A System for the Industrial Documentation of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste

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The EN standards

This chapter will be updated after the revised standards are published

A system for the industrial documentation of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EU)

3The ENstandards for evaluation of the essential requirements

3.1The umbrella standard – EN 13427

3.2Prevention by source reduction – EN 13428

3.3Reuse - EN13429

3.4Material recycling – EN13430

3.5Energy recovery – EN13431

3.6Composting and biodegradation – EN13432

3The ENstandards for evaluation of the essential requirements

The ENstandards can be purchased from national standardisation organisations or from CEN.

3.1The umbrella standard – EN 13427

The guideline standard – EN 13427 – is called the ‘umbrella’ standard and provides a frame and guide on how to use the other standards.

The standard defines who is responsible, that is.

Responsible is the supplier, who is the entity responsible for placing packaging or a packed product on the EU market. The supplier If you are marketing a product on the EU market (producing and packaging or importing) you shall:

-Always use EN 13428: Prevention by source reduction for every packaging

-In case of claiming reuse of the packaging fulfil the requirements of EN 13429: Reuse.

-Evaluate the waste system in the countries your product are market in andIn order to meet the recovery demands fulfil the requirements of one or several of the following three standards:

• EN13430: Material recycling

• EN13431: Energy recovery

• EN13432: Composting and biodegradation

See next chapters.

3.2Prevention by source reduction – EN 13428

EN 13428 defines demands for the design and production of all packaging. The central wording is:

A translation into the special language of standardisation used in the text above:

• Shallin standardisation can be translated to: You must do it or you have no alternative.

• Be able to demonstrateis not 100% precise. You do not have to have a scientific proof but something less. We translate the expression, as you have to make your argumentation probable to the local authorities. In the end it will be a court decision.

• Have been reachedis the critical area (see later).

• Critical areais the minimal amount of packaging material needed for fulfilling the performance criteria.

• Performance criteriaare in clause 5 defined as the following tenreasons criteria for the packaging dimensions:

1. Product protection
2. Packaging manufacturing process
3. Packaging/filling process
4. Logistics (including transport, warehousing and handling)
5. Product presentation and marketing
6. User/Consumer acceptance
7. Information
8. Safety
9. Legislation
10. Other issues

Important is that tThe standard does not define the methods for reaching the critical area. It is an open question for the companies and the national authorities. And such an undefined area leaves room for local interpretations.

In principal interpretation of any directive a package certified in one country shall be accepted on the total EU market. But in this case an authority does not certify the package. The authorities are following the same Directive and essential requirements (the 6 standard) but only define the word: Demonstrate different.

EN13428 contains an example of a checklist:

This checklist has been further developed by OPTI-PACK, see chapter 5.

A new mandate from EU to CEN asks for an upgrade of EN13428 in order to have a full harmonisation of this standard. This upgrade will not affect the procedure for source reduction. Within a few years, the standard will also include the demand for less than 100 ppm of heavy metals and minimal use of dangerous content.

The standards also contain requirements for the minimisation of substances or preparations dangerous to the environment.

3.3Reuse - EN13429

The standard specifies requirements for the reuse of packaging. If a company claims to market a package as reusable, the company shall establish and record:

• Intentions with regard to the reusability of the packaging, giving due consideration to the particular circumstances in which reuse may occur;
• That the packaging can be emptied/unloaded without significant damage, beyond that which can be viably repaired;
• That the packaging can be reconditioned (cleaned, washed, repaired) by whatever method and to whatever standard he may specify, whilst maintaining its ability to perform its intentioned function and without risk to the health and safety of those responsible for doing so;
• That any reconditioning process within his control is managed in a manner that minimises its impact on the environment;
• That the packaging can be refilled/reloaded without risk to the integrity of the product or the health and safety of those responsible for doing so;
• That a reuse system is available in those markets onto which the supplier is responsible for placing the packed product, so as to make reuse possible;
• That the reuse system identified as appropriate, in the actual circumstances of use, comply with one of the specifications from clause 6:

Closed loop system

Open loop system

Hybrid system

(each with specific demands).

3.4Material recycling – EN13430

The supplier shall demonstrate that:

• Procedures to elaborate the requirements for packaging recoverable by material recycling;

The objective is to identify the criteria that need to be taken into consideration when assessing the recyclability of packaging. These criteria for recycling should be considered in a perspective, which includes all relevant aspects from the design of packaging, its manufacture and through its use and post-use collection and sorting until its recovery by recycling.

Table A.1 – Elaboration of requirements by a decision matrix with interactions between life cycle steps and criteria for recyclable packaging.

• Procedure for assessing recyclability criteria;

The objective is to assess the inter-relationship of the various criteria which support the requirements given in clause 4 of this standard, as indentified in annex A and Table A.1, and detailed in the following paragraphs and in the matrix in Table B.1.

Table A.2 – Interactions between life cycle steps and criteria for recyclable packaging (Decision matrix). The numbering of criteria in the table refers to the clauses in Annexes A and B in EN 13430.

It will typical be the supplier of packaging materials who will be responsible for this data.

3.5Energy recovery – EN13431

The supplier shall demonstrate that the packaging material is suitable for energy recovery.

• Organic materialsis packaging composed by more than 50% by weight of organic materials, e.g. wood, cardboard, paper and other organic fibres, starch, plastics; provides calorific gain and shall be considered recoverable in the form of energy.

• Inorganic materialsis packaging composed by more than 50% by weight of inorganic materials, e.g. ceramic, glass, clay, metals; may be declared recoverable in the form of energy when supported by calculation of the calorific gain as specified below.

Qnet - Ha > 0

Qnet:Net calorific value of the packaging

Ha:Energy required to heat adiabatically combustion products, residues and excess air

NB!The latest mandate to CEN set the minimum calorific gain to 5 MJ/kg. Companies may expect an upgrade of EN13431 from zero to this value or higher.

• Cellulose
• Lignin

• PE
• PP
• PS
• PVC
• PET

• Aluminium (combustible)
• Aluminium (inert)
• Steel (inert)
• Other inert materials (glass/ceramic etc.)

• Calcium Carbonate
• Water as moisture

3.6Composting and biodegradation – EN13432

Composting and biodegradation also include landfill.

The supplier shall demonstrate that the package is designed for organic recovery. Each packaging, packaging material and packaging component shall be inherently and ultimately biodegradable as demonstrated in laboratory tests and to the criteria and pass levels given in the standard.

Laboratory tests and criteria and pass levels are not included in this paper. When needed, use EN13432. It will typically be the supplier of packaging materials who is responsible for these data.

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