ASTM D5663-97(2011)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Validating Recycled Content in Packaging Paper and Paperboard
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.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: D5663 − 97(Reapproved 2011) An American National Standard
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 standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
1.1 Thisguideprovidesanapproachforboththecalculation
to use.
and the substantiation of recycled content of finished packag-
ingpaperandpaperboardproducts.Amassbalanceapproachis
2. Referenced Documents
recommended for use by manufacturers since no physical or
2.1 ASTM Standards:
chemical test method is currently available to determine
D1968 Terminology Relating to Paper and Paper Products
absolute recycled content of a finished paper product.
(Withdrawn 2010)
1.2 This guide covers (1) recycled content of packaging
paperandpaperboardproductsthatcontainanyamountorkind 3. Terminology
of recycled fiber; and (2) methods to calculate and substantiate
3.1 Definitions—Definitions shall be in accordance with
the level(s) of recycled fiber content claimed by an agreement 4
Terminology D1968 and the Dictionary of Paper.
between the buyer and the seller.
1.2.1 This guide may be used with or without modification
4. Classification
to calculate or substantiate the recycled content of packaging
4.1 The buyer and seller may agree to packaging paper and
paper and paperboard products when recovered nonfibrous
paperboard product classes and types of their choice, which
materials (for example, filler) are a part of the recycled fiber
may be from among the following classes and types:
furnish. Limited guidance is provided for appropriate modifi-
4.1.1 Classes include, but are not limited to, any of the
cations to this guide for the determination of amount of
following packaging paper and paperboard products: folding
recycled nonfibrous materials in paper products.
boxboard, set-up boxboard; linerboard and corrugating me-
1.3 This guide does not recommend either an amount or a
dium for use in corrugated containers; tubestock; carrier board,
kind of recycled fiber or material to use since (1) the amount
bag paper, and other related packaging paper and paperboard
and kind of recycled content in a packaging paper or paper-
products.
board product should be agreed upon between the buyer and
4.1.2 Two types of products are included: those containing
the seller, and (2) the calculation and substantiation procedures
no virgin fiber and those containing a mixture of recycled and
recommended may be used for any amount or kind of recycled
virgin fiber.
material agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.
5. Ordering Information
1.4 The mass balance calculation method recommended by
5.1 Thebuyerandsellerofpackagingpaperandpaperboard
this guide may or may not comply with applicable federal,
products with recycled content should agree upon at least the
state, or local laws for recycled content statements intended to
following information:
be received by consumers. Limited guidance on content
5.1.1 Class(es) and type(s) of product(s) (see 4.1),
statements is in Appendix X1.
5.1.2 Percent of recycled fiber, by fiber dry weight, and, if
1.5 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
appropriate, recycled material, by total dry weight, to be
test method portion, Section 10, of this guide: This standard
incorporated into a product (see 10.1 through 10.6),
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
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD10onPackagingand the ASTM website.
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.19 on Sustainability & Recycling. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2011. Published April 2012. Originally www.astm.org.
published as D5663 – 95. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D5663 – 97 Available from the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, P.O.
(2003). DOI: 10.1520/D5663-97R11. Box 105113, Atlanta, GA 30348.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5663 − 97 (2011)
5.1.3 Degree of variation in recycled fiber or material included of the specific method(s) used to substantiate that
content allowable in shipped product (see 6.2), content, with indication over what time period the measure-
5.1.4 Time period during which recycled content is to be ments will be made.Aseparate sample should be submitted for
calculated (see 10.1.1), eachclassandtypeofpackagingpaperandpaperboardproduct
5.1.5 Method of substantiation used to support the agreed- being bid on, along with supportive data and explanatory
upon recycled content claim for the packaging paper or information for each. Each sample should be clearly marked
paperboard product, with the bidder’s name and address, bid number, and manu-
5.1.6 Format and frequency of recycled content substantia- facturer’s name or code number.
tion and reporting, and
5.1.7 Type and frequency of review by the buyer (see 12.1) 10. Measurement Procedure
of procedures and data used by the seller to monitor compli-
10.1 Recycledfibercontentshouldbecalculatedastheratio
ancewiththeagreed-uponrecycledcontentofproduct(s)under
ofrecycledfiberweighttototalfiberweightinagivenquantity
contract.
