SIST EN 17615:2022
(Main)Plastics - Environmental Aspects - Vocabulary
Plastics - Environmental Aspects - Vocabulary
This document specifies terms and definitions in the field of plastics related to any environmental aspects and provides a common vocabulary basis for:
- biodegradability;
- bio-based plastics;
- carbon and environmental footprint;
- plastics in natural environments;
- recycling, e.g. mechanical and chemical recycling ;
- design ;
- waste management;
- circular economy.
This document aims to provide a comprehensive glossary which uses the applicable definitions providing when appropriate additional notes to make these definitions understandable without reference to other documents. Definitions are as far as possible adopted from existing standards but when the intention or definition is unclear additional context or definitions are updated or added.
This standard aims to provide a comprehensive glossary which uses the applicable definitions providing when appropriate additional notes to make these definitions understandable without reference to other documents.
As far as possible definitions are adapted from existing standards. But when the intention or definition is
unclear additional context or definitions are updated or added
Terms which are also applicable to rubber will be indicated.
Kunststoffe - Umweltaspekte - Vokabular
Dieses Dokument legt Begriffe im Bereich der Kunststoffe unter Umweltgesichtspunkten fest und stellt ein gemeinsames Vokabular zur Verfügung für:
- biologische Abbaubarkeit;
- biobasierter Kunststoffe;
- CO2- und Umweltbilanz;
- Kunststoffe in natürlichen Umgebungen;
- Recycling, z. B. mechanisches und chemisches Recycling;
- Gestaltung;
- Abfallmanagement;
- Kreislaufwirtschaft.
Dieses Dokument soll ein umfassendes Glossar bereitstellen, das die anwendbaren Definitionen verwendet und gegebenenfalls zusätzliche Anmerkungen enthält, um diese Definitionen ohne Bezugnahme auf andere Dokumente verständlich zu machen. Die Definitionen werden so weit wie möglich von bestehenden Normen übernommen, wenn jedoch die Absicht oder die Definition unklar ist, werden zusätzliche Zusammenhänge oder Definitionen hinzugefügt bzw. aktualisiert.
Plastiques - Aspects environnementaux - Vocabulaire
Le présent document spécifie les termes et définitions dans le domaine des plastiques en relation avec les aspects environnementaux et fournit une base commune de vocabulaire sur :
- la biodégradabilité ;
- les plastiques biosourcés ;
- l’empreinte carbone et environnementale ;
- les plastiques dans les environnements naturels ;
- le recyclage, par exemple recyclage mécanique et chimique ;
- la conception ;
- la gestion des déchets ;
- l’économie circulaire.
Le présent document vise à fournir un glossaire complet utilisant les définitions applicables, en y ajoutant des notes supplémentaires lorsque cela est approprié, afin de rendre ces définitions compréhensibles sans se référer à d’autres documents. Les définitions proviennent, dans la mesure du possible, de normes existantes, mais lorsque l’intention ou la définition n’est pas claire, un contexte ou des définitions supplémentaires ont été mis à jour ou ajoutés.
Polimerni materiali - Okoljski vidiki - Slovar
Ta dokument določa izraze in opredelitve na področju polimernih materialov, ki se navezujejo na vse okoljske vidike, ter zagotavlja skupno besedišče za:
– biološko razgradljivost;
– polimerne materiale na biološki osnovi;
– ogljični in okoljski odtis;
– polimerne materiale v naravnem okolju;
– recikliranje, npr. mehansko in kemično recikliranje;
– projektiranje;
– ravnanje z odpadki;
– krožno gospodarstvo.
Namen tega dokumenta je zagotoviti izčrpen glosar z veljavnimi opredelitvami pojmov, ki po potrebi vsebuje dodatne opombe, da so te opredelitve razumljive brez sklicevanja na druge dokumente. Opredelitve so v največji možni meri prevzete iz obstoječih standardov, kadar pa je namen ali opredelitev nejasna, so posodobljeni ali dodani dodaten kontekst ali opredelitve.
Namen tega standarda je zagotoviti izčrpen glosar z veljavnimi opredelitvami pojmov, ki po potrebi vsebuje dodatne opombe, da so te opredelitve razumljive brez sklicevanja na druge dokumente.
Opredelitve so v največji možni meri prevzete iz obstoječih standardov, kadar pa je namen ali opredelitev
nejasna, so posodobljeni ali dodani dodaten kontekst ali opredelitve.
Izrazi, ki se uporabljajo tudi za gumo, bodo označeni.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN 17615:2022
01-september-2022
Polimerni materiali - Okoljski vidiki - Slovar
Plastics - Environmental Aspects - Vocabulary
Kunststoffe - Umweltaspekte - Vokabular
Plastiques - Aspects environnementaux - Vocabulaire
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17615:2022
ICS:
01.040.83 Gumarska industrija in Rubber and plastics
industrija polimernih industries (Vocabularies)
materialov (Slovarji)
13.020.01 Okolje in varstvo okolja na Environment and
splošno environmental protection in
general
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
SIST EN 17615:2022 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
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SIST EN 17615:2022
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SIST EN 17615:2022
EN 17615
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2022
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 01.040.13; 01.040.83; 13.020.01; 83.080.01
English Version
Plastics - Environmental Aspects - Vocabulary
Plastiques - Aspects environnementaux - Vocabulaire Kunststoffe - Umweltaspekte - Vokabular
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 27 April 2022.
