FprEN 13590

• Abstract:

  This document specifies general characteristics and test methods for determination of volume and carrying capacity of flexible carrier bags with handles for transport of various unspecified retail goods.; This document is applicable to:; - carrier bags made of paper, thermoplastic material and/or any other flexible material;; - carrier bags with any shape and dimension;; - carrier bags with or without gussets.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 20-Jan-2027
• ICS: 55.080 - Sacks. Bags
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 261 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 261/SC 5/WG 26 - Packages made from flexible materials (e.g. flexible plastics, plastic laminates, paper/board laminated, metal foil laminates, textiles)
• Current Stage: 5020 - Submission to Vote - Formal Approval
• Start Date: 01-Oct-2026
• Due Date: 04-May-2026
• Completion Date: 01-Oct-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 13590:2026 - Packaging - Flexible carrier bags for the transport of various retail goods - General characteristics and test methods for the determination of volume and carrying capacity

• Revises: EN 13590:2003 - Packaging - Flexible carrier bags for the transport of various retail goods - General characteristics and test methods for the determination of volume and carrying capacity
• Effective Date: 15-May-2024

FprEN 13590 is a draft European Standard from CEN for flexible carrier bags with handles used to transport various retail goods. It specifies how to determine the bags’ volume and carrying capacity, and it gives the test report and marking information used by suppliers, buyers and test laboratories.

What does FprEN 13590 specify?

FprEN 13590 specifies general characteristics and test methods for flexible carrier bags with handles, including how to determine volume and carrying capacity. It applies to bags made of paper, thermoplastic material or other flexible material, in any shape and dimension, with or without gussets.

The document is organized into eight clauses and two annexes:

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Normative filling material for carrying-capacity testing
Annex B	Informative parameters to agree when ordering carrier bags

What are the key requirements of FprEN 13590?

Volume and initial test weight

Clause 4 requires volume to be determined first, using the bag dimensions shown in Figure 1 and measuring the bag empty and unloaded. The volume is calculated for shape A, B or C, and five bags are measured so the test bag volume is the average result. In practice, this gives a repeatable basis for comparing different bag designs.

Clause 4 also links volume to the starting load for carrying-capacity testing. The initial test weight can be calculated from the measured volume using the factor 0.56, or it can be agreed between supplier and customer when the standard is used to verify a stated capacity. This helps avoid starting from a very low load and makes the test faster.

Sampling, conditioning and filling material

Clause 5 requires a type test on each bag type using at least 100 bags selected at random from normal industrial production. The samples are conditioned and tested according to EN ISO 2233, condition G, with 23 °C ± 2 °C and, for humidity-sensitive bags, 50 % ± 5 % relative humidity. The filling material for capacity testing is HDPE cylinders specified in Annex A. For users, this means the test setup is standardized and the results are more comparable between laboratories.

Test equipment and carrying-capacity procedure

Clause 5 and Clause 6 define the test equipment and the carrying-capacity sequence. The bag is hung by both handles, lifted and lowered at a controlled speed of 0.65 m/s ± 0.05 m/s, and the machine uses a handle stop and turning-point control to keep the test consistent. The maximum carrying weight is determined by repeated lifting until failure or 20 lifts, with pass/fail rules based on holes, handle rupture and the number of bags that fail. In practice, this tells the user how to find the bag’s working limit and how many samples must pass at that load.

Elongation of the flexible bag

Clause 6.2 adds a separate elongation test for bags that stretch under load. One bag from the sampling batch is measured empty, loaded, left hanging for 5 minutes, then measured again after unloading, and the elongation is stated in percent. A bag passes if the elongated length after unloading does not exceed 12%. This matters when buyers need to control how much a bag changes shape during use.

Test report and marking

Clause 7 lists the information to record in the test report: the standard reference, laboratory details, test date, supplier, bag description, number of bags tested, volume, carrying capacity and elongation of the handle where applicable. Clause 8 then lists the information that can be marked after testing, including the standard reference, supplier identification, year of testing, laboratory name, carrying capacity and volume. If the bag design changes significantly, the bag is tested again.

