EN 17228:2019

Plastics - Bio-based polymers, plastics, and plastics products - Terminology, characteristics and communication

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.

Kunststoffe - Biobasierte Polymere, Kunststoffe und Kunststoffprodukte - Begriffe, Merkmale und Kommunikation

Dieses Dokument legt das Vokabular, Verfahren zur Charakterisierung sowie Vorlagen zur Berichterstattung für biobasierte Polymere, Kunststoffe und Kunststoffprodukte fest (einschließlich Kunststoffhalbzeuge und Verbundstoffe).
Durch dieses Dokument werden insbesondere Terminologie, Bestimmung des biobasierten Gehalts, Bestim¬mung des Gehalts an biobasiertem Kohlenstoff, Ökobilanzen, Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte sowie Deklarations¬instrumente abgedeckt.
Biokompatible Polymere und Kunststoffe für medizinische Anwendungen, die durch spezifische Regelungen abgedeckt werden, sind vom Anwendungsgebiet dieses Dokuments ausgeschlossen.

Plastiques - Polymères, plastiques et produits en plastique biosourcés - Terminologie, caractéristiques et communication

Le présent document spécifie le vocabulaire, les méthodes de caractérisation et les modèles de consignation des données concernant les polymères, plastiques et produits en plastique biosourcés (y compris les produits en plastique semi-finis et les composites).
Le présent document traite en particulier des points suivants : terminologie, teneur biosourcée, teneur en carbone biosourcé, analyse du cycle de vie, critères de durabilité et outils de déclaration.
Les polymères et plastiques biocompatibles pour les applications médicales couverts par des dispositions spécifiques sont hors du domaine d’application du présent document.

Polimerni materiali - Polimeri na biološki osnovi, polimerni materiali in izdelki iz polimernih materialov - Terminologija, lastnosti in komunikacija

Ta evropski standard določa besedišče, metode za opis lastnosti in predloge za poročanje o polimerih na biološki osnovi, polimernih materialih ter izdelkih iz polimernih materialov (vključno s polizdelki iz polimernih materialov in kompoziti).
Ta evropski standard zajema zlasti naslednje: terminologijo, vsebino na biološki osnovi, vsebnost ogljika na biološki osnovi, oceno življenjskega cikla, trajnostne vidike in deklaracijska orodja.
Biozdružljivi polimeri in polimerni materiali za medicinsko uporabo, ki jih zajemajo posebne določbe, ne spadajo na področje uporabe tega evropskega standarda.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 12-Mar-2019
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Sep-2019
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 249 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 249/WG 9 - Characterisation of degradability
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 30-Nov-2024
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Mandate: M/430 - Mandate addressed to CEN for the development of European Standards and CEN workshop agreements for BIO-Polymers and BIO-Lubricants in relation to BIO-Based products aspects
• Ref Project: SIST EN 17228:2019 - Plastics - Bio-based polymers, plastics, and plastic products - Terminology, characteristics and communication

Relations

• Replaces: CEN/TS 16398:2012 - Plastics - Template for reporting and communication of bio-based carbon content and recovery options of biopolymers and bioplastics - Data sheet
• Effective Date: 08-Jun-2022
• Replaces: CEN/TR 15932:2010 - Plastics - Recommendation for terminology and characterisation of biopolymers and bioplastics
• Effective Date: 08-Jun-2022
• Replaces: CEN/TS 16295:2012 - Plastics - Declaration of the bio-based carbon content
• Effective Date: 08-Jun-2022
• Replaces: CEN/TS 16137:2011 - Plastics - Determination of bio-based carbon content
• Effective Date: 20-Mar-2019

