ISO/FDIS 16636

Plastics — Disintegration field test of plastics under water environmental conditions

This document specifies test methods for the determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials floating in water. NOTE The disintegration test is a field test performed under natural environmental conditions in a part of the sublittoral zone, the shores of lakes or rivers, and the test samples are immersed to a depth between 1,5 m to 3 m from water surface. This document specifies the general requirements of the apparatus and the procedures for using the test methods described. This document is not suitable for the assessment of disintegration caused by heat or light exposure. The described field test is a disintegration test and not a biodegradation test. Therefore, it cannot be used for demonstrating biodegradation or for making unqualified claims such as “biodegradable in marine environment” and similar.

Plastiques — Essai sur site de désintégration des plastiques dans les conditions d'un environnement aquatique

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• ICS: 13.020.40 - Pollution, pollution control and conservation
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 61/SC 14 - Environmental aspects
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 61/SC 14 - Environmental aspects
• Current Stage: 5000 - FDIS registered for formal approval
• Start Date: 05-Dec-2024
• Due Date: 05-Dec-2024
• Completion Date: 05-Dec-2024

Standards Content (Sample)

FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/TC 61/SC 14
Plastics — Disintegration field
Secretariat: DIN
test of plastics under water
Voting begins on:
environmental conditions
2025-01-20
Plastiques — Essai sur site de désintégration des plastiques dans
Voting terminates on:
les conditions d'un environnement aquatique
2025-03-17
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 SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO­
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/TC 61/SC 14
Plastics — Disintegration field
Secretariat: DIN
test of plastics under water
Voting begins on:
environmental conditions
Plastiques — Essai sur site de désintégration des plastiques dans
Voting terminates on:
les conditions d'un environnement aquatique
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 SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO 2025
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO­
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3  Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5  Test procedure . 3
5.1 Test material .3
5.2 Reference material .3
5.3 Preparation of test and reference materials .3
5.4 Number of replicates .4
5.5 Immersion in water .5
5.6 Water conditions .6
5.6.1 General .6
5.6.2 Determination of number of microorganisms in water .6
5.6.3 Analysis of microbial community composition in seawater (optional) .6
5.6.4 Properties of water .6
5.7 Termination of the field test and sampling interval .6
6  Analysis and monitoring of the field test . 7
6.1 Photographic documentation .7
6.2 Determination of disintegration .7
6.2.1 General .7
6.2.2 Calculating degree of disintegration of test material based on weight
determination .7
6.2.3 Calculating degree of disintegration rate (film thickness decrease rate) of film
sample .8
6.2.4 Calculating degree of disintegration rate (weight loss rate) of the sample other
than film .8
6.3 Analysing characteristics of plastic materials (optional) .9
6.4 Monitoring environmental parameters (recommended) .9
7 Test report .10
Annex A (informative)  Example of results for disintegrated plastic materials in real sea .11
Annex B (informative)  Microbial counts in sea water .15
Bibliography .16

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 14, Environmental
aspects.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
Marine plastic litter has been continuously increasing. Plastic waste released in the environment eventually
reaches the rivers, the lakes and the sea, floats on the water surface, and some of them sink to the riverbed,
lakebed and seabed. Floating plastic litter has a significant negative impact on aquatic life due to accidental
ingestion or entangling. To minimize the risk of plastic waste, it is recommended that plastics become low
molecular weight by microbial action, lose strength, and disintegrate. Biodegradable plastics are designed to
disintegrate in this way. The biodegradation of plastics in the marine environment is defined in laboratory
tests, such as ISO 18830, ISO 19679, ISO 22404, ISO 23977-1 and ISO 23977-2. ISO 23832 describes a test
method for the determination of the degradation rate and disintegration degree. However, these test
methods do not measure disintegration under environmental conditions. ISO 22766 applies to disintegration
only in the sandy sublittoral and the sandy eulittoral zone.
This document provides a test method for determining the disintegration degree of biodegradable plastic
materials floating on the water surface. It can only apply if the biodegradation test according to the ISO
standard, for example ISO 18830, ISO 19679, ISO 23977-1 and ISO 23977-2, has been carried out and has
given a positive result. This test method is simplified so that it can be conducted in various coastal area.
The disintegration is thought to be due to combination of bio-action, non-biochemical action, and physical
degradation, but it is not specified by this method.

v
FINAL DRAFT International Standard ISO/FDIS 16636:2025(en)
Plastics — Disintegration field test of plastics under water
environmental conditions
1 Scope
This document specifies test methods for the determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic
materials floating in water.
NOTE The disintegration test is a field test performed under natural environmental conditions in a part of the
sublittoral zone, the shores of lakes or rivers, and the test samples are immersed to a depth between 1,5 m to 3 m from
water surface.
This document specifies the general requirements of the apparatus and the procedures for using the test
methods described.
This document is not suitable for the assessment of disintegration caused by heat or light exposure.
The described field test is a disintegration test and not a biodegradation test. Therefore, it cannot be used
for demonstrating biodegradation or for making unqualified claims such as “biodegradable in marine
environment” and similar.
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.
ISO 4591, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of average thickness of a sample, and average thickness
and yield of a roll, by gravimetric techniques (gravimetric thickness)
ISO 4593, Plastic
...

