oSIST prEN 17427:2020

Packaging - Requirements and test scheme for carrier bags suitable for treatment in well-managed home composting installations

This document specifies a testing scheme and requirements for the designation of carrier bags of any materials that are considered to be suitable for the incorporation into well-managed home composting installations run by householders for personal uses. Carrier bags are considered as suitable for home composting only if all the individual components meet the requirements.
The following five aspects are addressed:
a)   characterization;
b)   biodegradation;
c)   disintegration during home composting;
d)   compost quality;
e)   recognizability.
The first four aspects (a) to d)) are assessing the effects on the biological treatment process and the compost made by it. The fifth aspect ensures the recognizability of home compostable carrier bags by the end user.
This document forms the basis for the labelling of carrier bags of any material that are considered to be suitable for the incorporation into well-managed home composting installations.
NOTE 1   Compliance with the requirements of this document by the carrier bags entering the compost does not necessarily imply that a high-quality compost will be produced.
This document covers the home compostability of the carrier bags themselves but does not address regulations that may exist regarding the home compostability of any residual contents.
The testing scheme and the requirements specified by this document do not apply to worm composting and/or industrial composting.
It does not provide information on the biodegradability of carrier bags ending up in the environment as litter.
This document includes a reference to guides to well-managed home composting (Annex E).
Compost produced by a private individual is for his own use and not for provision to others, free of charge or in return for payment. This document has no value as a marketing authorization or authorization of use of the final compost.
NOTE 2   The testing scheme and evaluation criteria could be the basis for the establishment of suitability to home composting of other products.

Verpackung - Anforderungen an und Prüfmethoden für heimkompostierbare Tragetaschen

Dieses Dokument legt ein Prüfschema und Anforderungen für die Kennzeichnung von Tragetaschen aus allen Materialien fest, die als geeignet für die Zuführung in kontrollierte Heimkompostierungsanlagen von Hausbesitzern für den persönlichen Gebrauch erachtet werden. Tragetaschen gelten nur dann als geeignet für die Heimkompostierung, wenn alle Einzelbestandteile den Anforderungen entsprechen.
Es werden die folgenden fünf Aspekte behandelt:
a)   Charakterisierung;
b)   Bioabbau;
c)   Desintegration während der Heimkompostierung;
d)   Kompostqualität;
e)   Erkennbarkeit.
Die ersten vier Aspekte (a) bis d)) sind die Bewertung der Auswirkungen auf den biologischen Behandlungsprozess und den daraus erhaltenen Kompost. Der fünfte Aspekt stellt die Erkennbarkeit der kompostierbaren Tragetaschen für den Endverbraucher sicher.
Dieses Dokument bildet die Grundlage für die Kennzeichnung von Tragetaschen aus allen Materialien, die als geeignet für die Zuführung in kontrollierte Heimkompostierungsanlagen erachtet werden.
ANMERKUNG 1   Die Einhaltung der Anforderungen dieses Dokuments durch die dem Kompost zugeführten Tragetaschen führt nicht zwingend dazu, dass ein hochwertiger Kompost hergestellt wird.
Dieses Dokument befasst sich mit der Heimkompostierbarkeit von Tragetaschen selbst und nicht mit Regelungen, die möglicherweise für die Heimkompostierbarkeit ihrer Füllgüter existieren.
Das Prüfschema und die in diesem Dokument festgelegten Anforderungen gelten nicht für die Wurmkompostierung und/oder die industrielle Kompostierung.
Es liefert keine Informationen über die Bioabbaubarkeit von Tragetaschen, die als Abfall in die Umwelt gelangen.
Dieses Dokument enthält eine Verweisung auf Leitfäden für eine kontrollierte Heimkompostierung (Anhang E).
Kompost, der von einer Privatperson hergestellt wird, ist für den eigenen Gebrauch und nicht für die unentgeltliche oder kostenpflichtige Abgabe an andere bestimmt. Dieses Dokument hat keinen Wert als Genehmigung für das Inverkehrbringen oder die Verwendung des fertigen Komposts.
ANMERKUNG 2   Das Prüfschema und die Bewertungskriterien könnten die Grundlage für die Feststellung der Eignung zur Heimkompostierung anderer Produkte sein.

