ISO 7683:2024

International
Standard
ISO 7683
First edition
Design criteria and test methods for
2024-10
removable shrink labels applied to
PET bottles
Critères de conception et méthodes d’essai pour les étiquettes
rétractables et détachables appliquées sur les bouteilles en PET
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Design criteria . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Design criteria .3
4.2.1 Visual indications of the starting point of separation .3
4.2.2 Finger tab or initiation cuts .3
4.2.3 Label material .3
4.2.4 Shape of bottle .4
4.2.5 Size of holes and spacing between holes .4
4.2.6 Perforated line .4
4.2.7 Improving removability .4
5 Test methods for removability . 4
5.1 Sample and panel preparation.4
5.2 Test procedure for removability .4
5.2.1 General .4
5.2.2 Test method for ease of identifying the starting point of separation on a shrink
label .5
5.2.3 Test method for ease of separation of a shrink label .5
5.3 Evaluation method for removability of a shrink label .6
6 Test report . 6
Annex A (informative) Example test report for ease of removability of shrink labels . 7
Bibliography . 8

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging, Subcommittee SC 3,
Performance requirements and tests for means of packaging, packages and unit loads (as required by ISO/TC 122).
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.

iv
Introduction
PET bottles can be used as recycled materials for making high value-added recycled products. For effective
recycling, the recycling facility will potentially need to separate the label from the bottle according to the
manufacturer’s advice. For this purpose, a structure such as the perforated line on the shrink labels is
provided to remove them easily from bottles by consumers.
Depending on the shape of the bottle, the material and thickness of the label, the size of the perforation holes
and the spacing between the holes, it can still be difficult for the consumer to separate the shrink label from
the bottle, even though the perforated line on the shrink label is provided.
The aim of this document is to help packaging suppliers in designing their PET bottles and shrink labels,
such that a broad range of consumers find it easy to separate the shrink label from the PET bottle, thereby
encouraging the effective recycling of PET bottles.

v
International Standard ISO 7683:2024(en)
Design criteria and test methods for removable shrink labels
applied to PET bottles
1 Scope
This document provides design criteria and test methods to evaluate the removability of shrink labels
applied to PET bottles when the packaging supplier intends that the shrink label is to be separated by the
consumer or recycling facility, including:
a) design criteria such as visual indications of the starting point of separation, finger tab or initiation
cuts, label material, shape of bottle, hole size and spacing between holes of perforated shrink sleeves,
perforated line, and a tool for improving removability;
b) test methods for removability including information on preparing samples and panels, a test procedure
and an evaluation metho
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