Overview

EN 17228:2019 (CEN) defines a common framework for describing, characterizing and reporting on bio-based polymers, plastics and plastics products (including semi‑finished products and composites). It specifies vocabulary, methods for quantifying bio‑based content, guidance on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and sustainability aspects, and declaration tools (templates and data sheets) for consistent Business‑to‑Business (B2B) and Business‑to‑Consumer (B2C) communication. Biocompatible polymers for medical applications covered by specific medical provisions are excluded.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Terminology and definitions: establishes precise terms (e.g., bio‑based, bio‑based polymer, bio‑based content, bio‑based carbon content, biodegradable) to avoid misleading “bio” claims.
• Bio‑based carbon content: measurement methods are referenced (radiocarbon method - EN 16640; ISO 16620‑2) and how results should be used for communication.
• Bio‑based content (mass): allowed determination routes include radiocarbon/elemental analysis (EN 16785‑1), material balance methods (EN 16785‑2) and ISO 16620‑4.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): emphasizes that bio‑based content alone does not indicate environmental performance; LCA guidance is provided via EN 16760 and aligns with EN ISO 14040/14044.
• Sustainability aspects: references EN 16751 for horizontal sustainability criteria (environmental, social and economic pillars); the standard notes sustainability should be assessed separately from bio‑based content.
• Declaration tools and communication: templates and example data sheets (Annex A/B) and rules for B2B and B2C claims to ensure transparent, verifiable information downstream and to consumers.
• Practical note on claims: EN 17228 does not set a mandatory minimum bio‑based threshold but highlights common practice and guidance against claiming “bio‑based” for products with very low bio‑based mass (industry discussion around 25% is noted as a cautionary reference, not a formal requirement).

Applications - who uses this standard

• Manufacturers and compounders of bio‑based polymers and composites for consistent product declarations.
• Product designers and OEMs integrating bio‑based components who need verifiable material data.
• Quality, regulatory and sustainability teams preparing compliant B2B/B2C communications and labels.
• LCA practitioners and procurement professionals assessing environmental performance and supplier claims.
• Certification bodies and auditors verifying bio‑based content and sustainability information.

Related standards

• EN 16575 (vocabulary), EN 16640 (radiocarbon), EN 16785‑1/‑2 (bio‑based content), ISO 16620‑2/‑4, EN 16751 (sustainability), EN 16760 (LCA guidance), EN 16848 (B2B data sheet), EN ISO 14020/14040/14044.

EN 17228:2019 provides a harmonized basis for transparent, comparable and verifiable reporting on bio‑based plastics - essential for credible marketing, procurement and environmental assessment.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Polimerni materiali - Polimeri na biološki osnovi, polimerni materiali in izdelki iz polimernih materialov - Terminologija, lastnosti in komunikacijaKunststoffe - Biobasierte Polymere, Kunststoffe und Kunststoffprodukte - Begriffe, Merkmale und KommunikationPlastiques - Polymères, plastiques et produits en plastique biosourcés - Terminologie, caractéristiques et communicationPlastics - Bio-based polymers, plastics, and plastic products - Terminology, characteristics and communication83.080.01Polimerni materiali na splošnoPlastics in general13.020.55Biološki izdelkiBiobased productsICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 17228:2019SIST EN 17228:2019en,fr,de01-maj-2019SIST EN 17228:2019SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST-TS CEN/TS 16295:2012SIST-TS CEN/TS 16398:2014SIST-TP CEN/TR 15932:2011SIST-TS CEN/TS 16137:20111DGRPHãþD

EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 17228
March
t r s {
s x u { zã t r s tEnglish Version
Plastics æ Bioæbased polymersá plasticsá and plastics products æ Terminologyá characteristics and communication Plastiques æ Polymèresá plastiques et produits en plastique biosourcés æ Terminologieá caractéristiques et communication
Kunststoffe æ Biobasierte Polymereá Kunststoffe und Kunststoffprodukte æ Begriffeá Merkmale und Kommunikation This European Standard was approved by CEN on
t s January
t r s {ä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Serbiaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey and United Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Rue de la Science 23,
B-1040 Brussels
t r s { CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s y t t zã t r s { ESIST EN 17228:2019