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. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists 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, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17615:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
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EN 17615:2022 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
Bibliography . 44
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European foreword
This document (EN 17615:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics”, the
secretariat of which is held by NBN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2022, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by December 2022.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
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Introduction
The need for harmonized terms and definitions in the field of plastics relating to environmental aspects
is growing. This document intends to give a common set of terms and definitions and thus strives to
facilitate the communication and development of standards in this area.
The term “bioplastic” is not defined in this text, since EN 17228 states the following:
The terms “biopolymers” and “bioplastics” are commonly used to identify polymers and plastics that are
either bio-based, biodegradable, or feature both properties. While these definitions are quite widespread
and used by industry, it is recognized that they are susceptible to misunderstanding and thus
inappropriate for standardization purposes.
The terms oxo-degradable and oxo-biodegradable are generally used to indicate plastic products made
of conventional plastics (mostly polyolefins) supplemented in the transformation phase with catalysts
that accelerate oxidation of the polymer. There are no European Standards that clarify how the potential
of oxo-biodegradation can be measured and classified. However, the terms “oxo-degradable” and “oxo-
biodegradable” have been widely used, sometimes arousing controversy. The use for market purposes,
the lack of international standards, and the disputes raised over the marketing of these products are the
reasons for not defining the terms in this document, pending the elaboration of specific standards. It has
to be mentioned that the global market of “oxo-biodegradable” materials is deeply fragmented where, for
example, countries in the EU have banned these materials, while in countries such as the UEA, Pakistan,
Iran, Morocco, Yemen and DR Congo it is forbidden to use certain products like bags and plastic packaging
if they are not oxo-biodegradable.
NOTE A definition of oxo-degradable plastic is present in DIRECTIVE (EU) 2019/904, Art. 3, 3.
General terms have the addition “of plastics”, e.g. “recycling of plastics” in this document for clarification.
However, in practice they are often used without this addition.
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1 Scope
This document specifies terms and definitions in the field of plastics related to environmental aspects
and provides a common vocabulary for:
— bio-based plastics;
— biodegradability;
— carbon and environmental footprint;
— circular economy;
— design;
— plastics in natural environments;
— reuse and recycling;
— waste management.
This document aims to provide a comprehensive glossary which uses the applicable definitions providing
when appropriate additional notes to make these definitions understandable without reference to other
documents. Definitions are as far as possible adopted from existing standards but when the original
intention or definition is unclear additional context or definitions are provided.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
accelerated-ageing test
short-term test designed to reach more rapidly the natural ageing state for a material, following an
identical mechanism of the physico-chemical processes that occur during longer-term service conditions
3.2
activated sludge
biomass produced in the aerobic treatment of waste water by the growth of bacteria and other
microorganisms in the presence of dissolved oxygen
[SOURCE: ISO 14851:2019, 3.2]
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3.3
aerobic biodegradation
biodegradation under aerobic conditions
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 2]
3.4
additives
substances which are used to process plastics or to modify end use properties of plastics
Note 1 to entry: Substances are normally included in carrier matrix.
Note 2 to entry: Impact modifiers are rubbery type of additives added to plastics to improve toughness by absorbing
or dissipating the energy of impact.
Note 3 to entry: Rheology modifiers, also referred to as thickeners are additives that make a melt to become flowable
and easily poured when a force is applied.
Note 4 to entry: Plasticizers are additives that are mixed with polymers to make them softer and more flexible.
3.5
ageing
time-dependent irreversible chemical and physical processes in a plastic material under the influence of
one or more environmental factors leading to undesirable change in properties
EXAMPLES Extraction and evaporation.
3.6
agglomerate
larger particles formed by joining or binding together of smaller particles whose original identity can still
be visible in the final form
Note 1 to entry: Agglomerates can be supplied for further processing in the form of free-flowing material.
3.7
amorphous polymers
polymers that do not form a crystalline structure but rather form an irregular arrangement and have no
long-range order
3.8
anaerobic biodegradation
biodegradation under anaerobic conditions
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 3]
3.9
anaerobic digestion
process of controlled decomposition of biodegradable materials under managed conditions where free
oxygen is absent, at temperatures suitable for naturally occurring mesophilic or thermophilic anaerobic
and facultative bacteria species, that convert the inputs to a methane rich biogas and digestate
Note 1 to entry: In a second phase, the digestate is typically stabilized by means of a composting (aerobic) process.
[SOURCE: ISO 18606:2013, 3.10]
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3.10
antioxidant
substance used to retard deterioration caused by oxidation
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.56]
3.11
ash content
inorganic mass remaining after complete combustion of a sample under specified conditions expressed
as a percentage of the mass of the dry matter in the sample
3.12
assembly
unit or structure composed of a combination of materials or products, or both
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1272]
3.13
assimilation
uptake of nutrient molecules from the environment by (micro)organisms and incorporation in the
biomass
Note 1 to entry: Assimilation is a key process in biodegradation.
3.14
average molar mass
average relative molecular mass
average of the molar mass or relative molecular mass of a polydisperse polymer
Note 1 to entry: The unit gram per mole is recommended in polymer science for molar mass since then the
numerical values of the molar mass and the relative molar mass of a substance are equal.
Note 2 to entry: Four types of average commonly used are number-average, mass-average, viscosity-average and
centrifugation-average.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.598, modified — In Note 2 to entry “centrifugation-average” was added.]
3.15
bale
compacted plastic waste to facilitate handling, storage and transportation
3.16
baling
process in which plastic waste is compacted and secured as a bundle to facilitate handling, storage and
transportation
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1678, modified — “plastics waste” was changed to read “plastic waste”.]
