-substance requirements. Likewise, a restricted-substance report does not prove biodegradability.
Compostability Claims Need the Correct Evidence
A measured biodegradation percentage alone does not establish compliance with a complete compostability scheme. For example, EN 13432 includes requirements beyond biodegradation, including disintegration and ecotoxicity, along with other applicable criteria. Buyers should verify the actual certification status and scope rather than infer certification from an individual test report.
5. Understanding ISO 14855, ASTM D5338 and EN 13432
These references may appear in discussions of biodegradable plastic materials, but they do not serve identical purposes. Check the exact edition and scope cited by the laboratory or certification body.
| Reference | General Role | What Buyers Should Understand |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM D5338 | Test method | Addresses aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions. The report's result and conclusion must be read alongside the applicable requirements. |
| ISO 14855 | Test method series | Addresses ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions through measurement of evolved carbon dioxide. Confirm the exact part and edition cited. |
| EN 13432 | Requirements for compostable packaging | Covers requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation. Compliance requires assessment against the applicable requirements; one biodegradation test result alone is not equivalent to full compliance. |
Important distinction: A report produced using ISO 14855 or ASTM D5338 is not automatically an EN 13432 certification. A laboratory result, a conformity assessment and a certification decision are different types of evidence. Always verify what document has actually been issued and what product or material it covers.
6. Download the Available SGS Test Reports
The links below point to the report files supplied for this page. Before relying on a report for purchasing or regulatory purposes, review the complete document, confirm the sample identity and check whether its scope matches the product being sourced.
Available Laboratory Reports
Each report addresses a specific sample and test scope. SKU-level applicability should be confirmed before a compliance claim is made.
These links are provided as laboratory report documents, not as proof of a separate certification scheme. The reported results should only be applied within the scope documented in each report.
If you also require toy-safety documentation, contact our team to discuss the available EN 71 report and confirm whether it is relevant to your product specification and target market.
7. Buyer FAQ: SGS Testing for Foil Balloons
It indicates that a sample was submitted for testing by SGS, but the phrase alone does not identify the test, result or scope. Ask for the original report and review the sample description, method, results and conclusion before relying on the claim.
Not necessarily. A laboratory test report records results for the tested sample under a specified method. A certification scheme may require additional criteria, documentation and a formal certification decision. Check the actual document and do not treat a test report as an unrelated certification.
The supplied report information records an average biodegradation result of 77.8% for the tested sample under ISO 14855-1:2012 conditions over the reported 45-day test period. It is a result for that sample and those conditions; it should not be interpreted as a result for every FAIR balloon or as proof of EN 13432 certification.
The report may cover a raw material, component or finished product. These are not automatically interchangeable. Buyers should confirm whether the sample represents the balloon being quoted, including relevant materials, printing and construction.
No. Biodegradation and toy safety address different properties. Buyers sourcing products for children's markets should assess the applicable toy-safety and chemical requirements separately and confirm that the available reports match the intended product and market.
No. Controlled composting and marine environments have different conditions. A composting test result does not, by itself, establish how a material will behave in seawater, ordinary soil or landfill. Claims should be supported by evidence relevant to the environment being described.
There is no single universal expiry period for every test report. Relevance depends on the applicable scheme, buyer requirements, sample identity and whether the product formulation or manufacturing process has changed. Confirm the current acceptability of the report with the relevant buyer, regulator or certification body.
The page references a biodegradation report, SHMR220700361301; a RoHS restricted-substances report, SHAHG2207652301; and an EN 71 report, SHTY130500007975-01. The original documents should be reviewed to confirm their individual sample descriptions, test items, results and current relevance to the product being sourced. The reports should not be treated as a single combined certification.
Need to Review Test Reports for a Specific Foil Balloon?
Tell us the product model, destination market and standards your team needs to assess. We can discuss available documentation and help identify whether a report's stated sample and scope are relevant to your sourcing requirements.
Explore our related resources: RoHS test reports, EN 71 testing for foil balloons, biodegradable foil balloon factory, foil balloon quality control, and foil balloon manufacturing.
Contact Our Team → Email: xia@foilballoon.cnFor a report enquiry, include the product model, intended market and required standard or test scope.