Emballage - Exigences et méthodes d'essai pour les sacs de transport compostables à domicile

Le présent document spécifie un programme d’essai et des exigences relatives à la désignation des sacs de transport constitués de n’importe quel matériau, considérés comme aptes à être incorporés dans des installations de compostage domestique bien gérées exploitées par des particuliers pour leur usage personnel. Les sacs de transport sont considérés comme aptes au compostage domestique uniquement si tous les composants individuels répondent aux exigences.
Les cinq aspects suivants sont traités :
a)   caractérisation ;
b)   biodégradation ;
c)   désintégration pendant le compostage domestique ;
d)   qualité du compost ;
e)   facilité à la reconnaissance.
Les quatre premiers aspects (de a) à d)) évaluent les effets sur le processus de traitement biologique et le compost obtenu par celui-ci. Le cinquième aspect garantit la facilité à la reconnaissance par l’utilisateur final des sacs de transport compostables dans une installation domestique.
Le présent document constitue la base pour l’étiquetage des sacs de transport constitués de n’importe quel matériau qui sont considérés comme aptes à être incorporés dans des installations de compostage domestique bien gérées.
NOTE 1   La conformité aux exigences du présent document des sacs de transport entrant dans le compost n’implique pas nécessairement qu’un compost de haute qualité sera produit.
Le présent document couvre la compostabilité domestique des sacs de transport eux-mêmes, mais pas les réglementations pouvant exister en ce qui concerne la compostabilité domestique des contenus résiduels.
Le programme d’essai et les exigences spécifiées par ce document ne s’appliquent pas au lombricompostage et/ou au compostage industriel.
Le présent document ne fournit pas d’informations sur la biodégradabilité des sacs de transport terminant dans l’environnement en tant que détritus.
Le présent document inclut une référence à des guides du compostage domestique bien géré (Annexe E).
Le compost produit par un particulier est destiné à son propre usage et non à être fourni à des tiers, gratuitement ou contre paiement. Ce document n’a aucune valeur en tant qu’autorisation de mise sur le marché ou autorisation d’utilisation du compost final.
NOTE 2   Le programme d’essai et les critères d’évaluation pourraient servir de base à l’établissement de l’aptitude d’autres produits au compostage domestique.

Embalaža - Zahteve in shema preskušanja vrečk za nošenje blaga, primernih za kompostiranje doma

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 03-May-2020
• ICS: 55.080 - Sacks. Bags
• Technical Committee: EPO - Packaging - sales and grouped
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 05-Aug-2019
• Due Date: 23-Dec-2019
• Completion Date: 12-May-2020
• Directive: 94/62/EC - European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste
• Ref Project: prEN 17427 - Packaging - Requirements and test scheme for carrier bags suitable for treatment in well-managed home composting installations

Standards Content (sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
01-april-2020
Embalaža - Zahteve in shema preskušanja vrečk za nošenje blaga, primernih za
kompostiranje doma

Packaging - Requirements and test scheme for carrier bags suitable for treatment in

well-managed home composting installations
Verpackung - Anforderungen an und Prüfmethoden für heimkompostierbare
Tragetaschen

Emballage - Exigences et méthodes d'essai pour les sacs de transport compostables à

domicile
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17427
ICS:
55.080 Vreče. Vrečke Sacks. Bags
oSIST prEN 17427:2020 en,fr,de

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 17427
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2020
ICS 55.080
English Version
Packaging - Requirements and test scheme for carrier bags
suitable for treatment in well-managed home composting
installations

Emballage - Exigences et méthodes d'essai pour les Verpackung - Anforderungen an und Prüfmethoden für

sacs de transport compostables à domicile heimkompostierbare Tragetaschen

This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee

CEN/TC 261.

