ISO/TR 17098:2013

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 17098
First edition
2013-06-15
Packaging material recycling —
Report on substances and materials
which may impede recycling
Recyclage des matériaux d’emballage — Rapport sur les substances et
les matériaux pouvant empêcher le recyclage
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 Recycling . 1
5 Material examples . 2
Bibliography .15
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. 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. 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.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 122, Packaging, Subcommittee SC 4, Packaging
and environment.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Saving resources and increasing resource efficiency, together with minimizing the negative
environmental impacts, are acknowledged as important objectives in the search for sustainability.
The recycling of used packaging is one of the principal strategies that contribute significantly to the
fulfilment of these objectives.
To ensure the efficacy of this strategy, recycled materials need to meet the requirements of the identified
applications. The supply of used packaging has to be sufficiently continuous and stable in order to sustain
an industrial recycling operation. Furthermore, the collection and sorting schemes have to be designed
and managed for delivering the required fractions of used packaging fit for recycling.
It is essential that consistent information and communication about recycling be provided to users. This
includes raising awareness of the value of recycling, as well as providing specific instructions as to how users
can actively participate in the collection and sorting of used packaging for subsequent material recycling.
The composition of the used packaging streams, the sorting and recycling practices and technologies, as
well as the market demand for recycled materials will continue to change due to innovation, regulations,
and other developments. In such a context, it is important to always keep in mind the importance of the
yield and efficiency of the whole recycling system, in addition to the quality and the intrinsic properties
of materials to be recycled. Sometimes, innovations can themselves act as impediments to recycling,
at least at the moment of their introduction. Precautions must be taken so that innovations do not
jeopardize the functionality of existing schemes.
The recovery of used packaging by material recycling is largely influenced by the materials and
substances used for packaging and the condition in which they arrive at the recycling operations, notably
the presence of impurities such as product residues and extraneously introduced materials. Collection
of several packaging materials together (co-mingling) can often result in lower quality materials with
high content of impurities. In turn, this may lead to lower yields and increased costs. The proper design
of collection and sorting schemes is of critical importance. This Technical Report provides examples
covering the main packaging materials and can be used as a guide for taking into account substances
and materials that may be incorporated in packaging and which may inhibit subsequent operations
related to recycling.
This Technical Report covers the following aspects:
— materials, combinations of materials, or designs of packaging that may create problems in collecting
and sorting before material recycling;
— substances or materials that have the potential to create problems in the recycling process;
— the presence of substances or materials that may negatively influence the quality of the recycled
material.
ISO 18604 sets out the basis for classifying packaging as recoverable by material recycling. This is one
of the routes for the recovery of used packaging, with the inter-relationship between the various routes
being covered in ISO 18601.
ISO 18604 requires that the design, choice of materials, and the manufacturing operations of packaging
take into account the activities to which the used packaging will be exposed when processed through
the expected recovery operations. In particular, that International Standard deals with the need to take
into account the collection, sorting, and recycling of the materials.
This Technical Report, therefore, provides a non-exhaustive overview of substances, materials, and
components that need to be considered in the design and control of packaging as defined in ISO 18604.
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 17098:2013(E)
Packaging material recycling — Report on substances and
materials which may impede recycling
1 Scope
This Technical Report provides a non-exhaustive overview of substances and materials that may cause
a sustained impediment to recycling activities and is intended to assist in the assessment requirements
set out in ISO 18604.
It describes substances or materials which cause problems or inhibit the recycling process, or which
have a negative influence on the quality of recycled material, where technical solutions are not expected
to be developed in the near future.
These examples are, however, qualified by the fact that the recycling operations can vary regionally,
that technology is constantly changing, and that the use to which the recycled material is put will also
determine whether the presence of such substances and materials is a problem.
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 18604, Packaging and the environment — Material recycling
ISO 21067, Packaging — Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 21067 apply.
4 Recycling
A viable recycling system requires, in the first place, a well-functioning market for the recycled
materials. The recycled materials need to meet the requirements of the identified applications, and the
supply of used packaging has to be sufficiently continuous and stable in order to sustain an industrial
recycling operation. Furthermore, the collection and sorting schemes have to be designed and managed
for delivering the required fractions of used packaging fit for recycling.
The performance of a recycling system typically depends on a number of elements. These are the design,
production, distribution, and use of packaging placed on the market, as well as the collection and sorting
of used packaging and subsequent recycling operations for the identified applications of the recycled
materials. Not all recycling technologies are widely available or used in all regions and countries.
The recovery of used packaging by material recycling is largely influenced by the materials used for
packaging and the condition in which they arrive at the recycling operations, notably the presence of
impurities such as product residues and extraneously introduced materials. This Technical Report
provides examples covering the main packaging materials and can be used as a guide for taking into
account substances and materials that may be incorporated in packaging and which may or do inhibit
subsequent operations related to recycling.
In providing examples of substances and materials that may impede recycling, a number of key issues
need to be considered. These include:
— the specific composition of the packaging (or packaging components), including base materials used;
— the physical characteristics of the packaging, such as shape, colour, volume, weight, dimensions, and
(non) detachable pieces;
— the mix of packaging materials in the collection stream;
— the collection/sorting and recycling operations available in the location where the packaging
completes its functional life;
— the residues of the packaging contents and extraneous contamination resulting from the use of the
packaging, or from the collection and sorting processes. The contamination may be very small in
quantity but can result in a disproportionate problem;
— the ease with which constituents or contaminants which may impede recycling can be separated
from the materials to be recycled;
— the specifications for a new product made from the used packaging, including quality and
functionality.
The examples in Clause 5 include data from current and typical specifications associated with used
packaging supplied for recycling on a commercial and practical basis. It should be noted that these
specifications may vary from location to location.
5 Material examples
Packaging is produced from a wide range of materials and combinations of materials, selected according
to the functional requirements of the packaging application.
The following tables provide a non-exhaustive list of examples, guidelines, and common industrial
practices for materials and substances which cause problems in the recycling operations of each of the
main packaging materials:
— Table 1 Aluminium;
— Table 2 Glass;
— Table 3 Paper and paperboard;
— Table 4 Plastic;
— Table 5 Steel;
— Table 6 Wood.
Depending on the guidelines and conditions for the individual systems in place, non-packaging products,
with the same or very similar material composition as the packaging items concerned, may be accepted
within these packaging collection and sorting systems.
2 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Table 1 — Aluminium
Packaging recoverable by material recycling
Reference to
ISO 18604
B.2 Design criteria Materials and substances integral Comments
NOTE c) with the packaging
i) Separability of com- —   Beverage and food cans require no The majority of aluminium rigid and
ponents separation as the lids, tabs, and body are semi-rigid packaging is single mate-
in similar alloying elements. rial of similar alloying elements,
which ensures that closed-loop
—   Composite containers should easily
(can-to-can recycling) or open-loop
be separated to allow source separation
recycling (into other aluminium
by the user or separation during the col-
products) is feasible.
lection and sorting stage.
Non-aluminium components or
—   Semi-rigid and flexible aluminium
substances are effectively removed
foil packaging can be separated at
during the collection and sorting
...