ISO/DISFDIS 16636:2024(E)
ISO /TC 61 / /SC 14 / WG 2
Secretariat: DIN
Date: 2024-04-092025-01-03
Plastics — Disintegration field test of plastics under water
environmental conditions
DISPlastiques — Essai sur site de désintégration des plastiques dans les conditions d'un environnement
aquatique
FDIS stage
ISO/DIS FDIS 16636:2023(E2025(en)
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication
may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO
at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: + 41 22 749 01 11
EmailE-mail: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.orgwww.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2023 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO/DIS FDIS 16636:2023(E2025(en)
Contents
Foreword . v
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Test procedure . 3
6 Analysis and monitoring of the field test . 8
7 Test report . 12
Annex A (informative) Example of results for disintegrated plastic materials in real sea . 13
Annex B (informative) Microbial counts in sea water . 21
Bibliography . 22

Foreword . v
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Test procedure . 3
5.1 Test material . 3
5.2 Reference material . 3
5.3 Preparation of test and reference materials. 3
5.4 Number of replicates . 4
5.5 Immersion in water. 5
5.6 Water conditions . 5
5.6.1 General. 5
5.6.2 Determination of number of microorganisms in water . 6
5.6.3 Analysis of microbial community composition in seawater (optional) . 6
5.6.4 Properties of water . 6
5.7 Termination of the field test and sampling interval . 6
6 Analysis and monitoring of the field test . 6
6.1 Photographic documentation . 6
6.2 Determination of disintegration . 6
6.2.1 General. 6
6.2.2 Calculating degree of disintegration of test material based on weight determination . 7
6.2.3 Calculating degree of disintegration rate (film thickness decrease rate) of film sample . 7
6.2.4 Calculating degree of disintegration rate (weight loss rate) of the sample other than film 8
6.3 Analysing characteristics of plastic materials (optional) . 8
6.4 Monitoring environmental parameters (recommended) . 9
iii
ISO/DIS FDIS 16636:2023(E2025(en)
7 Test Report . 9
Annex A (informative) Example of results for disintegrated plastic materials in real sea . 11
A.1 Example of effect of covering with a protective mesh (Kobe port, Japan) . 11
A.2 Example of effect of an immersion depth (Kobe port, Japan) . 12
A.3 Example of film samples after immersion . 12
A.4 Example of effect of sample thickness (Kobe port, Japan) . 13
A.5 Example of disintegration field test in the Japan coast . 13
Annex B (informative) Microbial counts in sea water . 15
B.1 General. 15
B.2 Measurement of the number of visible colonies on serial dilution–agar plates . 15
B.3 Assessment of concentration of microbial cells by counting the number in a known
volume . 15
B.4 Estimation of total microbial content by using Quantitative real-time PCR amplification 15
Bibliography . 16

iv © ISO 2023 – All rights reserved
iv
ISO/DIS FDIS 16636:2023(E2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of
ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights
in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s)
which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not
represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents.www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.htmlwww.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 14,
Environmental aspects.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.htmlwww.iso.org/members.html.
v
ISO/DIS FDIS 16636:2023(E2025(en)
Introduction
Marine plastic litter has been continuously increasing. Plastic waste released in the environment eventually
reaches the rivers, the lakes and the sea, floats on the water surface, and some of them sink to the riverbed,
lakebed and seabed. Floating plastic litter has a significant negative impact on aquatic life due to accidental
ingestion or entangling. To minimize the risk of plastic waste, it is recommended that plastics become low
molecular weight by microbial action, lose strength, and disintegrate. Biodegradable plastics are designed to
disintegrate in this way. The biodegradation of plastics in the marine environment is defined in lablaboratory
tests, such as ISO 18830, ISO 19679, ISO 22404, ISO 23977--1 and ISO 23977--2. ISO 23832 describes a test
method for the determination of the degradation rate and disintegration degree. However, these test methods
do not measure disintegration under environmental conditions. ISO 22766 applies to disintegration only in
the sandy sublittoral and the sandy eulittoral zone.
This document provides a test method for determining the disintegration degree of biodegradable plastic
materials floating on the water surface. This documentIt can only apply if the biodegradation test according
to the ISO standard, for example ISO 18830, ISO 19679, ISO 23977--1 and ISO 23977--2, has been carried out
and has given a positive result. This test method is simplified so that it can be conducted in various coastal
area. The disintegration is thought to be due to combination of bio-action, non-biochemical action, and
physical degradation, but it is not specified by this method.
vi © ISO 2023 – All rights reserved
vi
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 16636:2023(E)
Plastics — Disintegration field test of plastics under water
environmental conditions
1 Scope
This document specifies test methods for the determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials
floating in water.
NOTE The disintegration test is a field test performed under natural environmental conditions in a part of the
sublittoral zone, the shores of lakes or rivers, and the test samples are immersed to a depth between 1,5 m to 3 m from
water surface.
This document specifies the general requirements of the apparatus and the procedures for using the test
methods described.
This document is not suitable for the assessment of disintegration caused by heat or light exposure.
The described field test is a disintegration test and not a biodegradation test. Therefore, it cannot be used for
demonstrating biodegradation or for making unqualified claims such as “biodegradable in marine
environment” and similar.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all
...