3.17
batch
quantity of material regarded as a single unit, and having a unique reference
Note 1 to entry: “Batch” is primarily a processing term.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1679]
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3.18
beach plastic litter
subcategory of marine plastic litter found on beaches
Note 1 to entry: Beach plastic litter is not necessarily identical with marine plastic litter. Beach studies may not be
representative of marine litter.
3.19
bioavailability
property of a plastic material to be physically and chemically accessible to the action of microorganisms
and enzymes released by them
3.20
bio-based
derived from biomass
Note 1 to entry: The correct spelling of “bio-based” is with a hyphen (-). It is however in common usage sometimes
spelt without a hyphen.
Note 2 to entry: The term “biomass-based” rarely is used as well.
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.1]
3.21
bio-based carbon
biogenic carbon
carbon derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.2, modified — Note 1 to entry deleted.]
3.22
bio-based carbon content
fraction of carbon derived from biomass in a product
Note 1 to entry: There are several approaches to express the bio-based carbon content. These include as a
percentage of: the mass; the total carbon content, or the total organic carbon content of the sample. These are
detailed in the relevant standards of CEN/TC 411.
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.3]
3.23
bio-based composite
DEPRECATED: biocomposite
composite material wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.3 - modified, alternative term “biocomposite” added.]
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3.24
bio-based content
biomass content
fraction of a product that is derived from biomass
Note 1 to entry: Normally expressed as a percentage of the total mass of the product.
Note 2 to entry: For the methodology to determine the bio-based content, see CEN/TR 16721.
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.4]
3.25
bio-based plastic
plastic wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.4]
3.26
bio-based polymer
polymer wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.2]
3.27
biochemical oxygen demand
BOD
mass concentration of the dissolved oxygen consumed under specified conditions by the aerobic
biological oxidation of a chemical compound or organic matter in water
[SOURCE: ISO 14851:2019, 3.4, modified — Note 1 to entry removed.]
3.28
biocompatible
compatible with human or animal tissues and suitable for medical therapy
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.5]
3.29
biodegradability
ultimate biodegradability
potential for a polymeric material to undergo a biodegradation process
Note 1 to entry: Has to be demonstrated in accordance with a suitable standard.
Note 2 to entry: Biodegradable is the adjective of biodegradability.
3.30
biodegradation
process leading to the breakdown of an organic compound by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen
to carbon dioxide, water, mineral salts and new biomass, or in the absence of oxygen to carbon dioxide,
methane, mineral salts and new biomass
Note 1 to entry: Breakdown of organic compounds by microorganisms into inorganic compounds is called
mineralization.
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3.31
biodegradation phase
time, measured in days, from the end of the lag phase of a test until about 90 % of the maximum level of
biodegradation has been reached
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1726]
3.32
bio-disintegration
physical breakdown of a material into fragments with all dimensions below 2 mm resulting from the
action of microorganisms
Note 1 to entry: The early phase of bio-disintegration is usually called “fragmentation”.
3.33
bioerosion
erosion resulting from biodegradation
3.34
biological treatability
potential of a material to be aerobically composted or anaerobically biogasified
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1727]
3.35
biomass
material of biological origin excluding material embedded in geological formations or transformed to
fossilized material and excluding peat
Note 1 to entry: Biomass includes organic material (both living and dead) from above and below ground, e.g. trees,
crops, grasses, tree litter, algae, animals and waste of biological origin, e.g. manure.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14021:2016, 3.1.1]
3.36
biomass origin
geographic origin(s) of the biomass used for the production a bio-based plastic
EXAMPLES Country, territory or water body.
[SOURCE: EN 16848:2016, 3.1, modified — “product” was replaced by “plastic”.]
3.37
biomass type
type of biomass used to produce a bio-based product
EXAMPLES Plants, trees, algae, animals.
Note 1 to entry: Definition based on EN 16848:2016, 4.2.4.
3.38
bio-mineralization
mineralization caused by microorganisms
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3.39
blowing agent
substance used to cause expansion in the manufacture of hollow or cellular articles
Note 1 to entry: Blowing agents can be compressed gases, volatile liquids or chemicals that decompose or react to
form a gas.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.82]
3.40
blow moulding
method of forming hollow objects by inflating a parison into a mould with compressed gas
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.81]
3.41
blown film extrusion
manufacturing process in which molten polymer is extruded through a tubular die and blown into a film
tube with a multiple of the original diameter, which is then collapsed and further processed as a film tube,
half tube or flat film
3.42
bulk biodegradation
faster degradation inside than at the surface resulting from biodegradation
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, e) 6]
3.43
by-product
co-product from a process that is incidental or not intentionally produced and which cannot be avoided,
but which will certainly be further used without any further processing other than normal industrial
practice
Note 1 to entry: Waste is not a by-product.
Note 2 to entry: In-house scrap is a by-product.
Note 3 to entry: For legal definition refer to the European Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC article 5.
3.44
calender
machine that has a series of heated rolls, arranged in pairs, the rolls in each pair turning in opposite
directions
Note 1 to entry: A calender is used to produce film, sheeting, coated substrates or laminates, the thickness being
determined by adjustment of the gap between the last pair of rolls.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.112]
3.45
carbon content
amount of carbon in the constituent, material or product as a percent of the mass
[SOURCE: ISO 16620-1:2015, 3.1.6, modified — “weight (mass)” was replaced by “mass”.]
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3.46
carbon footprint of a product
CFP
sum of greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas removals in a product system, expressed as CO
2
equivalents and based on a life cycle assessment using the single impact category of climate change
Note 1 to entry: A CFP can be disaggregated into a set of figures identifying specific GHG emissions and removals. A
CFP can also be disaggregated into the stages of the life cycle.
