M/430 - Bio-Polymers and Bio-Lubricant

This European Standard specifies the vocabulary, methods for characterization, and templates for reporting about bio-based polymers, plastics, and plastic products (including semi-finished plastic products and composites).
In particular this European Standard covers: terminology, bio-based content, bio-based carbon content, Life Cycle Assessment, sustainability aspects, and declaration tools.
Biocompatible polymers and plastics for medical applications covered by specific provisions are out of the scope of this European Standard.

This document specifies the vocabulary, methods for characterization, and templates for reporting about bio-based polymers, plastics, and plastics products (including semi-finished plastics products and composites).
In particular this document covers: terminology, bio-based content, bio-based carbon content, Life Cycle Assessment, sustainability aspects, and declaration tools.
Biocompatible polymers and plastics for medical applications covered by specific provisions are out of the scope of this document.

This standard specifies a procedure for determining the degree of aerobic degradation of fully formulated lubricants. The organic material in a fully formulated lubricant is exposed in a synthetic aqueous medium under laboratory conditions to an inoculum from activated sludge. Biodegradation resulting in mineralisation of the organic material can be determined by measuring released CO2 in a total organic carbon (TOC-) analyser. The above mentioned method applies to fully formulated lubricants which a) are water-soluble, non-water soluble or emulsifiable b) are not toxic and not inhibitory to the test microorganisms at the test concentration. The presence of inhibitory effects can be determined

This document specifies a procedure for determining the degree of aerobic degradation of fully formulated lubricants. The organic material in a fully formulated lubricant is exposed in a synthetic aqueous medium under laboratory conditions to an inoculum from activated sludge.
Biodegradation resulting in mineralisation of the organic material can be determined by measuring released CO2 in a total organic carbon (TOC-) analyser. In contrast to existing test methods measuring released CO2 this method uses a precise preparation procedure for non-water soluble organic material.
The above mentioned method applies to fully formulated lubricants which
a)   are water-soluble, non-water soluble or emulsifiable, and
b)   are not toxic and not inhibitory to the test microorganisms at the test concentration.
The presence of inhibitory effects is determined as specified in this document.
This test method is focused on fresh water as test medium. Tests in sea water are currently not included in this method, but may be introduced later.

This European Standard specifies the term bio-lubricant and minimum requirements for all kinds of bio-lubricants and bio-based lubricants, while e.g. the EEL [1] refers to specific bio-lubricant families.
This European Standard also briefly describes relevant test method needs with respect to the characterization of bio-lubricants. It presents recommendation for related standards in the field of biodegradability, product functionality and the amount of different renewable raw materials and/or different biobased contents used during manufacturing of such bio-lubricants forming one product group.

This European Standard specifies the term bio-lubricant and minimum requirements for all kinds of bio-lubricants and bio-based lubricants, while e.g. the EEL [4] refers to specific bio-lubricant families.
This European Standard also briefly describes relevant test method needs with respect to the characterization of bio-lubricants. It presents recommendation for related standards in the field of biodegradability, product functionality and the amount of different renewable raw materials and/or different bio-based contents used during manufacturing of such bio-lubricants forming one product group.
WARNING — Not all potential risks for the environment can be addressed by this standard.

This Technical Report gives information about bio-lubricants and recommendations for bio-lubricant (and bio-based lubricant) related terminology. These recommendations are based on a discussion of commonly used terms in this field.
This Technical Report also briefly describes the current test methods in relation to the characterization of bio-lubricants. It presents recommendation for related standards in the field of biodegradability, product functionality, impact on greenhouse gas emissions and te amount of different renewable raw materials an/or different biobased contents used during manufacturing of such bio-lubricants forming one product group.
The criteria of the European Ecolabel for Lubricants ("EEL") [2] includes the terms discussed in this paper.
NOTE 1   The European Lead Market Initiative ("LMI") [3] defines the term "bio-based" as described in Table 1. It is important to mention that "bio-based" does not imply "biodegradable". In addition, "biodegradable" does not imply the use of "bio-based" material.
NOTE 2   For the purposes of this European Technical Report, the term "% (m/m)" is used to represent the mass fraction.