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 17427:2020 E

worldwide for CEN national Members.
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)
Contents Page

European foreword ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 4

1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 5

2 Normative references .................................................................................................................................... 5

3 Terms and definitions ................................................................................................................................... 7

4 Principle ............................................................................................................................................................. 9

5 General requirements ................................................................................................................................... 9

5.1 Assessment ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

5.1.1 General ................................................................................................................................................................ 9

5.1.2 Characterization ........................................................................................................................................... 10

5.1.3 Biodegradation ............................................................................................................................................. 10

5.1.4 Disintegration................................................................................................................................................ 10

5.1.5 Compost quality ............................................................................................................................................ 10

5.1.6 Recognizability .............................................................................................................................................. 10

5.2 Equivalent form ............................................................................................................................................ 10

5.3 Carrier bag containing different components ................................................................................... 10

5.4 Materials of natural origin ........................................................................................................................ 11

6 Detailed requirements ............................................................................................................................... 11

6.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 11

6.2 Characterization ........................................................................................................................................... 11

6.2.1 Control of constituents ............................................................................................................................... 11

6.2.2 Volatile solids ................................................................................................................................................ 12

6.2.3 Identifying characteristics ........................................................................................................................ 12

6.3 Ultimate aerobic biodegradation ........................................................................................................... 13

6.3.1 General requirements ................................................................................................................................ 13

6.3.2 Specific requirements ................................................................................................................................. 14

6.3.3 Test duration ................................................................................................................................................. 15

6.3.4 Validity criteria ............................................................................................................................................. 15

6.4 Disintegration................................................................................................................................................ 15

6.4.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 15

6.4.2 Requirements ................................................................................................................................................ 15

6.4.3 Test duration ................................................................................................................................................. 16

6.5 Effects on compost quality ........................................................................................................................ 16

6.5.1 Compost production .................................................................................................................................... 16

6.5.2 Determination of negative effect to terrestrial organisms ........................................................... 16

6.5.3 Requirements ................................................................................................................................................ 18

7 Test report ...................................................................................................................................................... 19

Annex A (normative) Determination of ecotoxic effects to higher plants .............................................. 20

Annex B (normative) Determination of acute ecotoxic effects to earthworms .................................... 22

Annex C (normative) Determination of chronic ecotoxic effects to earthworms ................................ 23

Annex D (normative) Determination of nitrification activity of soil microorganisms ...................... 25

Annex E (informative) Guidelines to well-managed home composting .................................................. 27

Annex F (informative) Information about home composting ..................................................................... 29

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................. 31

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)
European foreword

This document (prEN 17427:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 261 “Packaging”,

the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)
Introduction

EN 13432 specifies the requirements relating to packaging (including carrier bags) recovered through

organic recycling (e.g. aerobic composting) in municipal or industrial biological waste treatment

facilities. Carrier bags compliant with EN 13432 are thus called “compostable” to indicate that they are

suitable for this recovery option. However, the term “composting” is also used to designate “home

composting” and this can generate confusion in the citizen.

Home composting is a practice used by private individuals to treat garden and food waste generated at

household level and produce compost for personal gardening use. In spite of the common name,

industrial and home composting are two very different activities, the former being a controlled waste

treatment process and the latter being a gardening activity.

Home composting is affected by the feeding regime (usually discontinuous in quality, quantity and

intervals), by the composting style of the householder (accurate or careless), and by the local climatic

conditions. The small dimensions of composting installations usually do not allow the generation of heat

enough to sustain high temperatures.

As a result, conditions in home composting can be very different from conditions in industrial

composting. As a result of this, a carrier bag recognized as “compostable” according to EN 13432 cannot

automatically be considered as suitable for treatment in a well-managed home composting installation.

This document has been prepared in order to define the necessary characteristics of carrier bags for

displaying biodegradation and disintegration behaviour compatible with well-managed home

composting installations.
---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)
1 Scope

This document specifies a testing scheme and requirements for the designation of carrier bags of any

materials that are considered to be suitable for the incorporation into well-managed home composting

installations run by householders for personal uses. Carrier bags are considered as suitable for home

composting only if all the individual components meet the requirements.
The following five aspects are addressed:
a) characterization;
b) biodegradation;
c) disintegration during home composting;
d) compost quality;
e) recognizability.

The first four aspects (a) to d)) are assessing the effects on the biological treatment process and the

compost made by it. The fifth aspect ensures the recognizability of home compostable carrier bags by the

end user.

This document forms the basis for the labelling of carrier bags of any material that are considered to be

suitable for the incorporation into well-managed home composting installations.

NOTE 1 Compliance with the requirements of this document by the carrier bags entering the compost does not

necessarily imply that a high-quality compost will be produced.