Note 2 to entry: The results of the quantification of the CFP are documented in the CFP study report expressed in
mass of CO2e per functional unit.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14067:2018, 3.1.1.1, modified — references to other terms deleted.]
3.47
casting
process in which a liquid or viscous material is poured or otherwise introduced into a mould or on to a
prepared surface to solidify without the use of external pressure
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.120]
3.48
cast film extrusion
manufacturing process that involves extruding a sheet of molten polymer through a flat die and is used
as a lay-flat film
Note 1 to entry: Stretching steps can be added within the process to achieve polymer orientation or breathability.
3.49
catalyst
substance, used in small proportions, that augments the rate of a chemical reaction and remains
unchanged chemically at the end of the reaction
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.122]
3.50
cellular plastic
plastic the density of which is reduced by the presence of numerous small cavities or cells,
interconnecting or not, dispersed throughout the mass
Note 1 to entry: Alternative terms are expanded plastic, foamed plastic, cavitated plastic.
3.51
challenge test
test of a recycling process in which purposely specified contaminants or damaged materials are
introduced in prescribed quantities to judge the ability of the recycling process to produce material with
certain specified properties
[SOURCE: EN 15343:2007, 3.2]
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3.52
chemically assisted degradation
polymer degradation that involves changes of the polymer structure and/or molecular weight due to a
chemical reaction caused by a specific chemical substance
Note 1 to entry: There are many different types of possible chemical reactions causing degradation such as
oxidation, photolysis, hydrolysis, ozonolysis, etc.
Note 2 to entry: Uncontrolled reactions, such as combustion, are not chemically assisted degradation.
3.53
chemical recycling
conversion of polymers into chemical substances by changing the chemical structure of plastic waste
through processes such as cracking, pyrolysis, gasification or depolymerization excluding energy
recovery and the production of materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations
Note 1 to entry: “Feedstock recycling” is widely used as a synonym for “chemical recycling”.
3.54
circular economy
economic system that uses a systemic approach to maintain a circular flow of resources, by regenerating,
retaining or adding to their value, while contributing to sustainable development
Note 1 to entry: This definition is based on the current state of the definition drafted in ISO/TC 323 “Circular
Economy”. The definition is still subject to change and may be updated in a future revision of this document.
3.55
closed loop recycling
process in which post-consumer or pre-consumer waste is collected and recycled so it is used again to
make a product of an equivalent product category preserving the quality of the material
3.56
colour
property possessed by an object of producing different visual sensations as a result of the way it reflects
or emits light
3.57
combustion
exothermic reaction of a substance with an oxidizer, generally accompanied by flames and/or visible light
and the emission of effluent
Note 1 to entry: “Combustion refers to a chemical reaction, while “incineration” refers to the destruction of material
such as waste.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.176, modified — Note 1 to entry added.]
3.58
commingled plastics
mixed plastics
mixture of materials or products consisting of different types of plastic
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1683, modified — Note 1 to entry removed.]
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3.59
commodity plastics
volume plastics
plastics that are used in high volume usually known for their low costs making them popular in especially
mass productions
3.60
compacting
mechanical treatment to reduce volume of plastic waste
[SOURCE: EN 13965-2:2010, 3.15, modified — “solid” was replaced by “plastic”.]
3.61
compatibilizer
substance used in polymer blends to enhance the blend properties while increasing adhesion between
the phases, reducing the interfacial tension and stabilizing morphology
Note 1 to entry: It can be reactive and link with polymers or nonreactive and only miscible with polymers.
3.62
composite
solid product consisting of two or more distinct phases, including a binding material (matrix) and a
particulate or fibrous material
EXAMPLE Moulding material containing reinforcing fibres, particulate fillers or hollow spheres.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.182.1, modified — area of application “” removed.]
3.63
compost
organic soil conditioner obtained by biodegradation of a mixture principally consisting of various
vegetable, fruit and garden residues, occasionally with other organic material and having a limited
mineral content
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14855-2:2018, 3.1, modified — “fruit and garden” was added.]
3.64
compostability
potential of items or materials to be composted as defined by the relevant standards and regulations in
force
Note 1 to entry: The adjective of “compostability” is “compostable”.
3.65
composting
aerobic process designed to produce compost
[SOURCE: EN ISO 20200:2015, 3.3]
3.66
compounding
process of melt blending or mixing of polymers and additives essentially with a goal to achieve a
homogeneous blend
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3.67
compression moulding
process of moulding a material in a confined cavity by applying pressure and usually heat
[SOURCE: ISO 472:2013, 2.185]
3.68
contaminant
DEPRECATED: impurity
undesired substance or material
3.69
converter
specialized operator capable of shaping plastics raw material to make a usable semi-finished or finished
product
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1685 – modified: area of application removed: “
waste>”.]
3.70
copolymer
polymer derived from more than one species of monomer
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.212]
3.71
co-product
any of two or more products coming from the same unit process or product system
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14040:2006, 3.10]
3.72
cracking
process by which complex organic molecules are broken down into simpler molecules such as light
hydrocarbons
Note 1 to entry: The end products are strongly dependent on the temperature and presence of catalysts.
3.73
crosslinking
formation of chemical bonds resulting in a three-dimensional molecular network
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.234]
3.74
de-gassing
removal of contained or dissolved gases, vapours, water or monomer residues in the processing of a
plastic material to avoid voids or other imperfections in the final product
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3.75
degradability
potential of items or materials to be degraded as defined by the relevant standards and regulations in
force
Note 1 to entry: The adjective of “degradability” is “degradable”.
