ASTM D5663-15(2020)

Standard Guide for Validating Recycled Content in Packaging Paper and Paperboard

ABSTRACT
This guide covers the standard for the calculation and the substantiation of recycled content of packaging papers and paperboard products. The mass balance approach shall be used to determine absolute recycled content. This guide also covers the recycled content that contain any amount or kind of recycled fiber. Methods to calculate and substantiate levels of such recycled fiber is also covered. Classes and types of paper and paperboard product include, but are not limited to, folding boxboard, set-up boxboard; linearboard and corrugating medium for use in corrugated containers; tubestock; carrier board, bag paper and other related packaging paper and paperboard products.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides an approach for both the calculation and the substantiation of recycled content of finished packaging paper and paperboard products. A mass balance approach is recommended for use by manufacturers since no physical or chemical test method is currently available to determine absolute recycled content of a finished paper product. Calculations are based on time weighted average flows which are based on furnish component flow rates and consistency. Recommended approaches to the calculations include by batch or by time weighted average for a specific grade or similar grades. It is not recommended that average recycle content be allocated by mathematical apportionment rather than by actual fiber content. That is, if 50 % recycled fiber is used over time that is the time weighted average. One cannot use this same data to report 50 % of the production is 100 % recycled.  
1.1.1 Percentage calculations are based on lb/ton or kg/tonne with the time frame constrained by machine and grade (see 10.1.1.1 and 10.1.1.2).  
1.1.2 Pulping and recycling yields are not used in these calculations. The calculations of recycled fiber content in the finished product is solely a function of type of fibers in the furnish flows, the volume of flow and the time period considered.  
1.2 This guide covers (1) recycled content of packaging paper and paperboard products that contain any amount or kind of recycled fiber; and (2) methods to calculate and substantiate the level(s) of recycled fiber content claimed by an agreement between the buyer and the seller.  
1.2.1 This guide may be used with or without modification to calculate or substantiate the recycled content of packaging paper and paperboard products when recovered nonfibrous materials (for example, filler) are a part of the recycled fiber furnish. Limited guidance is provided for appropriate modifications to this guide for the determination of amount of recycled nonfibrous materials in paper products.  
1.3 This guide does not recommend either an amount or a kind of recycled fiber or material to use since (1) the amount and kind of recycled content in a packaging paper or paperboard product should be agreed upon between the buyer and the seller, and (2) the calculation and substantiation procedures recommended may be used for any amount or kind of recycled material agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.  
1.4 The mass balance calculation method recommended by this guide may or may not comply with applicable federal, state, or local laws for recycled content statements intended to be received by consumers. Limited guidance on content statements is in Appendix X1.  
1.5 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 10, of this guide: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2020
• ICS: 85.060 - Paper and board
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.19 - Sustainability & Recycling

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D685-12 - Standard Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products for Testing
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2012
• Refers: ASTM D996-10a - Standard Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2010
• Refers: ASTM D996-04 - Standard Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2004
• Refers: ASTM D996-02 - Standard Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2002
• Refers: ASTM D996-99 - Standard Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2002

Overview

ASTM D5663-15(2020): Standard Guide for Validating Recycled Content in Packaging Paper and Paperboard provides a comprehensive framework for calculating and substantiating the recycled content in packaging paper and paperboard products. Developed by ASTM International, this guide is especially critical for manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers seeking to verify and communicate accurate recycled fiber content in a market increasingly focused on sustainability and regulatory compliance.

The guide outlines the mass balance approach for determining absolute recycled content, focusing on time-weighted average flows based on furnish component rates and fiber consistency. It includes recommendations for both single- and multi-component packaging materials, enabling practical implementation across a wide range of packaging formats.