What terms does FprEN 13590 define?

• Gusset - a fold inserted in the longitudinal edge of a tube or bag.
• Base gusset - a fold inserted in the bottom of the bag.
• Ply - a film or sheet of flexible material, or a combination of such materials, forming the bag walls.
• Handle - the part that allows hands to be inserted for carrying a load.
• Length of bag up to handle - the overall length from the bottom to the start of the handle.
• Total length of bag - the overall length from the bottom to the top, including the handle.
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) - the material used for the cylinder filling medium in Annex A.

Who uses FprEN 13590?

FprEN 13590 is used by packaging manufacturers, testing laboratories, quality managers, procurement teams and buyers of retail carrier bags. It supports product specification, type testing, incoming acceptance, supplier/customer agreements and the marking of bag performance. It is relevant wherever flexible carrier bags are ordered, tested or compared.

What changed in FprEN 13590 from the previous edition?

FprEN 13590 will supersede EN 13590:2003. The draft states these changes relative to that edition:

• the document has been revised to the updated Internal Regulations Part 3 principles and rules;
• Clause 4 and Clause 5 have been restructured;
• EN ISO 6590-1 has been added as a normative reference;
• the term and definition for total length of bag has been added;
• Figure 1 has been expanded with an additional carrier bag example;
• elongation of the flexible bag has been added to the carrying-capacity procedure;
• the responsible supplier name and address has been removed from the test report;
• elongation of the handle in percent has been added to the test report;
• year and month or week of manufacture have been removed from marking;
• year of testing has been added to marking;
• Annex B has been added.

Which standards are used with FprEN 13590?

• EN ISO 2233 - gives the conditioning method used before testing.
• EN ISO 8367-1 - gives dimensional tolerances for general purpose paper sacks.
• EN ISO 8367-2 - gives dimensional tolerances for sacks made from thermoplastic flexible film.
• ISO 6590-1 - provides vocabulary used in Clause 3 for bag terms.

What does the FprEN 13590 document contain?

FprEN 13590 contains dimension-based volume calculation methods for three bag shapes, including Figure 1 with shape examples. It also contains a carrying-capacity test setup with a controlled lifting machine, grip, handle stop and turning-point control, plus the procedure for counting lifts and deciding pass or fail. Annex A gives the HDPE cylinder specification used as filling material, and Annex B lists the parameters to agree when ordering carrier bags.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2026
Embalaža - Prožne vreče za nošenje različnega drobnega blaga - Splošne
značilnosti in preskusne metode za ugotavljanje prostornine in nosilnosti
Packaging - Flexible carrier bags for the transport of various retail goods - General
characteristics and test methods for the determination of volume and carrying capacity
Verpackung - Tragetaschen für den Transport verschiedener Einzelhandelsgüter -
Allgemeine Eigenschaften und Prüfverfahren für die Bestimmung des Volumens und der
Tragekapazität
Emballage - Sacs en matériau souple pour le transport de marchandises de détail
variées - Caractéristiques générales et méthodes d'essai pour la détermination du
volume et de la capacité de transport
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13590
ICS:
55.080 Vreče. Vrečke Sacks. Bags
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 13590
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
November 2025
ICS 55.080 Will supersede EN 13590:2003
English Version
Packaging - Flexible carrier bags for the transport of
various retail goods - General characteristics and test
methods for the determination of volume and carrying
capacity
Emballage - Sacs en matériau souple pour le transport Verpackung - Tragetaschen für den Transport
de marchandises de détail variées - Caractéristiques verschiedener Einzelhandelsgüter - Allgemeine
générales et méthodes d'essai pour la détermination Eigenschaften und Prüfverfahren für die Bestimmung
du volume et de la capacité de transport des Volumens und der Tragekapazität
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 261.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13590:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

