Plastics - Declaration of the bio-based carbon content

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.

Kunststoffe - Deklaration des Gehaltes an biobasiertem Kohlenstoff

Die vorliegende Technische Spezifikation beschreibt die Anforderungen an die Deklaration, einschließlich Erklärungen und Kennzeichnungen, des Gehalts an biobasiertem Kohlenstoff von Erzeugnissen, wie z. B. Polymere, Kunststoffe, Halbzeuge aus Kunststoff und fertige Kunststoffprodukte einschließlich Verbundstoffe.
ANMERKUNG 1   Dieses Dokument setzt weder die gesetzlich geforderte(n) Umweltinformationen, Aussagen oder Kennzeichnung oder sonstige geltenden gesetzlichen Bestimmungen außer Kraft noch verändert diese in irgendeiner Weise.
ANMERKUNG 2   Dieses Dokument befasst sich mit dem Gehalt von biobasiertem Kohlenstoff in Kunststofferzeugnissen, der als Anteil des Gesamtgehalts an organischem Kohlenstoff angegeben wird. Die Deklaration des Gehalts an Biomasse, d. h. der in einem Kunststofferzeugnis enthaltenen Gesamtmenge an Rohstoffen biogener Herkunft, die als prozentualer Anteil der Gesamtmasse angegeben wird, liegt außerhalb des Anwendungsbereiches dieses Dokuments, weil derzeit kein gesichertes Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Gehalts an Polymeren oder Kunststoff¬en an Biomasse existiert.
ANMERKUNG 3   Da biobasierte Kunststoffe abbaubar oder nicht abbaubar sein können, und die Herkunft des Werkstoffs erneuerbar oder nicht erneuerbar, (siehe CEN/TR 15932), ist die Deklaration des biobasierten Kohlenstoffanteils kein Hinweis auf die Bioabbaubarkeit des Erzeugnisses.

Plastiques - Déclaration de la teneur en carbone biosourcé

La présente Spécification technique fournit des exigences relatives à la déclaration, y compris les mentions et les étiquettes, de la teneur en carbone biosourcé d’articles tels que les polymères, les matériaux plastiques, les produits plastiques semi-finis et les produits plastiques finis, y compris les produits composites.
NOTE 1   Le présent document n’annule ni ne modifie en aucune façon les informations, les déclarations ou l’étiquetage relatifs à l’environnement qui sont prévus par la loi, ou toute autre exigence légale.
NOTE 2   Ce document concerne la teneur en carbone biosourcé d’articles en plastique, exprimée sous forme de fraction de la teneur en carbone organique total. La déclaration de la teneur en biomasse, c'est-à-dire de la quantité totale de matières premières d’origine biogénique dans un article en plastique, exprimée en pourcentage de la masse totale, n’entre pas dans le domaine d’application de ce document. En effet, il n’existe actuellement aucune méthode bien établie pour déterminer la teneur en biomasse des matériaux polymères ou plastiques.
NOTE 3   Les polymères pouvant être biodégradables ou non, et l’origine des matériaux renouvelable ou non (voir le CEN/TR 15932), en conséquence la déclaration de la teneur en carbone biosourcé n’est pas une indication de la biodégradabilité d’un article.

Polimerni materiali - Izjava o deležu ogljika biološkega izvora

V tej tehnični specifikaciji so določene zahteve za izjavo, vključno z navedbami in etiketami, o deležu ogljika biološkega izvora v materialih, kot so polimeri, polimerni materiali, plastični polizdelki in končni plastični izdelki, vključno s kompoziti.

General Information

Status
Withdrawn
Publication Date
14-Feb-2012
Withdrawal Date
12-Mar-2019
Technical Committee
Current Stage
9960 - Withdrawal effective - Withdrawal
Completion Date
13-Mar-2019

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SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2012
Polimerni materiali - Izjava o deležu ogljika biološkega izvora
Plastics - Declaration of the bio-based carbon content
Kunststoffe - Deklaration des Gehaltes an biobasiertem Kohlenstoff
Plastiques - Déclaration de la teneur en carbone biosourcé
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TS 16295:2012
ICS:
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CEN/TS 16295
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
February 2012
ICS 83.080.01
English Version
Plastics - Declaration of the bio-based carbon content
Plastiques - Déclaration de la teneur en carbone biosourcé Kunststoffe - Deklaration des Gehaltes an biobasiertem
Kohlenstoff
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 20 September 2011 for provisional application.

The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to submit their
comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.

CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS available
promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in parallel to the CEN/TS)
until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.

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, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2012 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TS 16295:2012: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3
Introduction .4
1 Scope .5
2 Normative references .5
3 Terms and definitions .5
4 Symbols and abbreviations .6
4.1 Symbols .6
4.2 Abbreviations .7
5 Determination of the bio-based carbon content .7
6 Evaluation and verification of the declaration of the bio-based carbon content .8
7 Declaration of the bio-based carbon content .8
7.1 Principle .8
7.2 Relevance of the declaration of the bio-based carbon content .9
7.3 Declaration by statement .9
7.4 Declaration by using a label .9
Annex A (informative) Examples of calculation of the bio-based carbon content for plastics
materials or component of products . 10
Annex B (informative) Examples of declaration of the bio-based carbon content for bio-based
products . 12
B.1 General . 12
B.2 Examples . 12
Bibliography . 14

