ISO 18606:2013

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18606
First edition
2013-01-15
Packaging and the environment —
Organic recycling
Emballage et environnement — Recyclage organique
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
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ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Principle . 3
5 Basic requirements . 3
5.1 Control of constituents . 3
5.2 Assessment . 3
5.3 Exemptions . 4
6 Detailed requirements . 4
6.1 General . 4
6.2 Characterization of the packaging . 5
6.3 Ultimate biodegradation . 5
6.4 Disintegration . 6
6.5 No adverse effect on ability of compost to support plant growth . 6
7 Declaration of results . 7
8 Test report . 7
Annex A (normative) Maximum concentrations of regulated metals and other substances
hazardous to the environment . 8
Annex B (normative) Determination of ecotoxic effects to higher plants .9
Annex C (informative) Flow Chart .10
Annex D (informative) Recommended assessment checklist for meeting the requirements of this
International Standard .14
Annex E (informative) Examples of packaging suitable for organic recycling .15
Bibliography .18
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.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
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.
ISO 18606 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging, Subcommittee SC 4, Packaging
and environment.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Packaging plays a critical role in almost every industry, every sector, and every supply chain. Appropriate
packaging is essential to prevent loss of goods and as a result decrease impact on the environment.
Effective packaging makes a positive contribution towards achieving a sustainable society by, e.g.:
a) meeting consumer needs and expectations for the protection of goods, safety, handling, and information;
b) efficiently using resources and limiting environmental impact;
c) saving costs in the distribution and merchandising of goods.
An environmental assessment of packaging should include the manufacturing and distribution system,
the wastage of packaging material and goods, the relevant collection systems, as well as recovery or
disposal operations. This group of ISO standards and supporting reports provides a set of procedures
which aim to:
d) reduce environmental impact;
e) support innovation in product, packaging, and the supply chain;
f) avoid undue restrictions on the use of packaging;
g) prevent barriers and restrictions to trade.
A package should be designed to provide a number of functions for users and producers such as:
containment, protection, information, convenience, unitization, handling, delivery, or presentation of
goods. A major role of packaging is prevention of damage to or loss of goods. (See ISO 18601 Annex A for
a list of the functions of packaging.)
ISO 18601 defines the interrelationships within the family of ISO standards which cover the environmental
impact of packaging throughout its life cycle (see Figure 1). These standards will help define whether
the selected packaging can be optimized and whether the packaging needs to be modified to ensure it
can be reused or recovered after use.
Third-party certification is not required to demonstrate the requirements of these standards are met.
There are different methods to which public claims on the environmental attributes of packaging are
discussed. Some of these are technical aspects on reuse or recovery, others relate to access by the
population to reuse or recovery systems or the amount of packaging placed on the market for recovery.
This series of standards addresses the technical aspects of the packaging. They do not address the
requirements of ISO 14021 needed to support a claim or label.
This International Standard does not use the term “and/or” but instead the term “or” is used as an
inclusive disjunction, meaning one or the other or both.
ISO 18601
Packaging and the environment – General

requirements for the use of ISO standards in
the
ield of packaging and the environment

ISO 18602
Packaging and the environment – Optimization
of the packaging system
OPTIMIZE
Annex C
Assessment and minimization of substances or
mixtures hazardous to the environment
REUSE
ISO 18603
Packaging and the
Reuse
Decision
environment – Reuse
End of functional life
RECOVERY
ISO 18604 ISO 18605 ISO 18606
Packaging and the
Packaging and the Packaging and the

environment –
environment – environment –
Material recycling Energy recovery Organic recycling
Figure 1 — Relationship of the Packaging and environment standards
The purpose of packaging is the containment, protection, handling, delivery, and presentation of
products. In order to save resources and minimize waste, the whole system in which the packaging takes
part should be optimized. This includes prevention as well as reuse and recycling of used packaging.