prEN 13590:2025 (E)
Contents Page
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Determination of volume and initial carrying weight . 5
4.1 General. 5
4.2 Material . 5
4.3 Determination of volume . 5
4.3.1 General. 5
4.3.2 Volume for a carrier bag according to shape A . 6
4.3.3 Volume for a carrier bag according to shape B . 6
4.3.4 Volume for a carrier bag according to shape C . 7
4.4 Determination of initial test weight . 7
4.4.1 General. 7
4.4.2 Calculation of initial test weight . 7
4.4.3 Initial test weight by agreement . 7
5 Principles . 8
5.1 Sampling . 8
5.2 Conditioning . 8
5.3 Filling material for testing the carrying capacity . 8
5.4 Equipment . 8
6 Testing procedure for carrying capacity . 12
6.1 Determination of the maximum carrying weight . 12
6.2 Determination of the elongation of the flexible bag . 13
7 Test report . 13
8 Marking . 14
Annex A (normative) Filling material . 15
Annex B (informative) Parameters to be considered when ordering carrier bags . 16

prEN 13590:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 13590:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 261 “Packaging”,
the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 13590:2003.
prEN 13590:2025 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 13590:2003:
— the document has been revised according to the latest updated version of the principles and rules of
the Internal Regulations Part 3;
— the document has been restructured to shape two new clauses on the determination of volume and
initial carrying weight and principles, respectively;
— EN ISO 6590-1, has been listed as a normative reference in Clause 2;
— the term and definition for the total length of bag has been added to Clause 3;
— Figure 1 has been expanded to include an additional example of a carrier bag in Clause 4;
— the determination of the elongation of the flexible bag has been added to the testing procedure for
carrying capacity;
— the name and address of responsible supplier is deleted from the list of information included in the
test report;
— the elongation of the handle in percent is added to the list of information included in the test report;
— the year and month or week of manufacture has been deleted from the information included in the
marking;
— the year of testing has been added to the list of the information included in the marking;
— Annex B on Parameters to be considered when ordering carrier bag has been added to the document.

prEN 13590:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies general characteristics and test methods for determination of volume and
carrying capacity of flexible carrier bags with handles for transport of various unspecified retail goods.
This document is applicable to:
— carrier bags made of paper, thermoplastic material and/or any other flexible material;
— carrier bags with any shape and dimension;
— carrier bags with or without gussets.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN ISO 2233, Packaging — Complete, filled transport packages and unit loads — Conditioning for testing
(ISO 2233)
EN ISO 8367-1, Packaging — Dimensional tolerances for general purpose sacks — Part 1: Paper sacks
(ISO 8367-1)
EN ISO 8367-2, Packaging — Dimensional tolerances for general purpose sacks — Part 2: Sacks made from
thermoplastic flexible film (ISO 8367-2)
ISO 6590-1, Packaging — Vocabulary — Part 1: Paper sacks
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN ISO 6590-1 and the following
apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
gusset
fold inserted in the longitudinal edge of a tube or bag
3.2
base gusset
fold inserted in the bottom of the bag
3.3
tube
one or more plies in the form of a flattened cylinder cut into prescribed lengths
3.4
ply
film or sheet of flexible material, or combination of such materials, forming the walls of a bag
prEN 13590:2025 (E)
3.5
handle
device forming part of the bag allowing the insertion of hands for the easy carrying of a load
3.6
length of bag up to handle
overall length from bottom to the start of the handle, perpendicular to the bottom
3.7
width of bag
distance between the longitudinal edges of the flat bag, gusset not included, parallel to the bottom
3.8
width of bottom
distance between the two bottom edge folds or the external creases of the base gusset, measured at the
centre, parallel to the bag's length
3.9
length of handle
overall length from the top to the maximum possible filling height of the bag
3.10
width of gusset
distance between the external creases of the unfolded gusset
3.11
width of handle
minimal width of a handle measured on the flat bag
3.12
total length of bag
overall length from bottom to the top, including the handle, perpendicular to the bottom
4 Determination of volume and initial carrying weight
4.1 General
The testing procedure always starts by determining the volum
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