Note 2 to entry: Designation of the term is necessary by using prefixes such as “bio” or “photo” etc.
3.76
degradation
irreversible process leading to a change of critical property such as mechanical strength, thermal
insulation, colour etc., typically characterized by changes in the structure of a material, composition
and/or molecular mass, affected by environmental conditions, proceeding over a period of time and
comprising one or more steps
Note 1 to entry: Definition is based on definition EN ISO 472:2013, 2.262.
3.77
degree of biodegradation
mass fraction of an original polymeric item that is biodegraded under specified conditions as measured
through specified techniques
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 6]
3.78
degree of bio-disintegration
mass fraction of a bio-disintegrated polymeric item
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 12]
3.79
degree of biomineralization
mass fraction of the initial polymeric item that is biomineralized
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 4]
3.80
degree of degradation
extent of deterioration of properties associated with molecular size and chemical structure
3.81
degree of disintegration
mass fraction of the particles of defined size issued from a fragmented polymeric item
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, b) 4]
3.82
degree of mineralization
mass fraction of the initial polymeric item that is mineralized
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 2, modified — “mass” added.]
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3.83
depolymerization
reversion of a polymer to its monomer(s) or to a polymer of lower relative molecular mass
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.268]
3.84
design
creative activity that, based on expressed or implied needs, existing means and technological possibilities,
results in the definition of technical solutions for a product that can be commercially manufactured or
fabricated into prototypes
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1754]
3.85
deterioration
irreversible change in the properties of a plastic caused by degradation, evidenced by significant
impairment of these properties
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.271, modified — “physical properties” was replaced by “properties” and
“caused by degradation” was added.]
3.86
differential scanning calorimetry
DSC
technique in which the difference between the heat flow rate into a test specimen and that into a reference
specimen is measured as a function of temperature and/or time while the test specimen and the reference
specimen are being subjected to the same controlled temperature programme under a specified
atmosphere
Note 1 to entry: A distinction is made betw
...
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 17615:2021
01-januar-2021
Polimerni materiali - Okoljski vidiki - Slovar
Plastics - Environmental Aspects - Vocabulary
Kunststoffe - Umweltaspekte - Vokabular
Plastiques - Aspects environnementaux - Vocabulaire
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17615
ICS:
01.040.83 Gumarska industrija in Rubber and plastics
industrija polimernih industries (Vocabularies)
materialov (Slovarji)
13.020.01 Okolje in varstvo okolja na Environment and
splošno environmental protection in
general
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
oSIST prEN 17615:2021 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
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oSIST prEN 17615:2021
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 17615
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
November 2020
ICS 01.040.13; 01.040.83; 13.020.01; 83.080.01
English Version
Plastics - Environmental Aspects - Vocabulary
Plastiques - Aspects environnementaux - Vocabulaire Kunststoffe - Umweltaspekte - Vokabular
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 249.
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, Turkey 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
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 17615:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
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Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
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European foreword
This document (prEN 17615:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics”,
the secretariat of which is held by NBN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
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Introduction
The need for harmonized terms and definitions in the field of plastics relating to environmental aspects
is growing. This document intends to give a common set of terms and definitions and thus strives to
facilitate the communication and development of standards in this area.
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1 Scope
This document specifies terms and definitions in the field of plastics related to any environmental
aspects and provides a common vocabulary basis for:
— biodegradability;
— bio-based plastics;
— carbon and environmental footprint;
— plastics in natural environments;
— recycling, e.g. mechanical and chemical recycling ;
— design ;
— waste management;
— circular economy.
This document aims to provide a comprehensive glossary which uses the applicable definitions
providing when appropriate additional notes to make these definitions understandable without
reference to other documents. Definitions are as far as possible adopted from existing standards but
when the intention or definition is unclear additional context or definitions are updated or added.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
The term “bioplastic” is not defined in this text, since EN 17228 states the following:
The terms “biopolymers” and “bioplastics” are commonly used to identify polymers and plastics that
are either bio-based, biodegradable, or feature both properties. While these definitions are quite
widespread and used by industry, it is recognized that they are susceptible to misunderstanding and
thus inappropriate for standardization purposes.
3.1
accelerated-ageing test
short-term test designed to reach more rapidly the natural ageing state for a material, following an
identical mechanism of the physico-chemical processes that occur during longer-term service
conditions
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3.2
activated sludge
biomass produced in the aerobic treatment of waste water by the growth of bacteria and other
microorganisms in the presence of dissolved oxygen
Note 1 to entry: It is used in the composting of plastics waste.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1712]
3.3
aerobic biodegradation
biodegradation under aerobic conditions
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 2]
3.4
additives
substances which are used to process or to modify end use properties of plastics
Note 1 to entry: Mentioned substances are normally included in carrier matrix.
Note 2 to entry: Mentioned final use properties are e.g. rigidity, flexibility, colour etc.
3.5
ageing
irreversible chemical and physical processes in a plastic material under the influence of one or more
environmental factors leading to undesirable change in properties
Note 1 to entry: Examples of physical processes include extraction and evaporation.
3.6
agglomerate
larger particles formed by joining or binding together of smaller particles whose original identity can
still be visible in the final form
Note 1 to entry: Agglomerates can be supplied for further processing in the form of free-flowing material.
3.7
amorphous polymers
polymers that do not exhibit any crystalline structures in X-ray or electron scattering experiments
Note 1 to entry: Amorphous polymers can produce transparent clear products while crystalline polymers do not.