of packaging paper or paperboard product and expressed as a
percentage. The basic calculation method is as follows (see
6. Composition
Appendix X1 for an example):
6.1 Recycled content of packaging paper and paperboard
RF 3100
U
products supplied in accordance with this guide should be
RF ,% 5 (1)
C
VF 1RF
U U
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller (see 5.1).
where:
6.2 The average recycled content for a packaging paper or
paperboard product shipped from the seller to the buyer within RF = recycled fiber content, %,
C
a specified time period (see 10.1.1 through 10.1.1.3) should be RF = recycled fiber used, and
U
VF = virgin fiber used.
at least equal to the contracted recycled content or be within a
U
degree of variation (see 6.3) of that content.
10.1.1 The calculation of recycled content should be for a
6.3 The buyer and the seller may agree to a degree of fixedtimeperiodagreeduponbetweenthebuyerandtheseller.
variation in the recycled content in shipped product from the
10.1.1.1 It is recommended that a monthly or quarterly time
seller to the buyer when multiple shipments will take place
period be used, as appropriate to the duration of the contract
over the contract period; however, any degree of variation for
and production runs, for monitoring compliance of shipped
recycled content greater than 10 % is not recommended. In
product with its claimed level of recycled content during the
addition, recycled content of a shipment of product that
term of the buyer-seller agreement.An alternative time period,
exceeds the degree of variation agreed upon by the buyer and
however,maybeagreeduponbetweenthebuyerandtheseller.
the seller should be reported by the seller to the buyer in an
10.1.1.2 When multiple products of varying recycled con-
agreed-upon manner.
tentaremanufacturedwithinaspecifiedtimeperiodonasingle
paper machine, then the recycled content for a specific product
6.4 Recycled content of packaging products composed of
should be calculated based upon those time intervals within
two or more components should be reported as the weighted
that time period during which that specific product was
mean recycled content of the multiple components (see 10.2).
manufactured.
6.5 All measures of recycled content should be on a dry
weight (0 % moisture) basis. NOTE 1—For example, if a calculation of monthly recycled content in
a paperboard product is needed, and that product is manufactured for 10
of the 30 days within that month on a specific paper machine, then only
7. Physical Attributes
the amount and kinds of various recycled and virgin materials used to
7.1 The average value of physical characteristics,
make that paper product on that paper machine during that 10-day period
workmanship, dimensions, and appearance for any product should be used to calculate the recycled content for that product using Eq
1.
shouldmeettherequirementsagreeduponbythebuyerandthe
sellerwithreferencetoappropriateASTMorstandardsofother
10.1.1.3 Whenthesameproductofanagreeduponrecycled
organizations.
content is manufactured within a specified time period on
several paper machines, then the recycled content for that
8. General Attributes
specific product should be calculated based only upon those
8.1 Acceptable defect levels and quality levels should be
intervals within that time period, for each paper machine used,
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller. The use of
during which that specific product was manufactured. For
recycled fiber or other recycled material should not restrict the
example, if a calculation of monthly recycled content in a
usefulnessoftheproductscoveredunderthisguide,norshould
paperboard product is needed, and that product is manufac-
it cause a product to not meet all specified requirements agreed
tured for 10 of the 30 days within that month on one paper
upon between the buyer and the seller.
machine and for 15 of the 30 days within that month on a
second paper machine, then only the amount and kinds of
9. Bid Samples
various recycled and virgin materials used to make that paper
9.1 When requested, the bidder should submit a representa- product during those 10 and 15-day periods on the respective
tive product sample for examination purposes and data to paper machines should be used to calculate the recycled
supporttheclaimedrecycledcontent.Anexplanationshouldbe content for that product by using Eq 1.