This document covers the home compostability of the carrier bags themselves but does not address

regulations that may exist regarding the home compostability of any residual contents.

The testing scheme and the requirements specified by this document do not apply to worm composting

and/or industrial composting.

It does not provide information on the biodegradability of carrier bags ending up in the environment as

litter.

This document includes a reference to guides to well-managed home composting (Annex E).

Compost produced by a private individual is for his own use and not for provision to others, free of charge

or in return for payment. This document has no value as a marketing authorization or authorization of

use of the final compost.

NOTE 2 The testing scheme and evaluation criteria could be the basis for the establishment of suitability to home

composting of other products.
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.

CEN/TR 13695-2, Packaging — Requirements for measuring and verifying the four heavy metals and other

dangerous substances present in packaging, and their release into the environment — Part 2: Requirements

for measuring and verifying dangerous substances present in packaging, and their release into the

environment
---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)

EN 14582, Characterization of waste — Halogen and sulfur content — Oxygen combustion in closed systems

and determination methods

prEN 17428, Packaging — Determination of the degree of disintegration under simulated home composting

conditions
EN ISO 536, Paper and board — Determination of grammage (ISO 536)

EN ISO 11268-1, Soil quality — Effects of pollutants on earthworms — Part 1: Determination of acute

toxicity to Eisenia fetida/Eisenia andrei (ISO 11268-1)

EN ISO 11268-2, Soil quality — Effects of pollutants on earthworms — Part 2: Determination of effects on

reproduction of Eisenia fetida/Eisenia andrei (ISO 11268-2)

EN ISO 11269-2:2013, Soil quality — Determination of the effects of pollutants on soil flora — Part 2:

Effects of contaminated soil on the emergence and early growth of higher plants (ISO 11269-2:2012)

EN ISO 12846, Water quality — Determination of mercury — Method using atomic absorption

spectrometry (AAS) with and without enrichment (ISO 12846)

EN ISO 14851, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous

medium — Method by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respirometer (ISO 14851)

EN ISO 14852, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous

medium — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide (ISO 14852)

EN ISO 14855-1, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under

controlled composting conditions — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide — Part 1: General

method (ISO 14855-1)

EN ISO 14855-2, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under

controlled composting conditions — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide — Part 2: Gravimetric

measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test (ISO 14855-2)

prEN ISO 16929, Plastics — Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under defined

composting conditions in a pilot-scale test (ISO/DIS 16929)

EN ISO 17294-2, Water quality — Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-

MS) — Part 2: Determination of selected elements including uranium isotopes (ISO 17294-2)

EN ISO 17556, Plastics — Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in soil

by measuring the oxygen demand in a respirometer or the amount of carbon dioxide evolved (ISO 17556)

ISO 15685, Soil quality — Determination of potential nitrification and inhibition of nitrification — Rapid

test by ammonium oxidation

OECD 208, OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Section 2, Effects on Biotic Systems — Test No. 208:

Terrestrial Plant Test: Seedling Emergence and Seedling Growth Test
---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)
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:

— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
compost

soil conditioner obtained by biodegradation of a mixture consisting principally of vegetable residues,

occasionally with other organic material and having a limited mineral content
[SOURCE: ISO 18606:2013, 3.1]
3.2
composting
aerobic process designed to produce compost

Note 1 to entry: Composting is classified into industrial composting, home composting and worm composting.

[SOURCE: ISO 18606:2013, 3.2, modified – Note 1 to entry was added.]
3.3
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 refered to as professional composting.

3.4
home composting

composting process performed by private individuals with the aim of producing compost for their own

use
3.5
well-managed home composting

home composting practice which meets the minimum required conditions to convert biowaste into

compost
Note 1 to entry: See Annex E.
3.6
worm composting

aerobic process using worms to recycle food scraps and other organic material into compost

Note 1 to entry: The final compost is also called vermicompost, or worm compost.
3.7
carrier bag

bag, with or without handles, supplied to consumers with the purpose of containing and carrying goods

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)
3.8
disintegration
physical breakdown of a material into very small fragments
[SOURCE: ISO 17088:2012, 3.6]
3.9
total dry solids

amount of solids obtained by taking a known volume of test material or compost and drying at about