3.8
anaerobic biodegradation
biodegradation under anaerobic conditions
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 3]
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3.9
anaerobic digestion
process of controlled decomposition of biodegradable materials under managed conditions where free
oxygen is absent, at temperatures suitable for naturally occurring mesophilic or thermophilic anaerobic
and facultative bacteria species, that convert the inputs to a methane rich biogas and digestate
Note 1 to entry: In a second phase, the digestate is typically stabilized by means of a composting (aerobic) process.
[SOURCE: ISO 18606:2013, 3.10]
3.10
antioxidant
substance that inhibits or delays the oxidation of polymers mainly by scavenging the peroxy radical
intermediates in the oxidation process
Note 1 to entry: mainly by scavenging the peroxy radical intermediates in the oxidation process.
3.11
assembling
fabricating operations involved in joining parts together by mechanical means, adhesives, heat sealing,
welding or other means
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.63]
3.12
assembly
unit or structure composed of a combination of materials or products, or both
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 1272]
3.13
assimilation
uptake of nutrient molecules from the environment by (micro)organisms and incorporation in the
biomass
Note 1 to entry: Assimilation is a key process in biodegradation.
3.14
average molar mass
average relative molecular mass
average of the molar mass or relative molecular mass of a polydisperse polymer
Note 1 to entry: The unit gram per mole is recommended in polymer science for molar mass since then the
numerical values of the molar mass and the relative molar mass of a substance are equal.
Note 2 to entry: Three types of average commonly used are number-average, mass-average and viscosity-average.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.598]
3.15
bale
compacted plastics waste to facilitate handling, storage and transportation
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3.16
baling
process in which plastics waste is compacted and secured as a bundle to facilitate handling, storage and
transportation
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1678]
3.17
batch
quantity of material regarded as a single unit, and having a unique reference
Note 1 to entry: "Batch" is primarily a processing term.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1679]
3.18
beach plastic litter
plastic litter found on beaches
Note 1 to entry: This is a subcategory of marine plastic litter, as beach plastic litter is not identical with marine
plastic litter. Beach studies are not necessarily representative of marine plastic litter.
3.19
bioavailability
status of a plastic item that can be processed by biodegrading cells
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 8]
3.20
bio-based
derived from biomass
Note 1 to entry: Biomass can have undergone physical, chemical or biological treatment(s).
Note 2 to entry: The correct spelling of "bio-based" is with a hyphen (-). It is however in common usage sometimes
spelt without a hyphen.
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.1]
3.21
bio-based carbon
biogenic carbon
carbon derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.2 - modified: Note 1 to entry deleted.]
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3.22
bio-based carbon content
fraction of carbon derived from biomass in a product
Note 1 to entry: There are several approaches to express the bio-based carbon content. These include as a
percentage of: the mass; the total carbon content, or the total organic carbon content of the sample. These are
detailed in the relevant standards of CEN/TC 411.
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.3]
3.23
bio-based composite
biocomposite
composite material wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.3 - modified, alternative term “biocomposite” added]
3.24
biobased mass content
m
B
total amount of bio-based synthetic polymer, natural polymer, and bio-based additives in a product
Note 1 to entry: The total bio-based mass content in a product is expressed as a fraction or percentage of the sum
of the bio-based synthetic polymer, natural polymer, and bio-based additives to the total mass of the product.
[SOURCE: ISO 16620-1:2015, 3.1.11]
3.25
bio-based plastic
plastic wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.4]
3.26
bio-based polymer
polymer wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.2]
3.27
biochemical oxygen demand
BOD
mass concentration of the dissolved oxygen consumed under specified conditions by the aerobic
biological oxidation of a chemical compound or organic matter in water
[SOURCE: ISO 14851:2019, 3.4 – modified: Note 1 to entry removed.]
3.28
biocompatible
compatible with human or animal tissues and suitable for medical therapy
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.5]
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3.29
biodegradability
potential for biodegradation of a polymeric material that is converted to carbon dioxide (aerobic
conditions) or biogas (anaerobic conditions), biomass and water by microorganisms during a fixed
period in a given environment
3.30
biodegradable
capable of undergoing biological aerobic or anaerobic degradation during a fixed period leading to a
release of carbon dioxide and/or biogas and biomass, depending on the environmental conditions of the
process
3.31
biodegradation
breakdown of an organic chemical compound by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen to carbon
dioxide, water and new biomass (mineralization), or in the absence of oxygen to carbon dioxide,
methane, mineral salts and new biomass
3.32
biodegradation phase
time, measured in days, from the end of the lag phase of a test until about 90 % of the maximum level of
biodegradation has been reached
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1726]
3.33
bio-disintegration
physical breakdown of a material into very small fragments resulting from the action of
microorganisms
Note 1 to entry: The early phase of bio-disintegration is usually called “fragmentation”.
3.34
bioerosion
faster degradation at the surface than inside resulting from biodegradation
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, e) 3]
3.35
biological treatability
potential of a material to be aerobically composted or anaerobically biogasified
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1727]
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3.36
biomass
material of biological origin excluding material embedded in geological formations or transformed to
fossilized material and excluding peat
Note 1 to entry: Biomass includes organic material (both living and dead) from above and below ground, e.g. trees,
crops, grasses, tree litter, algae, animals and waste of biological origin, e.g. manure.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14021:2016, 3.1.1]
3.37
biomass content
mass fraction of a product that is derived from biomass
Note 1 to entry: Normally expressed as a percentage of the total mass of the product.