Key Topics

• Mass Balance Methodology
  • Utilizes time-weighted average flows to determine recycled fiber content.
  • Advises against using mathematical apportionment in favor of actual fiber content tracking.
• Calculation Approaches
  • Applicable for both batch and ongoing (continuous) production scenarios.
  • Recycled content is calculated as the ratio of recycled to total fiber within agreed-upon timeframes.
• Scope of Products
  • Applies to folding boxboard, set-up boxboard, linerboard, corrugating medium, tubestock, carrier board, bag paper, and additional packaging paper and paperboard products.
• Buyer and Seller Agreements
  • Requires consensus on product classes, recycled fiber percentages, allowable variation, calculation methods, and reporting formats.
• Composite Product Evaluation
  • Provides protocols for calculating weighted mean recycled content across products with multiple components.
• Inclusion of Nonfibrous Recycled Materials
  • Offers guidance for calculating recycled content when fillers or other nonfibrous materials are present.
• Verification and Reporting
  • Recommends documentation procedures, review schedules, and substantiation methods for recycled content claims.

Applications

ASTM D5663-15(2020) is instrumental for:

• Manufacturers of Packaging Materials:
  Enables robust, traceable processes for verifying and documenting recycled fiber content, supporting both product labeling and supply chain transparency.

• Procurement and Supply Chain Management:
  Provides buyers and suppliers a common framework to set and verify contract parameters regarding recycled content in packaging products.

• Sustainability and Compliance Teams:
  Supports compliance with voluntary environmental initiatives, government procurement requirements, and market expectations for recycled content declarations.

• Quality Assurance and Certification:
  Offers methods to substantiate recycled content claims, essential for audits, certifications, or third-party validations.

• Product Development:
  Facilitates design choices and innovation in recyclable and recycled-content packaging materials, meeting both performance and sustainability objectives.

Related Standards

• ASTM D685 – Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products for Testing: Guidance on preparing test samples, often referenced in recycled content verification.
• ASTM D996 – Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments: Standardizes terminology relevant to packaging, including recycled content descriptors.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines – Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims: Provides legal context for recycled content marketing and labeling.
• Industry Best Practices:
  • Mass balance calculation methods in recycling.
  • Definitions and categorization of pre-consumer and post-consumer recovered materials.

Relevant keywords: recycled content, packaging paper, paperboard, ASTM D5663, mass balance method, fiber consistency, sustainability, recycled packaging verification