Contents Page European foreword . 3 Introduction . 4 1 Scope . 6 2 Normative references . 6 3 Terms and definitions . 7 4 Bio-based content and bio-based carbon content determination . 9 4.1 General.
{ 4.2 Bio-based carbon content .
{ 4.3 Bio-based content .
{ 5 Sustainability aspects . 9 6 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) . 9 7 Declaration tools .10 7.1 General. 10 7.2 Business to business communication . 10 7.3 Business to consumer communication . 10 Annex A (informative)
Example Data Sheets for the declaration of the characteristics of a bio-based plastic and a bio-based plastics product .11 Annex B (informative)
Examples of different ways to display information on bio-based plastics products .15 Bibliography .17
t v { òPlasticsóá the secretariat of which is held by NBN. This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standardá either by publication of an identical text or by endorsementá at the latest by September
t r s {á and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by September
t r s {. Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. This document supersedes CEN/TR
s w { u t:2010á CEN/TS 16137:2011á CEN/TS
s x t { w:2012á CEN/TS
s x u { z:2012. CEN for the development of European Standards and CEN workshop agreements for bio-polymers and bio-lubricants in relation to bio-e mandate M/430 requested the preparation of interim outputs for biopolymers. The interim outputs were: CEN/TS 16137:2011á CEN/TS
s x t { w:2012á CEN/TS
s x u { z:2012á and CEN/TR
s w { u t:2010. The mandate also requested to develop as final output and on the same basis a European Standard for biopolymers. This document represents the final output and will supersede the interim outputs taking into account the standards -based products". According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulationsá the national standards organisations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standardã Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Serbiaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey and the United Kingdom. SIST EN 17228:2019

In the market today there are different fossil based plastics which are biodegradable according to the relevant standards and there are also plastics which are made from biomass and are highly resistant to biodegradation. One historically relevant example is polycaprolactone (PCL) which is industrially prepared starting from cyclohexanoneá a typical petrochemicalä The biodegradability of PCL in several environments has been well known since the
s { y rsä On the other handá there are different bio-based materials in the market which are not biodegradable according to the relevant standardsä For exampleã recalcitrant to biodegradation. This is cause of concern as it can be the source of misleading information and confusion across the supply chain and especially for the final consumersä Thereforeá when referring to the origin of the feedstock it is essential to use the correct and precise terminology: bio-based polymer/plastics/plastics product instead of biopolymer/bioplastics/bioplastics product. Polymers derived from biomass have to be distinguished into two groups. The first group included polymersá whicmicroorganisms) and have been extracted and purified. The initial chemical structure is used (e.g. SIST EN 17228:2019

EN 16575á Bio-based products — Vocabulary EN 16640:2017á Bio-based products — Bio-based carbon content — Determination of the bio-based carbon content using the radiocarbon method EN 16785-1:2015á Bio-based products — Bio-based content — Part 1: Determination of the bio-based content using the radiocarbon analysis and elemental analysis EN 16785-2á Bio-based products — Bio-based content — Part 2: Determination of the bio-based content using the material balance method EN 16848á Bio-based products — Requirements for Business to Business communication of characteristics using a Data Sheet EN 16 { u wá Bio-based products — Requirements for Business-to-Consumer communication and claims EN ISO 14020á Environmental labels and declarations — General principles (ISO 14020) ISO 16620-2:2015á Plastics — Biobased content — Part 2: Determination of biobased carbon content ISO 16620-4á Plastics — Biobased content — Part 4: Determination of biobased mass content SIST EN 17228:2019

Note 2 to entry: The correct spelling of òbio--). It is however in common usage sometimes spelt without a hyphen. [SOURCE: adapted from EN 16575:2014á definition 2.1] 3.2 bio-based polymer polymer wholly or partly derived from biomass 3.3 bio-based composite composite material wholly or partly derived from biomass 3.4 bio-based plastic plastic wholly or partly derived from biomass 3.5 biocompatible compatible with human or animal tissues and suitable for medical therapy 3.6 biodegradable status of a polymeric item that can be biodegraded [SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006á definition 5.2.c) 5] 3.7 biodegradation degradation caused by biological activityá especially by enzymatic actioná leading to a significant change in the chemical structure of a material [SOURCE: ISO 15270:2008á definition 3.4] SIST EN 17228:2019

EXAMPLES (whole or
[SOURCE: adapted from CEN/TR 16208:2011á definition 3.1.4] 3.9 3.9.1 composite
´fibre reinforcement µ solid product consisting of two or more distinct phasesá including a binding material (matrix) and a particulate or fibrous material EXAMPLE Moulding material containing reinforcing fibresá particulate fillers or hollow spheresä [SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013á definition 2.182.1] 3.9.2 composite solid product consisting of two or more film or sheetá normal or syntactic cellular plasticá metalá wood or a composite in accordance with definition in
tä s z tä sá with or without adhesive
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