Note 2 to entry: For the methodology to determine the bio-based content, see FprCEN/TR 16721
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.8]
3.38
biomass origin
geographic origin(s) of the biomass used for the production a bio-based plastic
Note 1 to entry: For example, country, territory or water body.
[SOURCE: EN 16848:2017, 3.1 - modified: “product” was exchanged by “plastic”]
3.39
biomass type
type of biomass used to produce a bio-based product (e.g. plants, trees, algae, animals)
Note 1 to entry: Definition based on EN 16848:2017, 4.2.4.
3.40
bio-mineralization
mineralization caused by cell-mediated phenomena
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 3]
3.41
blowing agent
substance used to cause expansion in the manufacture of hollow or cellular articles
Note 1 to entry: Blowing agents can be compressed gases, volatile liquids or chemicals that decompose or react to
form a gas.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.82]
3.42
blow moulding
manufacturing process of forming a molten tube (parison or preform) of thermoplastic material and
placing it within a mould cavity and inflating the tube with compressed air, to take the shape of the
cavity and cool the part before removing from the mould
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3.43
blown film extrusion
manufacturing process that involves extruding a tube of molten polymer through a die and inflating it to
several times its initial diameter to form a thin film bubble which is then collapsed and used as a lay-flat
film
3.44
bulk biodegradation
faster degradation inside than at the surface resulting from biodegradation
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, e) 6]
3.45
by-product
co-product from a process that is incidental or not intentionally produced and which cannot be avoided
Note 1 to entry: Waste is not a by-product.
[SOURCE: ISO 21930:2017, 3.4.7]
3.46
calender
machine that has a series of heated rolls, arranged in pairs, the rolls in each pair turning in opposite
directions
Note 1 to entry: A calender is used to produce film, sheeting, coated substrates or laminates, the thickness being
determined by adjustment of the gap between the last pair of rolls.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.112]
3.47
carbon content
amount of carbon in the constituent, material or product as a percent of the weight (mass)
[SOURCE: ISO 16620-1:2015, 3.1.6]
3.48
carbon footprint of a product
CFP
sum of greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas removals in a product system, expressed as CO
2
equivalents and based on a life cycle assessment using the single impact category of climate change
Note 1 to entry: A CFP can be disaggregated into a set of figures identifying specific GHG emissions and removals.
A CFP can also be disaggregated into the stages of the life cycle.
Note 2 to entry: The results of the quantification of the CFP are documented in the CFP study report expressed in
mass of CO2e per functional unit.
[SOURCE: ISO 14067:2018, 3.1.1.1, modified: references to other terms deleted.]
3.49
casting
process in which a liquid or viscous material is poured or otherwise introduced into a mould or on to a
prepared surface to solidify without the use of external pressure
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.120]
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3.50
catalyst
substance, used in small proportions, that augments the rate of a chemical reaction and remains
unchanged chemically at the end of the reaction
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.122]
3.51
cellular plastic
foamed plastic
plastic containing intended cavities (cells) (closed, open or both) dispersed throughout the mass
Note 1 to entry: Any polymer, thermoplastic or thermoset, can be made into a cellular form.
3.52
challenge test
test of a recycling process in which purposely specified contaminants or damaged materials are
introduced in prescribed quantities to judge the ability of the recycling process to produce material
with certain specified properties
[SOURCE: EN 15343:2007-12, 3.2]
3.53
chemically assisted degradation
polymer degradation that involves changes of the polymer structure and/or molecular weight due to a
chemical reaction caused by a specific chemical substance
Note 1 to entry: There are many different types of possible chemical reactions causing degradation such as
oxidation, photolysis, hydrolysis, ozonolysis, etc.
3.54
chemical recycling
feedstock recycling
conversion of polymers to monomers or production of new raw materials by changing the chemical
structure of plastics waste through cracking, gasification or depolymerization excluding energy
recovery and incineration
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1690 – modified: alternative term “chemical recycling” added, application
area removed: “”, NOTE removed.]
3.55
circular economy
a circular economy aims to maintain the value of products, materials and resources for as long as
possible by returning them into the product cycle at the end of their use, while minimising the
generation of waste
3.56
closed loop recycling
process in which post-consumer or industrial waste is collected and recycled preserving the value of
the material so it can be used again to make the same product category it came from with minimal loss
of quality or function[NEW]
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3.57
collection
gathering of waste, including the preliminary sorting and preliminary storage of waste for the purposes
of transport to a waste treatment facility
[SOURCE: Directive 2008/98/EC, article 3 (10) modified: Changed to fit style rules]
3.58
combustion
exothermic reaction of a substance with an oxidizer, generally accompanied by flames and/or visible
light and the emission of effluent
Note 1 to entry: Combustion is not the same as incineration.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.176 – modified: Note 1 to entry added.]
3.59
combustible material
material that can be ignited and supports combustion
3.60
commingled plastics
mixed plastics
mixture of materials or products consisting of different types of plastic
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1683 – modified: NOTE removed.]
3.61
commodity plastics
volume plastics
plastics that are used in high volume usually known for their low costs making them popular in
especially mass productions
3.62
compatibilizer
substance used in polymer blends to enhance the blend properties while increasing adhesion between
the phases, reducing the interfacial tension and stabilizing morphology
Note 1 to entry: It can be reactive and link with polymers or nonreactive and only miscible with polymers.
3.63
composite
solid product consisting of two or more distinct phases, including a binding material (matrix) and a
particulate or fibrous material
EXAMPLE Moulding material containing reinforcing fibres, particulate fillers or hollow spheres.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.182.1 – modified: Area of application removed: “”.]