Foreword
This document (CEN/TS 16295:2012) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics”, the
secretariat of which is held by NBN.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to announce this Technical Specification: 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, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Introduction
Development of bio-based materials is considered to be an important prospect for Europe. This development
finds its value in the strategic use of resources, in the effort to shift from fossil resources (under depletion
conditions and imported from the global market) to bio-based resources (renewable and sourced in the
domestic market) and in the attempt of reducing the environmental impact of materials and products. Efficient
use of all available resources and responsible utilization of renewable carbon is a way to participate to this
reduction. It is also important to underline that available resources should be preferred also taking into
consideration sustainability and environmental impacts following the life cycle thinking approach. Generally
speaking, the biological origin of a material does not provide a certainty that the material is of low
environmental impact.
CEN/TR 15932 [1] gives recommendations for the terminology and the characterisation of biopolymers and
bioplastics.
The bio-based polymers represent a relevant growing industrial sector. Bio-based polymers are, totally or
partially, based on biomass, namely recently fixed organic matter.
In order to inform users, customers and stakeholders with a transparent and reliable communication about
bio-based polymers, it is important to point out, quantify, and declare the bio-based carbon content.
1 Scope
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.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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.
CEN/TS 16137:2011, Plastics — Determination of the bio-based carbon content
EN ISO 14020, Environmental labels and declarations — General principles (ISO 14020:2000)
EN ISO 14021, Environmental labels and declarations — Self-declared environmental claims (Type II
environmental labelling) (ISO 14021:1999)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
biomass
material of biological origin excluding material embedded in geological formation or fossilized
[Source: CEN/TR 15932:2010]
3.2
bio-based
derived from biomass
[Source: CEN/TR 15932:2010]
3.3
bio-based polymer
polymer in which constitutional units are totally or in part from biomass origin
[Source: CEN/TR 15932:2010]
3.4
bio-based carbon content
amount of carbon in a sample that is of recent origin, as evidenced by its C isotope content
[Source: CEN/TR 15932:2010]
3.5
total carbon
TC
quantity of carbon present in a material or an article in the form of organic, inorganic and elemental carbon
3.6
total organic carbon
TOC
quantity of carbon that is converted into carbon dioxide by combustion and which is not liberated as carbon
dioxide by acid treatment
[Source: EN 13137:2001]
3.7
constituent of a plastics material
chemical material and substance which a plastics material is composed of
3.8
component
part of product that can be separated by hand or by using simple physical means
3.9
composite
solid product consisting of two or more distinct phases, including a binding material (matrix) and a particulate
or fibrous material
3.10
multilayer product
product consisting of two or more layers of plastic film or sheet, cellular plastic material, metal, wood or
composite with or without adhesive interlayer(s)
3.11
multi-material
material made of more than one material
Note 1 to entry: A multi-material item may be e.g. a composite or a multilayer product.
3.12
integrated component
part of a product that can be easily differentiated but not easily separated by hand or by using simple physical
means
4 Symbols and abbreviations
4.1 Symbols
TOC
x total organic carbon content, expressed as a percentage of the mass of the sample
TOC
x bio-based carbon content by total organic carbon content, expressed as a percentage of the total
B
organic carbon content
4.2 Abbreviations
TOC total organic carbon
5 Determination of the bio-based carbon content
The polymer or plastic material/product shall be characterised in terms of percentage of the bio-based carbon,
TOC
expressed as a fraction of the total organic carbon content (x ). The bio-based carbon content of the
B
polymer or plastic/product shall be determined according to CEN/TS 16137 provided that the minimum total
organic carbon content is 5 %.
NOTE CEN/TS 16137:2011 is technically equivalent to ASTM D 6866-11 [2]. Though Method A (PSM) of
CEN/TS 16137:2011 is deleted in ASTM D 6866 11 [2], the test results obtained by CEN/TS 16137:2011, Method A, are
considered to be reliable provided that the bio-based carbon content has been determined for an item with a high carbon
fraction.
This document does not take into consideration the content of inorganic carbon (e.g. fillers) which contributes
to the total carbon content of the polymer or plastic material and to fossil CO release in case of incineration.
The bio-based carbon content of the item shall be either determined by testing the item or calculation
according to Equation (1) provided that the bio-based carbon content of each constituent/component have
been determined according to CEN/TS 16137.
TOC TOC
(w ×x ×x )
∑ i B
TOC i
i
x item = (1)
B
TOC
()w ×x
∑ i
i
where
TOC
x is the bio-based carbon content by total organic carbon content of the item, expressed as a
B
item
percentage of the total organic carbon content of the item;
TOC
x is the bio-based carbon content by total organic carbon content of the constituent/component
B
i
(i), expressed as a percentage of the total organic carbon content;
w is the dry mass fraction of the constituent/component (i), expressed as a percentage of the
i
total mass of the item;
TOC
x is the total organic carbon content of the constituent/component (i), expressed as a

i
percentage of the mass of the constituent/component (i).

If other constituents, which were not present in the original polymer/material, are used to manufacture the
item, then the polymer or material shall be considered as a new polymer or material whose bio-based carbon
content shall be either measured or calculated according to Equation (1).
This requirement does not apply if the extra-constituents are below 3 % in mass of the original labelled
polymer/plastic material. The extra-constituents are counted as non-bio-based. This exception may apply e.g.,
when a final product is printed and coloured.
When they are used as constituents of plasti
...

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