Organic recycling by industrial aerobic composting or anaerobic digestion coupled with composting is
an option for reducing the need for final disposal of used packaging while increasing the options for its
recycling. This International Standard defines the standard specification to be met for packaging to be
recovered by organic recycling.
Organic recycling, organic recovery, and biological recycling are interchangeably used to indicate
biological waste treatment processes applied to used packaging to produce compost (in industrial
composting plants) or compost and biogas (in anaerobic digestors). Examples of packaging suitable for
organic recycling are provided in Annex E.
This International Standard presents a framework for self-assessment to determine whether the organic
recycling has been met.
vi © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved
Recovery
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18606:2013(E)
Packaging and the environment — Organic recycling
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies procedures and requirements for packaging that are suitable for
organic recycling. Packaging is considered as recoverable by organic recycling only if all the individual
components meet the requirements.
Therefore, packaging is not considered recoverable by organic recycling if only some of the components
meet the requirements laid down in this International Standard. However, if the components can be easily,
physically separated before disposal, then the physically separated components can be individually
considered for organic recycling.
This International Standard is applicable to organic recycling of used packaging but does not address
regulations that exist regarding the recoverability of any residual packaged goods.
This International Standard does not provide information on requirements for the biodegradability of
used packaging which ends up in the soil environment as litter, because littering is not considered as a
recovery option. This International Standard is also not applicable to biological treatment undertaken
in small installations by householders.
For each of the packaging components the following four aspects are addressed:
a) biodegradation;
b) disintegration during biological waste treatment process (i.e. composting);
c) negative effects on the biological process;
d) negative effects on the quality of the resulting compost, including the presence of high levels of
regulated metals and other substances hazardous to the environment.
This International Standard establishes the requirements for packaging suitable for organic recycling.
NOTE “Organically recoverable”, “compostable”, or “compostable packaging in municipal and industrial
composting facilities” or “biodegradable during composting” are expressions considered to be equivalent to
organically recyclable for the purposes of this International Standard.
The procedure for applying this International Standard is contained in ISO 18601.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14851, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous
medium — Method by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respirometer
ISO 14852, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous
medium — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide
ISO 14855-1, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled
composting conditions — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide — Part 1: General method
ISO 14855-2, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled
composting conditions — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide — Part 2: Gravimetric measurement
of carbon dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test
ISO 16929, Plastics — Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under defined
composting conditions in a pilot-scale test
ISO 20200, Plastics — Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under simulated
composting conditions in a laboratory-scale test
ISO 21067:2007, Packaging — Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 21067 and the following apply.
3.1
compost
soil conditioner obtained by biodegradation of a mixture consisting principally of vegetable residues,
occasionally with other organic material and having a limited mineral content
3.2
composting
aerobic process designed to produce compost
3.3
disintegration
physical breakdown of a material into fragments
3.4
total dry solids
mass of solids obtained by taking a known mass of test material or compost and drying at about 105 °C
to constant mass
3.5
ultimate biodegradability
breakdown of an organic chemical compound by micro-organisms in the presence of oxygen to carbon
dioxide, water, and mineral salts of any other elements present (mineralization) and new biomass or in
the absence of oxygen to carbon dioxide, methane, mineral salts, and new biomass
3.6
volatile solids
mass of solids obtained by subtracting the residue of a known mass of test material or compost after
incineration at about 550 °C from the total dry solids of the same sample
Note 1 to entry: The volatile-solids content is an indication of the amount of organic matter present.
3.7
packaging component
part of packaging that can be separated by hand or by using simple physical means
[SOURCE: ISO 18601:2012, definition 3.11]
3.8
packaging constituent
part from which packaging or their components are made and which cannot be separated by hand or by
using simple physical means
[SOURCE: ISO 18601:2012, definition 3.12]
2 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

3.9
organic recycling
through microbial activity, the controlled biological treatment of the biodegradable components of used
packaging which produce compost and, in the case of anaerobic digestion, also methane
Note 1 to entry: Landfilling and littering are not considered as organic recycling.