3.64
compost
organic soil conditioner obtained by biodegradation of a mixture principally consisting of various
vegetable residues, occasionally with other organic material and having a limited mineral content
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[SOURCE: ISO 14855-2:2018, 3.1]
3.65
compostability
ability of a material to be biodegraded in a defined and controlled composting process within a set time
Note 1 to entry: Must be demonstrated in accordance with a suitable standard.
3.66
compostable plastic
, water,
plastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2
inorganic compounds and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and
leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue
[SOURCE: ISO 17088:2012, 3.4]
3.67
composting
aerobic process designed to produce compost
[SOURCE: ISO 20200:2015, 3.3]
3.68
compounding
process of melt blending or mixing of polymers and additives essentially with a goal to achieve a
homogeneous blend
3.69
compression moulding
method of moulding thermosetting or thermoplastic resins in which the material, generally preheated,
is first placed in an open, heated mould cavity which is then closed with a top force or plug member and
exposed to pressure to force the material into contact with all mould areas, while heat and pressure are
maintained until the moulding material has solidified
3.70
contaminant
substance or material which was unintentionally added
Note 1 to entry: The term “impurity” is a deprecated synonym of contaminant and should not be used.
3.71
converter
specialized operator capable of shaping plastics raw material to make a usable semi-finished or finished
product
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1685 – modified: area of application removed: “
waste>”.]
3.72
copolymer
polymer derived from more than one species of monomer
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.212]
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3.73
co-product
any of two or more products coming from the same unit process or product system
[SOURCE: ISO 14040:2006, 3.10]
3.74
cracking
process by which complex organic molecules are broken down into simpler molecules such as light
hydrocarbons
Note 1 to entry: The end products are strongly dependent on the temperature and presence of catalysts.
3.75
crosslinking
formation of chemical bonds resulting in a three-dimensional molecular network
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.234]
3.76
de-gassing
removal of contained or dissolved gases, vapours, water or monomer residues in the processing of a
plastic material to avoid voids or other imperfections in the final product
3.77
degradability
ability to degrade within a fixed period of time and under the influence of specified environments
3.78
degradation
irreversible process leading to a change of critical property (e.g. mechanical strength, thermal
insulation, colour etc.) typically characterized by changes in the structure of a material, composition
and/or molecular mass, affected by environmental conditions, proceeding over a period of time and
comprising one or more steps
Note 1 to entry: Definition is based on definition EN ISO 472:2013, 2.262.
3.79
degree of bioassimilation
fraction of an original polymeric item that is bioassimilated
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 7]
3.80
degree of biodegradation
mass fraction of an original polymeric item that is biodegraded under specified conditions as measured
through specified techniques
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 6]
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3.81
degree of bio-disintegration
mass fraction of a bio-disintegrated polymeric item
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 12]
3.82
degree of biomineralization
mass fraction of the initial polymeric item that is biomineralized
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 4]
3.83
degree of degradation
extent of deterioration of properties associated with molecular size and chemical structure
3.84
degree of disintegration
mass fraction of the particles of defined size issued from a fragmented polymeric item
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, b) 4]
3.85
degree of fragmentation
mass fraction of the original material that is fragmented
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, b) 2]
3.86
degree of mineralization
fraction of the initial polymeric item that is mineralized
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 2]
3.87
depolymerization
reversion of a polymer to its monomer(s) or to a polymer of lower relative molecular mass
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.268]
3.88
design
creative activity that, based on expressed or implied needs, existing means and technological
possibilities, results in the definition of technical solutions for a product that can be commercially
manufactured or fabricated into prototypes
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1754]
3.89
deterioration
irreversible change in the physical properties of a plastic, evidenced by significant impairment of these
properties
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.271]
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3.90
differential scanning calorimetry
DSC
technique in which the difference between the heat flow rate into a test specimen and that into a
reference specimen is measured as a function of temperature and/or time while the test specimen and
the reference specimen are being subjected to the same controlled temperature programme under a
specified atmosphere
Note 1 to entry: A distinction is made between two modes, power-compensation differential scanning calorimetry
(power-compensation DSC) and heat-flux differential scanning calorimetry (heat-flux DSC), depending on the
principle of measurement used.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.278]
3.91
digested sludge
mixture of the settled sewage and activated sludge which has been incubated in an anaerobic digester at
about 35 °C to reduce the biomass and odour and to improve the dewaterability of the sludge
Note 1 to entry: Digested sludge contains an association of anaerobic fermentative and methanogenic bacteria
producing carbon dioxide and methane.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1755]
3.92
dilatometry
thermo-analytical method for measuring the shrinkage or expansion of materials over a controlled
temperature regime
3.93
disassembly
process whereby a product is taken apart in such a way that it could subsequently be assembled and
made operational
[SOURCE: EN 45553:2020, 3.1.2]
3.94
disintegration
physical breakdown of a material into very small fragments
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1757]
3.95
dismantling
process of taking a product apart into its different component parts
Note 1 to entry: ‘Part’ means any element of a product, as defined by that product’s type design (see Article 3 in
Basic Regulation).
3.96
dissimilation
breakdown of more complex substances by living organisms into simpler ones together with release of
energy
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prEN 17615:2020 (E)
3.97
dissolution
dispersion of macromolecules constituting a polymeric item in a liquid medium
Note 1 to entry: The process does not include degradation.
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, e) 1]
3.98
disposal
any controlled operation, that is not recovery
...
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