CEN/TR 17910:2022

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2023
Biorazgradljivi polimerni materiali - Stanje standardizacije in nove možnosti
Biodegradable plastics - Status of standardization and new prospects
Bioabbaubare Kunststoffe - Stand der Normung und neue Perspektiven
Plastiques biodégradables - État de la normalisation et nouvelles perspectives
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 17910:2022
ICS:
01.120 Standardizacija. Splošna Standardization. General
pravila rules
13.020.20 Okoljska ekonomija. Environmental economics.
Trajnostnost Sustainability
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

CEN/TR 17910
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
December 2022
TECHNISCHER REPORT
ICS 83.080.01; 13.020.20
English Version
Biodegradable plastics - Status of standardization and new
prospects
Plastiques biodégradables - État de la normalisation et Bioabbaubare Kunststoffe - Stand der Normung und
nouvelles perspectives neue Perspektiven

This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 18 December 2022. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC
249.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 17910:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Biodegradation . 6
5 Biodegradation of polymers. 7
6 The principles of the biodegradation tests for plastics . 8
6.1 Measuring biodegradation . 8
6.2 Reliability and replication . 10
6.3 Formation of biomass during biodegradation . 12
6.4 General discussion on the 90 % biodegradability requirement . 12
7 Current biodegradation tests . 13
7.1 General . 13
7.2 ISO 13975 . 14
7.3 EN ISO 14851 . 15
7.4 EN ISO 14852 . 16
7.5 EN ISO 14853 . 16
7.6 EN ISO 14855-1 . 17
7.7 EN ISO 14855-2 . 18
7.8 EN ISO 15985 . 18
7.9 EN ISO 17556 . 19
7.10 EN ISO 18830 . 19
7.11 EN ISO 19679 . 20
7.12 ISO 22404 . 20
7.13 ISO 23977-1 . 21
7.14 ISO 23977-2 . 21
7.15 ISO 5148. 21
8 Additional testing used in product specifications . 22
8.1 General . 22
8.2 Test methods used to determine degradation other than biodegradation . 22
8.3 Test methods relating to eco-toxicity . 22
9 Biodegradation in different environments – Specifications and requirements . 23
9.1 General . 23
9.2 Biodegradation in Organic Recycling – Industrial Composting and Anaerobic
Digestion . 23
9.2.1 Introduction . 23
9.3 The Organic Recycling Framework. 24
9.4 The technical content . 25
9.5 Compatibility of compostable packaging with specific composting plants . 26
9.6 Biodegradation in Home Composting . 27
9.6.1 The scope and general requirements of the relevant standard . 27
9.7 Discussion on home composting . 27
9.8 Biodegradation in Soil . 29
9.8.1 The scope and general requirements of the relevant standard . 29
9.9 General discussion on soil biodegradation . 29
9.10 Biodegradation in sea water . 30
9.10.1 The scope and general requirements of the relevant standard . 30
9.11 General discussion on marine biodegradability . 31
10 Biodegradation in open (uncontrolled) environment . 31
11 Discussion on Future standardization needs . 35
11.1 Organic Recycling . 35
11.2 Applications in agriculture . 36
11.3 Biodegradation in the open environment . 36
11.4 Reference materials . 36
11.5 Horizontal standardization . 37
Annex A (informative) List of relevant Standards and OECD Tests . 38
A.1 Introduction . 38
A.2 European Standards . 38
A.3 European/ISO Standards . 38
A.4 ISO Standards . 39
A.5 OECD Tests . 40
Bibliography . 41

European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 17910:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249
“Plastics”, the secretariat of which is held by NBN.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
Introduction
Biodegradable plastics have been developed starting from late 80s of the last century in parallel with the
development of methodologies for the characterization of degradation (including biodegradation,
disintegration, detection of potential ecotoxic by-products produced during biodegradation) of solid
materials. The industry developed together with standardization and certification bodies a reliable
governing framework needed to develop the market. After 30 years, a wide range of biodegradable
products are commercially available. Standard test methods and specifications are available enabling the
characterization and certification of those products.
There is an increasing interest to find out more information on the nature of biodegradable plastics and
their fundamental characteristics that was fulfilled by going to the source, i.e. by directly examining the
technical standards. The analysis of standards by persons who are not experts in the science of
biodegradation or standardization and therefore unaware of the underlying reasons for some test
schemes, has led to the direct application of such schemes in the context of communications, creating
paradoxical situations. Several criticisms did surface based on the erroneous interpretation of the testing
schemes. For example, many were puzzled by the 90 % mineralization pass level (rather than 100 % i.e.
“complete”) required by the standard specifications to show biodegradability, ignoring that
biodegradation involves biomass formation, a very basic knowledge in biochemistry and microbiology.
This commingling between technical requirements and media communication created a great deal of
confusion among the public and put the Industry, Standardization, and Certification under increased
pressure.
CEN experts acknowledge the communication issues and therefore created the underlying document that
summarizes the state of standardization and enters into the merits of the individual tests to explain the
reasons for some technical solutions and the criteria adopted. This exercise also becomes a preliminary
step to highlight potential gaps, the need for updating some standards, or new frontiers to be explore
...