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By following ASTM D5663-15(2020), organizations can reliably validate and report the recycled content in their packaging paper and paperboard products, strengthening the integrity of sustainability claims and supporting market confidence in recycled materials.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5663 − 15 (Reapproved 2020)
Standard Guide for
Validating Recycled Content in Packaging Paper and
Paperboard
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5663; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope cations to this guide for the determination of amount of
recycled nonfibrous materials in paper products.
1.1 Thisguideprovidesanapproachforboththecalculation
and the substantiation of recycled content of finished packag- 1.3 This guide does not recommend either an amount or a
ingpaperandpaperboardproducts.Amassbalanceapproachis kind of recycled fiber or material to use since (1) the amount
recommended for use by manufacturers since no physical or and kind of recycled content in a packaging paper or paper-
chemical test method is currently available to determine board product should be agreed upon between the buyer and
absolute recycled content of a finished paper product. Calcu- the seller, and (2) the calculation and substantiation procedures
lations are based on time weighted average flows which are recommended may be used for any amount or kind of recycled
based on furnish component flow rates and consistency. Rec- material agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.
ommended approaches to the calculations include by batch or
1.4 The mass balance calculation method recommended by
bytimeweightedaverageforaspecificgradeorsimilargrades.
this guide may or may not comply with applicable federal,
Itisnotrecommendedthataveragerecyclecontentbeallocated
state, or local laws for recycled content statements intended to
by mathematical apportionment rather than by actual fiber
be received by consumers. Limited guidance on content
content. That is, if 50 % recycled fiber is used over time that is
statements is in Appendix X1.
the time weighted average. One cannot use this same data to
1.5 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
report 50 % of the production is 100 % recycled.
test method portion, Section 10, of this guide: This standard
1.1.1 Percentage calculations are based on lb/ton or kg/
does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
tonne with the time frame constrained by machine and grade
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
(see 10.1.1.1 and 10.1.1.2).
standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environ-
1.1.2 Pulping and recycling yields are not used in these
mental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
calculations. The calculations of recycled fiber content in the
limitations prior to use.
finished product is solely a function of type of fibers in the
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
furnish flows, the volume of flow and the time period consid-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ered.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.2 This guide covers (1) recycled content of packaging
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
paperandpaperboardproductsthatcontainanyamountorkind
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
of recycled fiber; and (2) methods to calculate and substantiate
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
the level(s) of recycled fiber content claimed by an agreement
between the buyer and the seller.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2.1 This guide may be used with or without modification 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
to calculate or substantiate the recycled content of packaging
D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products
paper and paperboard products when recovered nonfibrous
for Testing
materials (for example, filler) are a part of the recycled fiber
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
furnish. Limited guidance is provided for appropriate modifi-
ments
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD10onPackagingand
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.19 on Sustainability & Recycling. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2020. Published November 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D5663 – 15. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D5663-15R20. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5663 − 15 (2020)
3. Terminology recycled content greater than 10 % is not recommended. In
addition, recycled content of a shipment of product that
3.1 Definitions—Definitions shall be in accordance with
3 exceeds the degree of variation agreed upon by the buyer and
Terminology D996 and the Dictionary of Paper.
the seller should be reported by the seller to the buyer in an
agreed-upon manner.
4. Classification
6.4 Recycled content of packaging products composed of
4.1 The buyer and seller may agree to packaging paper and
two or more components should be reported as the weighted
paperboard product classes and types of their choice, which
mean recycled content of the multiple components (see 10.2).
may be from among the following classes and types:
4.1.1 Classes include, but are not limited to, any of the
6.5 All measures of recycled content should be on an air dry
following packaging paper and paperboard products: folding
or conditioned weight basis as specified by the buyer (see
boxboard, set-up boxboard; linerboard and corrugating me-
5.1.2).
dium for use in corrugated containers; tubestock; carrier board,
7. Physical Attributes
bag paper, and other related packaging paper and paperboard
products.
7.1 The average value of physical characteristics,
4.1.2 Two types of products are included: those containing
workmanship, dimensions, and appearance for any product
no virgin fiber and those containing a mixture of recycled and
shouldmeettherequirementsagreeduponbythebuyerandthe
virgin fiber.
sellerwithreferencetoappropriateASTMorstandardsofother
organizations.
5. Ordering Information
8. General Attributes
5.1 The buyer and seller of packaging paper and paperboard
products with recycled content should agree upon at least the
8.1 Acceptable defect levels and quality levels should be
following information:
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller. The use of
5.1.1 Class(es) and type(s) of product(s) (see 4.1), recycled fiber or other recycled material should not restrict the
5.1.2 Percent of recycled fiber, by air dry or conditioned
usefulness of the products covered under this guide, nor should
weight fiber dry weight, and, if appropriate, recycled material, it cause a product to not meet all specified requirements agreed
by air dry or conditioned weight, to be incorporated into a
upon between the buyer and the seller.
product (see 6.5 and 10.1 through 10.6),
9. Bid Samples
5.1.3 Degree of variation in recycled fiber or material
content allowable in shipped product (see 6.2), 9.1 When requested, the bidder should submit a representa-
5.1.4 Time period during which recycled content is to be
tive product sample for examination purposes and data to
calculated (see 10.1.1), supporttheclaimedrecycledcontent.Anexplanationshouldbe
5.1.5 Method of substantiation used to support the agreed-
included of the specific method(s) used to substantiate that
upon recycled content claim for the packaging paper or content, with indication over what time period the measure-
paperboard product, ments will be made.Aseparate sample should be submitted for
5.1.6 Format and frequency of recycled content substantia-
eachclassandtypeofpackagingpaperandpaperboardproduct
tion and reporting, and being bid on, along with supportive data and explanatory
5.1.7 Type and frequency of review by the buyer (see 12.1)
information for each. Each sample should be clearly marked
of procedures and data used by the seller to monitor compli- with the bidder’s name and address, bid number, and manu-
ancewiththeagreed-uponrecycledcontentofproduct(s)under
facturer’s name or code number.
contract.
10. Measurement Procedure
6. Composition
10.1 Recycled fiber content should be calculated as the ratio
ofrecycledfiberweighttototalfiberweightinagivenquantity
6.1 Recycled content of packaging paper and paperboard
of packaging paper or paperboard product and expressed as a
products supplied in accordance with this guide should be
percentage. The basic calculation method is as follows (see
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller (see 5.1).
Appendix X1 for an example, see 10.4.1 Eq 3 and Eq 4 when
6.2 The average recycled content for a packaging paper or
mill paper machine broke is used):
paperboard product shipped from the seller to the buyer within
RF ,% 5 ~RF 3 100!⁄~VF 1 RF ! (1)
a specified time period (see 10.1.1 through 10.1.1.3) should be
C U U U
at least equal to the contracted recycled content or be within a
where:
degree of variation (see 6.3) of that content.
RF = recycled fiber content, %,
C
6.3 The buyer and the seller may agree to a degree of
RF = weight recycled fiber used (for example, kg fiber
U
variation in the recycled content in shipped product from the
component per t of final product), and
seller to the buyer when multiple shipments will take place
VF = weight virgin fiber used.
U
over the contract period; however, any degree of variation for
10.1.1 The calculation of recycled content should be for a
fixedtimeperiodagreeduponbetweenthebuyerandtheseller.
10.1.1.1 It is recommended that a monthly or quarterly time
Available from the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, P.O.
Box 105113, Atlanta, GA 30348. period be used, as appropriate to the duration of the contract
D5663 − 15 (2020)
and production runs, for monitoring compliance of shipped 10.3.1.1 If several types of recovered or recycled material
product with its claimed level of recycled content during the are used in the manufacture of a recycled content packaging
term of the buyer-seller agreement.An alternative time period, paper or paperboard product, then the recycled content of that
however,maybeagreeduponbetweenthebuyerandtheseller. specific paper product should be calculated by Method 1 or 2,
10.1.1.2 When multiple products of varying recycled con- as follows:
tentaremanufacturedwithinaspecifiedtimeperiodonasingle (1) Method for Processing Individually—For situations
paper machine, then the recycled content for a specific product where one, or more, of the several types of recovered materials
should be calculated based upon those time intervals within to be used are processed individually into their respective
that time period during which that specific product was recycled fibers, the recycled content of the resultant paper
manufactured. product should be calculated using the amounts of each of
those recycled fibers obtained after processing their respective
NOTE 1—For example, if a calculation of monthly recycled content in
recovered materials in both the numerator and denominator of
a paperboard product is needed, and that product is manufactured for 10
Eq 2, that is, from the actual weights of recycled fiber used in
of the 30 days within that month on a specific paper machine, then only
the amount and kinds of various recycled and virgin materials used to
the paper product furnish. For example, recovered old news-
make that paper product on that paper machine during that 10-day period
printandusedofficewritingpapermaybeprocessedseparately
should be used to calculate the recycled content for that product using Eq
to acquire recycled groundwood and Kraft fiber, respectively.
1.
The yields of each of these fibers should be used to calculate
10.1.1.3 When the same product of an agreed upon recycled
the recycled fiber weights to be used in Eq 1.
content is manufactured within a specified time period on
(2) Method for Processing Together—For situations where
several paper machines, then the recycled content for that
all of the several types of recovered materials used are
specific product should be calculated based only upon those
processed together into recycled fibers, the recycled content of
intervals within that time period, for each paper machine used,
the resultant paper product should be calculated from the
during which that specific product was manufactured. For
amount of recycled fiber obtained after processing the mixture
example, if a calculation of monthly recycled content in a
ofrecoveredmaterials;thatis,fromtheactualyieldofrecycled
paperboard product is needed, and that product is manufac-
fiber used in the paper product furnish. For example, recovered
tured for 10 of the 30 days wit
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