3.10
anaerobic digestion
process of controlled decomposition of biodegradable materials under managed conditions where free
oxygen is absent, at temperatures suitable for naturally occurring mesophilic or thermophilic anaerobic
and facultative bacteria species, that convert the inputs to a methane rich biogas and digestate
Note 1 to entry: In a second phase, the digestate is typically stabilised by means of a composting (aerobic) process.
4 Principle
The purpose of this International Standard is to establish requirements for packaging that can be
recovered by means of organic recycling. Organic recycling is carried out in industrial composting
plants or anaerobic digesters.
A packaging is considered as suitable for organic recycling if all the components are suitable for organic
recycling. However, individual components of the packaging can be considered recoverable by organic
recycling if they meet the requirements of this International Standard. The suitability of packaging
components and packaging material is verified by the test scheme described in this International Standard.
5 Basic requirements
5.1 Control of constituents
Constituents known to be, or expected to become, hazardous to the environment during the biological
treatment process, besides the substances given in Annex A, shall not be deliberately introduced into
packaging or packaging materials intended to be designated as suitable for organic recycling.
5.2 Assessment
5.2.1 General
Except as identified in 5.3, assessment of the biological treatability of packaging and packaging
components shall include the following five assessment procedures as a minimum:
— characterization (see 5.2.2);
— biodegradation (see 5.2.3);
— disintegration, including effects on the biological treatment process (see 5.2.4);
— compost quality (see 5.2.5);
— recognizability (see 5.2.6).
5.2.2 Characterization
Each packaging material under investigation shall be identified and characterized prior to testing,
including at least:
— information on, and identification of, the constituents of the packaging materials;
— determination of the presence of substances hazardous to the environment, e.g. regulated metals;
— determination of the organic carbon content, total dry solids, and volatile solids of the packaging
material used for biodegradation and disintegration tests.
NOTE In addition to the chemical characteristics for volatile solids, pass levels for regulated metals are also
provided as their total absence is not possible.
5.2.3 Biodegradation
To be designated as organically recyclable, each packaging, packaging material, or packaging component
shall be inherently and ultimately biodegradable as demonstrated in laboratory tests and to the criteria
and pass levels given in 6.3.
5.2.4 Disintegration
To be designated as organically recyclable, each packaging, packaging material, or packaging component
shall disintegrate in a biological waste treatment process to the criteria and pass levels given in 6.4,
without any observable negative effect on the process.
5.2.5 Compost quality
To be designated as organically recyclable, no packaging or packaging component thereof, submitted to
a biological waste treatment process, shall be recorded as having a negative effect on the quality of the
resulting compost as specified in 6.5.
5.2.6 Recognizability
The packaging or packaging component which is intended for entering the biological waste stream shall
be recognizable as organically recyclable by the end user by appropriate means.
5.3 Exemptions
5.3.1 Equivalent form
A packaging material demonstrated to be organically recyclable in a particular form shall be accepted
as being organically recyclable in any other form having the same or a smaller mass-to-surface ratio or
wall thickness.
5.3.2 Materials of natural origin
Chemically unmodified packaging materials and constituents of natural origin, such as wood, wood
fibre, cotton fibre, starch, paper pulp, bagasse, or jute shall be accepted as being biodegradable without
testing (see 6.3) but shall be chemically characterized (see 5.2.2) and fulfil the criteria for disintegration
(see 6.4) and compost quality (see 6.5).
6 Detailed requirements
6.1 General
In order to meet the requirements of this International Standard a packaging or a packaging component
shall demonstrate all of the characteristics found in 6.2 to 6.5.
NOTE Examples of how to use this International Standard are given in Annex E.
