ISO/TR 18568:2021

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 18568
First edition
Packaging and the environment —
Marking for material identification
Emballage et environnement — Marquage pour l'identification des
matériaux
PROOF/ÉPREUVE
Reference number
ISO/TR 18568:2021(E)
©
ISO 2021

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ISO/TR 18568:2021(E)

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All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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Published in Switzerland
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ISO/TR 18568:2021(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Markings . 1
4.1 Markings of packaging materials . 1
4.2 Markings and symbols related to packaging . 4
5 Recommendations .11
Annex A (informative) Numbers and abbreviations of commonly used plastics-polymers for
packaging by country or region .13
Bibliography .17
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ISO/TR 18568:2021(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging, Subcommittee SC 4,
Packaging and the environment.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
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ISO/TR 18568:2021(E)

Introduction
The purpose of this document is to specify a number of markings used to identify packaging materials,
with the aim to support the efficient collection, sorting, recycling and recovery after use. The collection
and sorting of used packaging is a prerequisite for a successful recycling and recovery process.
Although several countries and regions have established marking systems for material identification,
the absence of such systems in other countries and regions has created difficulties for individuals and
organizations to properly identify packaging materials. Waste operators lacking sufficient means of
mechanical sorting face problems in properly separating the used packaging materials, when specified
identification markings are lacking. Moreover, packaging material markings are not always linked to
collection symbols for packaging, which depend on the relevant packaging waste management systems.
The usefulness of markings for packaging materials is limited in countries and regions with established
collection and sorting schemes, where the latest technologies are used to separate the packaging
materials fractions.
This document contains a number of identification markings with their sorting and recycling systems
which are successfully used in some countries and regions.
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TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 18568:2021(E)
Packaging and the environment — Marking for material
identification
1 Scope
This document shows some examples of markings (words, numbers or symbols) for the identification
of packaging materials. This document is applicable to all types of packaging in order to enable the
identification of the materials used.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 21067-1, Packaging — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms
ISO 21067-2, Packaging — Vocabulary — Part 2: Packaging and the environment terms
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 21067-1 and ISO 21067-2 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
4 Markings
4.1 Markings of packaging materials
Tables 1 to 6 outline some of the most commonly used markings of packaging materials categorized by
country and/or region. Where necessary, a short explanation is given about the meaning and purpose
of the markings outlined below.
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ISO/TR 18568:2021(E)

Table 1 — Markings for paper as packaging material by country/region
Material Country/ Marking Application, Issuing organization
region purpose and
Information source
meaning
Paper China Applicable Indication: voluntary
to all paper
SAC, GB/T18455-2010
packaging
ISO 7000-1135
Europe PAP22 (paper) Applicable Indication: voluntary
to packaging
PAP 21 (fibreboard) Decision 1997/129/
and material
EC, but the marking is
PAP 20 (corrugated) identifica-
mandatory when pack-
tion meaning
aging material identifi-
cation is adopted
Table 2 — Markings for aluminium as packaging material by country/region
Material Country/ Marking Application, purpose Issuing organization
region and meaning
Information source
Aluminium China Applicable to all alu- Indication: voluntary
minium packaging
SAC, GB/T18455-2010
Europe ALU 41 Applicable to packag- Indication: voluntary
ing and material identi-
Decision 1997/129/EC but
fication meaning
the marking is mandatory
when packaging material
identification is adopted
Applicable to packag- Indication: voluntary
ing and material identi-
EN/TR 14311
fication meaning
Table 3 — Markings for glass as packaging material by country/region
Material Country/ Marking Application, purpose Issuing organization
region and meaning
Information source
Glass Europe GL70 (colourless) Applicable to packag- Indication: voluntary
ing and material iden-
GL71 (green) Decision 1997/129/EC but the
tification meaning
marking is mandatory when
GL72 (brown)
packaging material identifica-
tion is adopted
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ISO/TR 18568:2021(E)