D5663 − 97 (2011)
10.2 The recycled content for a composite packaging paper processed together into recycled fibers, the recycled content of
or paperboard product composed of two or more components the resultant paper product should be calculated as in 10.3.1
(for example, corrugating medium plus liner board) should be from the amount of recycled fiber obtained after processing the
calculated as the weighted mean recycled content of each of its mixture of recovered materials; that is, from the actual yield of
components, as follows (see Appendix X1 for an example): recycled fiber used in the paper product furnish. For example,
recovered old newsprint and used office writing paper may be
X P 1 X P 1…1 X P
~ !~ ! ~ !~ ! ~ !~ !
1 1 2 2 n n
5 recycled content, % (2)
processed together to acquire a mixture of recycled fiber. The
yield of mixed recycled fiber should be used in Eq 1.
where:
10.3.2 When the paper manufacturer uses recycled fiber
n = number of components in the composite paper pack- processedbyarecycledpulpsupplier,thatpulpsuppliershould
aging material, substantiate the amount of recycled fiber in its recycled pulp.
th
X = weight of recycled material in the n component
This may be calculated using the amount of recycled fiber
n
calculated using Eq 1,%,and
obtained after processing that recovered material; that is, by
th
P = weight of the n component in a composite packaging
n accounting for the yield of recycled fiber from recovered paper
material, %.
material in its process (as in Eq 3). The recycled-pulp suppli-
er’s substantiated amount of recycled fiber content should be
10.2.1 An individual calculation of recycled content within
used to determine recycled content in a specified paper product
a given time period (see 10.1.1 through 10.1.1.3) for each
made from that fiber by the packaging paper or paperboard
component should be made and recorded.
manufacturer.
10.3 The amount of recycled material in a given quantity of
10.4 The amount of virgin fiber used in a given quantity of
paper product (that is, used in Eq 1) should be determined by
paper product (that is, used in Eq 1), if present, should be
the method in 10.3.1 or 10.3.2, as follows:
determined by the method in 10.4.1 or 10.4.2, as follows:
10.3.1 When the paper manufacturer processes non-virgin
10.4.1 When the paper manufacturer utilizes mill broke in
material into recycled fiber, then the recycled content of a
the manufacture of a paper product, then the virgin fiber
specific paper product made from that recycled fiber should be
content of that mill broke is determined by calculating the
calculated using the amount of recycled fiber obtained after
amount of virgin fiber obtained after processing that mill
processing that recovered material; that is, from the actual
broke; that is, from the actual yield of virgin fiber used in the
yield of recycled fiber used in the furnish. The amount of
papermaking furnish.The amount of virgin fiber obtained after
recycled fiber obtained after processing may be calculated by
processing may be calculated by multiplying the weight of the
multiplying the weight of the recovered paper material pro-
virgin fiber portion of mill broke processed by an appropriate
cessed by an appropriate yield factor for that material (relative
yield factor for that material (relative to virgin fiber) as
to recycled fiber) in that manufacturer’s specific process, as
follows:
follows:
VF 5 VF 3YF (4)
O MBP
RF 5 NM 3YF (3)
O P
where:
where:
VF = virgin fiber obtained,
O
RF = recycled fiber obtained,
O
VF = virgin fiber portion of mill broke processed, and
MBP
NM = nonvirgin material processed, and
P
YF = yield factor.
YF = yield factor.
10.4.2 When the paper manufacturer uses virgin fiber pro-
10.3.1.1 If several types of recovered or recycled material
cessedbyapulpsupplier,thatpulpsuppliershouldsubstantiate
are used in the manufacture of a recycled content packaging
theamountofvirginfiberinitspulpmaterialbyaccountingfor
paper or paperboard product, then the recycled content of that
the yield of virgin fiber from whatever material source is used
specific paper product should be calculated by Method 1 or 2,
in its process (as in Eq 4). The pulp supplier’s substantiated
as follows:
amount of virgin fiber content should be used in Eq 1.
(1) Method for Processing Individually—For situations
where one, or more, of the several types of recovered materials 10.5 Yield factors (for Eq 3 or Eq 4)
...
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