ISO 18603:2013

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18603
First edition
2013-01-15
Packaging and the environment —
Reuse
Emballage et environnement — Réutilisation
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 . 1
4 Methodology . 3
4.1 Assessment confirmation . 3
4.2 Background conditions . 3
5 Requirements . 3
5.1 Initial conditions . 3
5.2 Verification procedure . 4
5.3 Application . 4
6 Specification of reuse systems . 4
6.1 Types of system . 4
6.2 Criteria for a closed loop system (see Figure 2) . 5
6.3 Criteria for an open loop system (see Figure 3) . 5
6.4 Criteria for a hybrid system (see Figure 4) . 6
Annex A (informative) The overall concept of reuse systems. 8
Annex B (normative) Elements of a reconditioning system . 9
Annex C (normative) Assessment of whether the requirements of this International Standard have
been met .10
Bibliography .12
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 18603 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 consumers’ needs and expectation 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 may 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 products, packaging and the supply chain;
f) avoid undue restrictions on the use of packaging;
g) prevent barriers and restrictions to trade.
Packaging is 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.
Demonstration that the requirements of these standards are met can be performed by a first party
(manufacturer or supplier), a second party (user or purchaser), or by the support of a third party
(independent body).
Public claims on the environmental attributes of packaging may be addressed by different methods.
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. It does 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
vi © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved
Recovery
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18603:2013(E)
Packaging and the environment — Reuse
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the requirements for a packaging to be classified as reusable and
sets out procedures for assessment of meeting the requirements, including the associated systems. 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 18601, Packaging and the environment — General requirements for the use of ISO standards in the field
of packaging and the environment
ISO 21067, Packaging — Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 18601 and ISO 21067 and the
following apply.
3.1
reuse
operation by which packaging is refilled or used for the same purpose for which it was conceived, with
or without the support of auxiliary products present on the market enabling the packaging to be refilled
Note 1 to entry: Non reusable items that support packaging reuse, such as labels or closures, are considered to be
part of that packaging.
3.2
reusable packaging
packaging or packaging component which has been designed to accomplish or proves its ability to
accomplish a minimum number of trips or rotations in a system for reuse
3.3
trip
transfer of packaging, from filling/loading to emptying/unloading
Note 1 to entry: See Annex A.
3.4
rotation
cycle undergone by reusable packaging from filling/loading to filling/loading
Note 1 to entry: See Annex A.
3.5
packaging used for the same purpose
packaging which, having completed a rotation, is subsequently reused with the original conception, in
a system for reuse
EXAMPLE Reuse of pallets, loaded originally with dairy products and now loaded with house bricks is reuse
for the same purpose.
Note 1 to entry: Attention should be paid to the intended use and function of the packaging, in order to verify
whether it is being reused for the same purpose or a secondary use. In the latter case the packaging is not
considered as reusable packaging for the purpose of this document.
3.6
systems for reuse
established arrangements (organizational, technical or financial) which ensure the possibility of reuse
Note 1 to entry: Within the Scope of this document, the “systems” currently recognized are listed below (see
Clause 6 for further information.)
3.6.1
closed loop system
system in which packaging is reused by a company or a co-operating group of companies
3.6.2
open loop system
system in which packaging is reused amongst unspecified companies
3.6.3
hybrid system
system consisting of two parts:
a) packaging, remaining with the end user, for which there exists no redistribution system leading to
commercial refilling;
b) packaging, used as an auxiliary product to transport the contents to the reusable packaging
3.7
auxiliary product
products used to support the refilling/loading of reusable packaging
Note 1 to entry: Auxiliary products are one way products and are therefore not covered by this document. An
example of an auxiliary product is a detergent pouch used to refill a container at home.
3.8
reconditioning
operations necessary to restore a reusable packaging to a functional state for further reuse
3.9
supplier
entity responsible for placing packaging or packaged goods on the market
Note 1 to entry: The term “supplier” in normal usage can relate to various points in a supply chain. For the purpose
of this document, it relates to any point in the supply chain where a transaction relating to packaging or packaged
goods takes place.
[SOURCE: ISO 18601:2012, definition 3.22]
3.10
emptier
a person or entity who empties a package
2 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

4 Methodology
4.1 Assessment confirmation
The relevant entities, which include packer, filler, supplier, emptier or others, shall ensure that the
following enabling conditions are met in order to assess whether the packaging is appropriate for a
claim of ‘reusable’ in the circumstances of its intended use:
a) that the design of the packaging enables the principal components to accomplish a number of trips
or rotations in normally predictable conditions of use;
b) that the packaging is capable of being successfully reconditioned in accordance with the requirements
of Annex B;
c) that a system, necessary to support reuse, is available in markets in which the packaging is placed,
as appropriate.
4.2 Background conditions
The overall requirements of reusable packaging are determined by a combination of the demands placed
on the packaging itself and the requirements of the reuse system in which it functions. In practice,
this means that the detailed requirements of ‘reusable’ packaging may change from one application to
another. Furthermore, the design process tends to be ongoing in response to operational experience in
the reuse of the packaging concerned. The demands for durability can mean that reusable packaging
design may incorporate more material than that
...