ISO 7683:2024

Design criteria and test methods for removable shrink labels applied to PET bottles

This document provides design criteria and test methods to evaluate the removability of shrink labels applied to PET bottles when the packaging supplier intends that the shrink label is to be separated by the consumer or recycling facility, including: a) design criteria such as visual indications of the starting point of separation, finger tab or initiation cuts, label material, shape of bottle, hole size and spacing between holes of perforated shrink sleeves, perforated line, and a tool for improving removability; b) test methods for removability including information on preparing samples and panels, a test procedure and an evaluation method. This document is applicable to packaging suppliers that want to help consumers to easily separate shrink labels from PET bottles and effectively recycle PET bottles during waste collection.

Critères de conception et méthodes d’essai pour les étiquettes rétractables et détachables appliquées sur les bouteilles en PET

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 10-Oct-2024
• ICS: 55.040 - Packaging materials and accessories
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 122/SC 3 - Performance requirements and tests for means of packaging, packages and unit loads (as required by ISO/TC 122)
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 122/SC 3 - Performance requirements and tests for means of packaging, packages and unit loads (as required by ISO/TC 122)
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 11-Oct-2024
• Due Date: 26-Apr-2025
• Completion Date: 11-Oct-2024

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 7683
First edition
Design criteria and test methods for
2024-10
removable shrink labels applied to
PET bottles
Critères de conception et méthodes d’essai pour les étiquettes
rétractables et détachables appliquées sur les bouteilles en PET
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Design criteria . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Design criteria .3
4.2.1 Visual indications of the starting point of separation .3
4.2.2 Finger tab or initiation cuts .3
4.2.3 Label material .3
4.2.4 Shape of bottle .4
4.2.5 Size of holes and spacing between holes .4
4.2.6 Perforated line .4
4.2.7 Improving removability .4
5 Test methods for removability . 4
5.1 Sample and panel preparation.4
5.2 Test procedure for removability .4
5.2.1 General .4
5.2.2 Test method for ease of identifying the starting point of separation on a shrink
label .5
5.2.3 Test method for ease of separation of a shrink label .5
5.3 Evaluation method for removability of a shrink label .6
6 Test report . 6
Annex A (informative) Example test report for ease of removability of shrink labels . 7
Bibliography . 8

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.
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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 122, Packaging, Subcommittee SC 3,
Performance requirements and tests for means of packaging, packages and unit loads (as required by ISO/TC 122).
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
PET bottles can be used as recycled materials for making high value-added recycled products. For effective
recycling, the recycling facility will potentially need to separate the label from the bottle according to the
manufacturer’s advice. For this purpose, a structure such as the perforated line on the shrink labels is
provided to remove them easily from bottles by consumers.
Depending on the shape of the bottle, the material and thickness of the label, the size of the perforation holes
and the spacing between the holes, it can still be difficult for the consumer to separate the shrink label from
the bottle, even though the perforated line on the shrink label is provided.
The aim of this document is to help packaging suppliers in designing their PET bottles and shrink labels,
such that a broad range of consumers find it easy to separate the shrink label from the PET bottle, thereby
encouraging the effective recycling of PET bottles.

v
International Standard ISO 7683:2024(en)
Design criteria and test methods for removable shrink labels
applied to PET bottles
1 Scope
This document provides design criteria and test methods to evaluate the removability of shrink labels
applied to PET bottles when the packaging supplier intends that the shrink label is to be separated by the
consumer or recycling facility, including:
a) design criteria such as visual indications of the starting point of separation, finger tab or initiation
cuts, label material, shape of bottle, hole size and spacing between holes of perforated shrink sleeves,
perforated line, and a tool for improving removability;
b) test methods for removability including information on preparing samples and panels, a test procedure
and an evaluation metho
...