ISO 5412:2022

Plastics - Industrial compostable plastic shopping bags

This document specifies the requirements, test methods, test regulations, packaging, transportation and storage of industrial compostable plastic shopping bags. This document is applicable to plastic shopping bags made from industrial compostable plastic resin as the main raw material, processed by heat sealing or bonding, etc. This document does not apply to industrial compostable plastic bags such as industrial compostable roll bags (also known as tear bags or point break bags made from above materials) and other bags that are only used in packaging and are not used for carrying shopping. This document enables to characterise the compostable plastic bags following two testing approaches that bring to the definition of two classes (class I and class II). NOTE In some regions, industrial composting is referred to as professional composting.

Plastiques — Sacs à provisions en plastique compostables en compostage industriel

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Sep-2022
• ICS: 83.140.99 - Other rubber and plastics products
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 61/SC 14 - Environmental aspects
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 61/SC 14/WG 2 - Biodegradability
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 21-Sep-2022
• Due Date: 07-Sep-2022
• Completion Date: 21-Sep-2022

Overview

ISO 5412:2022 - Plastics - Industrial compostable plastic shopping bags defines requirements and test methods for plastic shopping bags intended for industrial composting. The standard covers dimension limits, print quality, physical and mechanical properties, industrial compostability testing, sampling and inspection rules, plus packaging, transportation and storage for bags made primarily from industrial compostable resin. ISO 5412:2022 distinguishes two product classes (Class I and Class II) and multiple bag sizes by volume (XS, S, M, L).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and definitions: Clarifies what qualifies as an industrial compostable shopping bag (intended for carrying shopping and for industrial composting) and excludes roll/tear bags used only for packaging.
• Classification: Two classes (Class I and Class II) based on sealing strength and tensile properties. Class II includes “T‑shirt” style bags and is subdivided by volume:
  • XS: V < 9 L; S: 9 ≤ V < 15 L; M: 15 ≤ V ≤ 25 L; L: V > 25 L.
• Dimensional controls: Specifies acceptable thickness, width and length deviations (tolerances differ by class and nominal dimensions).
• Print quality: Requirements for appearance and stripping rate (print adhesion).
• Mechanical and physical tests: Includes stress-at-break (Class II), lifting test, drop test (Class I), water leakage, sealing strength and dart impact tests.
• Industrial compostability: Reference testing procedures to demonstrate compostable behavior under industrial composting conditions (aligned with ISO 17088 principles).
• Testing and inspection: Sampling plans, batch inspection rules, type testing and decision rules (using ISO sampling standards such as ISO 2859-1).
• Packaging, marking, transport and storage: Requirements for safe handling and correct labeling of compostable shopping bags.

Applications and practical value

• Manufacturers use ISO 5412:2022 to design, produce and quality‑control industrial compostable shopping bags that meet measurable performance and compostability criteria.
• Procurement teams and retailers rely on the standard to verify product claims, ensure handling robustness, and select appropriate bag classes for intended uses.
• Composting operators and waste managers use standardized test evidence to assess compatibility of bags with industrial composting processes.
• Regulators and conformity assessors use the standard as a technical reference when evaluating compliance with compostability and labeling requirements.

Related standards

• ISO 17088 - Specifications for compostable plastics (organic recycling)
• ISO 291 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
• ISO 527-3 - Tensile test methods for films and sheets
• ISO 2859-1, ISO 4592, ISO 4593 - Sampling and dimensional test methods