Table 4 — Markings for plastics as packaging material by country/region (including numbers
and abbreviations of commonly used plastics-polymers for packaging)
Material Country/ Marking Application, purpose Issuing organization
region and meaning
Information source
Plastics China Applicable to plastic Indication: voluntary
packaging.
SAC, GB/T18455-2010
This an example of the
symbol.
See Annex A for the
numbers and abbrevia-
tions of commonly used
plastics-polymers for
packaging
HDPE2 Applicable to packaging Indication: voluntary
and material identifica-
Decision 1997/129/EC but
tion meaning.
the marking is mandatory
See Annex A for the when packaging material
numbers and abbrevia- identification is adopted
tions of commonly used
plastics-polymers for
packaging
Applicable to plastic Indication: voluntary
Europe
packaging and material
EN-TR 14311
identification meaning
This an example of
symbol.
See Annex A for the
numbers and abbrevia-
tions of commonly used
plastics-polymers for
packaging
USA Applicable to plastic Indication: voluntary
packaging.
ASTM,
This an example of the
ASTM D7611/D7611M
symbol.
-2013e1, but mandatory
See Annex A for the when material identification
numbers and abbrevia- is adopted by state legisla-
tions of commonly used tion in the USA
plastics-polymers for
packaging
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Table 5 — Markings for steel as packaging material by country/region
Material Country/region Marking Application, Issuing organization
purpose and
Information source
meaning
Steel China Applicable to steel Indication: voluntary
packaging.
SAC, GB/T18455-2010
FE40 Applicable to Indication: voluntary,
packaging and
Decision 1997/129/EC but
material identifi-
the marking is mandatory
cation meaning
when packaging material
identification is adopted
Applicable to Indication: voluntary,
packaging and
EN/TR 14311
material identifi-
Europe
cation meaning
Table 6 — Markings for other packaging materials by country/region
Issue organisation
Country / Application, purpose
Material Marking
region and meaning
Information source
Applicable to packag- Indication: voluntary
ing and material iden-
FOR 50 Decision 1997/129/EC but
tification meaning
Wood Europe
the marking is mandatory
FOR 51 (cork)
when packaging material
identification is adopted
Ceramics Not designated Not designated Not designated Not designated
4.2 Markings and symbols related to packaging
Table 7 shows examples of markings and symbols related to packaging without a material identification
purpose. Such markings often point to a specific collection and sorting instruction or refer to a specific
packaging waste management system in place. Others can refer to the recyclability of the packaging or
packaging material concerned.
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Table 7 — Markings and symbols related to packaging materials and/or products without a
clear material identification purpose
Application, Issuing organization
Country
Material Marking
purpose and meaning
/Region
Information source
Containers/packaging Indication:
Law for Promotion of
Paper box, paper bag, wrap-
Effective Utilization of
ping paper, paper container
Resources
for liquid, paper cup, other
than next column corru- Recycling:
gated cardboard and Paper Containers and Packag-
carton for milk, beverage, ing Recycling Law
alcohol, etc., with no alu-
minium layer.
Paper
Paper made packaging com-
ponent
Corrugated cardboard box Indication: voluntary
Japan
Cardboard Recycling
Council
Recycling: voluntary
Paper carton for milk, bev- Indication: voluntary
erages, alcohol, etc., with no
The Beverage Paper Con-
aluminium layer
Paper
tainer Recycling Council
Recycling: voluntary
Paper, carton
Applicable to all carton and Indication:
paper packaging with some
Act on the promotion
exceptions listed in Article
of saving and recycling
6 of Directive on Separate
of resources, Article 14
discharge Mark
(Separate Discharge
Mark)
Carton
Korea
Paper
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Table 7 (continued)
Application, Issuing organization
Country
Material Marking
purpose and meaning
/Region
Information source
Aluminium cans for bev- Indication:
erages such as soft drinks, Law for Promotion of
alcohol drinks, lactic drinks Effective Utilization of
Resources
Japan
R
...