This Technical Specification specifies a template for reporting and communication of characteristics covering bio-based carbon content and recovery options (i.e. organic recycling, material recycling and energy recovery) of a given item in commercial business-to-business transactions by means of a specific data sheet for biopolymers and bioplastics. This Technical Specification also gives the relevant methods for the evaluation and verification of the claims. This Technical Specification provides the principles and requirements for the communication of selected claims in the field of environmental performance and characteristics to be used with reference to items such as biopolymers, bioplastic materials, semi-finished bioplastic products and finished bioplastic products, including composites, before it is available to the end-user or consumer. This Technical Specification is not intended for use in communicating biobased-content and recovery options in business to consumer communications Biocompatible polymers and plastics for medical applications, covered by specific provisions, are out of the scope of this document.

This Technical Specification provides requirements for the declaration, including statements and labels, of the bio-based carbon content of items, such as polymers, plastic materials, semi-finished plastic products and finished plastic products, including composites.
NOTE 1   This document does not override, or in any way change, legally required environmental information, claims or labelling, or any other applicable legal requirements.
NOTE 2   This document addresses the bio-based content of plastic items, expressed as a fraction of the total organic carbon content. The declaration of biomass content, i.e. the total amount of raw materials of biogenic origin contained in a plastics item, expressed as a percentage of the total mass, is out of scope of this document, as there is currently no well established method to determine the biomass content of polymers or plastics materials.

This Technical Specification specifies a calculation method for the determination of the bio-based carbon content in monomers, polymers and plastic materials and products, based on the 14C content measurement.
It also specifies three test methods to be used for the determination of the 14C content from which the bio-based carbon content is calculated:
-   Method A: Proportional scintillation-counter method (PSM);
-   Method B: Beta-ionisation (BI);
-   Method C: Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS).
The bio-based carbon content is expressed by a fraction of sample mass, as a fraction of the total carbon content or as a fraction of the total organic carbon content.
This calculation method is applicable to any polymers containing organic carbon, including biocomposites.
NOTE   This Technical Specification does not provide the methodology for the calculation of the biomass content of a sample.

This Technical Specification specifies a template for reporting and communication of characteristics covering bio-based carbon content and recovery options (i.e. organic recycling, material recycling and energy recovery) of a given item in commercial business-to-business transactions by means of a specific data sheet for biopolymers and bioplastics. This Technical Specification also gives the relevant methods for the evaluation and verification of the claims.
This Technical Specification provides the principles and requirements for the communication of selected claims in the field of environmental performance and characteristics to be used with reference to items such as biopolymers, bioplastic materials, semi-finished bioplastic products and finished bioplastic products, including composites, before it is available to the end-user or consumer.
This Technical Specification is not intended for use in communicating biobased-content and recovery options in business to consumer communications
Biocompatible polymers and plastics for medical applications, covered by specific provisions, are out of the scope of this document.
NOTE   This Technical Specification does not override, or in any way change, legally required information, claims or labelling, or any other applicable legal requirements.

This Technical Specification provides requirements for the declaration, including statements and labels, of the bio-based carbon content of items, such as polymers, plastic materials, semi-finished plastic products and finished plastic products, including composites.
NOTE 1   This document does not override, or in any way change, legally required environmental information, claims or labelling, or any other applicable legal requirements.
NOTE 2   This document addresses the bio-based content of plastic items, expressed as a fraction of the total organic carbon content. The declaration of biomass content, i.e. the total amount of raw materials of biogenic origin contained in a plastics item, expressed as a percentage of the total mass, is out of scope of this document, as there is currently no well established method to determine the biomass content of polymers or plastics materials.
NOTE 3   Since bio-based polymers can be biodegradable or non-biodegradable, and the origin of the materials renewable or non-renewable, (see CEN/TR 15932), the declaration of the bio-based carbon content is not an indication of the biodegradability of an item.

This Technical Specification specifies a calculation method for the determination of the bio-based carbon content in monomers, polymers and plastic materials and products, based on the 14C content measurement.
It also specifies three test methods to be used for the determination of the 14C content from which the bio-based carbon content is calculated:
-   Method A: Proportional scintillation-counter method (PSM);
-   Method B: Beta-ionisation (BI);
-   Method C: Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS).
The bio-based carbon content is expressed by a fraction of sample mass, as a fraction of the total carbon content or as a fraction of the total organic carbon content.
This calculation method is applicable to any polymers containing organic carbon, including biocomposites.
NOTE   This Technical Specification does not provide the methodology for the calculation of the biomass content of a sample.