ISO 5412:2022 provides a practical, test‑based framework to ensure industrial compostable shopping bags are both functional for consumers and compatible with industrial composting systems.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 5412
First edition
2022-09
Plastics — Industrial compostable
plastic shopping bags
Plastiques — Sacs à provisions en plastique compostables en
compostage industriel
Reference number
© ISO 2022
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: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements . 2
4.1 Dimension deviation . 2
4.1.1 Types and dimensions . 2
4.1.2 Thickness and deviation . 3
4.1.3 Width deviation . 4
4.1.4 Length deviation . 4
4.2 Print quality . 5
4.2.1 Appearance of print . 5
4.2.2 Stripping rate . . 5
4.3 Physical and mechanical properties . 5
4.4 Industrial compostability . 6
5 Test methods . 6
5.1 Sample condition adjustment and test environment . 6
5.2 Dimension deviation . 6
5.2.1 Thickness deviation . . 6
5.2.2 Width and length deviation . 7
5.3 Print quality . 7
5.3.1 Print appearance . 7
5.3.2 Stripping rate . . 7
5.4 Physical and mechanical properties . 8
5.4.1 Stress at break (only for class II) . 8
5.4.2 Lifting test . 8
5.4.3 Drop test (only for class I) . 8
5.4.4 Water leakage test. 9
5.4.5 Sealing strength test . 9
5.4.6 Dart impact test. 10
5.5 Industrial compostability . 10
6 Testing regulations .10
6.1 Batch . 10
6.2 Inspection classification . 10
6.2.1 Factory inspection . 10
6.2.2 Type test . 11
6.3 Sampling plan . 11
6.3.1 Dimensional deviation . 11
6.3.2 Print quality, physical and mechanical properties, industrial compostability . 11
6.4 Decision rule .12
6.4.1 Qualification .12
6.4.2 Determination of qualified batch .12
7 Packaging, labelling on packaging, transportation, storage .12
7.1 Package . 12
7.2 Mark on packaging .12
7.3 Transport .12
7.4 Storage .13
Bibliography .14
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 documents 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).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
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
Increased use of plastic shopping bags can cause several environmental problems, such as terrestrial
pollution and contamination of soil, water and marine environment pollution. These pose a severe
risk to ecosystems, biodiversity and human health. Recently, many countries, regions, and cities have
enacted legislation to ban or severely reduce the use of plastic shopping bags to help tackle these issues.
This document does not aim to bypass this legislation; it aims to specifically address the following
aspects where plastic shopping bags suitable for industrial composting can be appropriate for specific
uses:
a) offering methods for testing industrial compostability, followed by demonstrating the impact of
industrial compostable shopping bags on the ecological environment;
b) providing a reference for the evaluation of industrial compostable plastic shopping bags for
industrial composting.
Development of this document is expected to improve the quality control of plastic shopping bags
suitable for industrial composting, in countries, regions, and cities where industrial composting is
available. Furthermore, this document ensures provision of industrial compostable shopping bags to be
stronger.
v
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 5412:2022(E)
Plastics — Industrial compostable plastic shopping bags
1 Scope
This document specifies the requirements, test methods, test regulations, packaging, transportation
and storage of industrial compostable plastic shopping bags.
This document is applicable to plastic shopping bags made from industrial compostable plastic resin as
the main raw material, processed by heat sealing or bonding, etc.
This document does not apply to industrial compostable plastic bags such as industrial compostable
roll bags (also known as tear bags or point break bags made from above materials) and other bags that
are only used in packaging and are not used for carrying shopping.
This document enables to characterise the compostable plastic bags following two testing approaches
that bring to the definition of two classes (class I and class II).
NOTE In some regions, industrial composting is referred to as professional composting.
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 291, Plastics — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
ISO 527-3, Plastics — Determination of tensile properties — Part 3: Test conditions for films and sheets
ISO 2859-1, Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes — Part 1: Sampling schemes indexed by
acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot inspection
ISO 4592, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of length and width
ISO 4593, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of thickness by mechanical scanning
ISO 7765-1:1988, Plastics film and sheeting — Determination of impact resistance by the free-falling dart
method — Part 1: Staircase methods
ISO 17088, Plastics — Organic recycling — Specifications for compostable plastics
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions 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
industrial compostable plastic shopping bags
bags made of industrial compostable plastic resin as the main raw material, and having a structure
suitable for carrying goods, which are intended to use for packaging and carrying shopping (as groceries
in stores, restaurants and other places) and intended for industrial composting when the use is finished
3.2
industrial composting
composting process performed under controlled conditions on industrial scale with the aim of
producing compost for the market
Note 1 to entry: In some regions, industrial composting is referred to as professional composting.
[SOURCE: ISO 17088:2021, 3.13]
4 Requirements
4.1 Dimension deviation
4.1.1 Types and dimensions
Shopping bags are classified into two categories: class I and class II according to sealing strength and
stress at break requirements (refer to 4.3 for detail). Class II consists of bags that have a sealed bottom
and are punched to form handles (often called "T-shirt bags"). Class II shopping bags are divided into
four types according to their volume as indicated in Table 1.
Table 1 — Types and dimensions
Volume
Type Denomination V
litres
L Large bag V > 25
M Medium bag 15 ≤ V ≤ 25
S Small bag 9 ≤ V < 15
XS Extra small V < 9
The volume in litres is calculated according to Formula (1) that refers to Figure 1.
W W
 
−7
V =× L− ××910 (1)
 
ππ
 
where
Ll=−()l
Ww=+()2w
w is the total width, in millimetres (mm);
w is the gusset width, in millimetres (mm);
l is the total length, in millimetres (mm);
l is the cutting length, in millimetres (mm).
Key
w total width
w gusset width
w handles width
w cutting width
l total length
l cutting length
Figure 1 — Schematic representation showing each parameter of a shopping bag for volume
calculation
4.1.2 Thickness and deviation
For class I, the thickness limit deviation and the average deviation shall be in accordance with the
requirements of Table 2.
Table 2 — Thickness deviation
Nominal thickness Average thickness deviation
Thickness limit deviation Range
e %
mm mm
mm
+0,010 0,016 +20
e=0,015
-0,006 -6
+0,010 0,018 +20
0,015 < e ≤ 0,020
-0,008 -6
TTabablele 2 2 ((ccoonnttiinnueuedd))
Nominal thickness Average thickness deviatio
...