4 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

6.2 Characterization of the packaging
6.2.1 Regulated metals and other substances
The concentrations of regulated metals and other substances hazardous to the environment in the
packaging shall not exceed the limits as described in Annex A specific to the country where the final
product will be placed on the market or disposed. It is the responsibility of the user to conform to
the applicable national or regional regulations dealing with metals, other elements, and substances
hazardous to the environment.
6.2.2 Minimum of volatile solids
The packaging or packaging components shall contain a minimum of 50 % of volatile solids.
6.3 Ultimate biodegradation
6.3.1 Aerobic biodegradation
The ultimate level of aerobic biodegradation shall be established by testing under controlled conditions.
A packaging is considered to have demonstrated a satisfactory rate and level of biodegradation if,
when tested in accordance with ISO 14855-1 or ISO 14855-2, it achieves the minimum biodegradation
percentage specified in 6.3.1.1 within the time period specified in 6.3.1.2.
The ultimate aerobic biodegradability shall be determined for the whole material or for each organic
constituent. For organic constituents which are present in the material at a concentration between 1 %
and 10 % (by dry mass), the level of biodegradation shall be determined separately.
Constituents which are present at concentrations of less than 1 % do not need to demonstrate
biodegradability. However, the sum of such constituents shall not exceed 5 %.
Only biodegradation tests that provide unequivocal information on the inherent and ultimate
biodegradability of a packaging material or its significant organic constituents shall be used. The
controlled aerobic composting test (ISO 14855-1, ISO 14855-2) shall be used unless inappropriate to the
type and properties of the material under test. In the event that alternative methods are necessary, an
internationally standardized biodegradability test method shall be used, in particular ISO 14851 and
ISO 14852, which are designed for polymeric materials.
6.3.1.1 Conversion to CO
90 % of the organic carbon shall have been converted to CO by the end of the test period (absolute
biodegradation).
As an alternative, relative biodegradation can be demonstrated in which conversion of carbon to CO
from the sample is at least 90 % of the conversion of carbon to CO from the reference.
Both the reference and the test sample shall be composted for the same length of time and the results
compared at the same point in time after the activity of both has reached a plateau. The reference used
shall be microcrystalline cellulose. The reference shall have met the validation criterion specified in the
biodegradation test method used.
NOTE Although the biodegradation test includes the conversion of the polymers into cellular biomass and
humic substances in addition to carbon dioxide, no recognized standard test methods or specifications exist
for the quantification of these conversion products. When such tests and specifications become available, this
International Standard may be revised.
6.3.1.2 Test period
The test period shall be no longer than 180 days.
6.3.2 Anaerobic biodegradation
The level of anaerobic biodegradation may be established by testing under controlled conditions using
ISO 14853:2005 or ISO 15985:2004, in order to estimate the amount of biogas recovered during the first
anaerobic phase.
No pass/fail requirement for the percentage of anaerobic biodegradation has been set because most
commercial biogasification plants provide for a follow-on second aerobic composting phase. In order to
meet the requirements of this International Standard, a packaging or a packaging material has to meet
the compostability criteria set forth in 6.2 through 6.5.
6.4 Disintegration
6.4.1 General
The packaging shall disintegrate during the biological waste treatment such that any remaining
packaging is not readily distinguishable from the other organic materials in the finished compost.
Additionally, the packaging material shall not be found in significant quantities during screening prior
to final distribution of the compost.
Packaging is considered to have demonstrated satisfactory disintegration if, after 12 weeks in a
controlled composting test, no more than 10 % of its original dry mass remains in the oversize fraction
after sieving through a 2,0 mm sieve. The particles or pieces which do not differ from the compost for
colour, structure, dimension, moisture feeling, and brightness/gloss are considered to be compost.
The test shall be carried out in accordance with the pilot-scale test in ISO 16929. Alternatively, also the
lab-scale test in ISO 20200 can be used. In case of differing results, ISO 16929 results shall prevail.
Also full-scale industrial composting testing can be used as long as it is well defined and uses equivalent
test d
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