105 °C to constant mass
[SOURCE: ISO 17088:2012, 3.9]
3.10
intrinsic biodegradability

ability of a material to be biodegraded, established under controlled laboratory conditions

3.11
ultimate aerobic biodegradation

breakdown of an organic compound by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen into carbon dioxide,

water and mineral salts of any other elements present (mineralization) plus new biomass

[SOURCE: ISO 17088:2012, 3.10]
3.12
“ready” biodegradation

level of biodegradation achieved under defined conditions which indicates the test compound is

considered likely to degrade rapidly and completely under aerobic aquatic environmental conditions

[SOURCE: EN ISO 7827:2012, 3.6]
3.13
volatile solids

amount of solids obtained by subtracting the residue of a known volume of test material or compost after

incineration at about 550 °C from the total dry solids of the same sample

Note 1 to entry: The volatile-solids content is an indication of the amount of organic matter present.

[SOURCE: ISO 17088:2012, 3.11]
3.14
constituent
all substances of which a carrier bag is composed of
Note 1 to entry: This includes but is not limited to any colourants and inks.
3.15
organic constituent

chemical constituent that contains carbon covalently linked to other carbon atoms and to other elements,

most commonly hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen

Note 1 to entry: Inorganic carbonates, carbides, cyanides and simple oxides such as carbon monoxide and carbon

dioxide are not classified as organic constituent.
---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)

Note 2 to entry: Allotropes of carbon, such as diamond, graphite, carbon black, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes

are also not regarded as organic constituent.
3.16
component

part of a carrier bag that can be separated by hand or by using simple physical means

3.17
inorganic filler

inert constituent added to a material to modify its strength, permanence, working properties or other

qualities
3.18
organic carbon
amount of carbon bound in an organic material
[SOURCE: EN ISO 13833:2013, 3.4]
3.19
substances of very high concern
SVHC

substances covered by legal provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 [1]

[SOURCE: EN 17033:2018, 3.4.2]
3.20
per- and poly-fluorinated substance (PFC)

organofluorine substance containing only carbon-fluorine bonds and carbon-carbon bonds but also other

heteroatoms
4 Principle

The purpose of this document is to establish requirements for carrier bags that can be treated in well-

managed home composting installations.

A carrier bag is considered as suitable for home composting if all the components are suitable for home

composting meeting the requirements of this document.

The suitability of carrier bags is verified by the test scheme described in this document.

5 General requirements
5.1 Assessment
5.1.1 General

Except as identified in 5.2 and 5.4, the assessment of the carrier bag or, if applicable, its individual

components shall include the following four assessment procedures:
— characterization (see 5.1.2);
— biodegradation (see 5.1.3);
— disintegration (see 5.1.4);
— compost quality (see 5.1.5).
For recognizability see 5.1.6.
---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)
5.1.2 Characterization

Each carrier bag under investigation or if applicable its components shall be identified and characterized

prior testing, including at least:
— determination of the presence of regulated metals;

— evaluation of the presence of substances hazardous to the environment according to

CEN/TR 13695-2;
— evaluation of the presence of substances of very high concern (SVHC);
— determination of volatile solids;
— other relevant identifying characteristics as specified in 6.2.3.
5.1.3 Biodegradation

To be designated as “suitable for home composting”, each component of the carrier bag, if applicable,

shall be intrinsically and ultimately biodegradable as demonstrated in laboratory tests and shall conform

to the criteria and pass levels given in 6.3.
5.1.4 Disintegration

To be designated as “suitable for home composting”, each component of the carrier bag, if applicable,

shall disintegrate in a well-managed home composting process in conformance with the criteria and pass

levels given in 6.4.
5.1.5 Compost quality

To be designated as “suitable for home composting”, no carrier bag and carrier bag component, if

applicable, thereof, submitted to a biological waste treatment process, shall be recorded as having a

negative effect on the quality of the resulting compost as specified in 6.5.
5.1.6 Recognizability

The carrier bag or carrier bag component “suitable for home composting” shall be recognizable as

suitable for home composting by the end user by appropriate means.
5.2 Equivalent form

A carrier bag demonstrated to be in accordance with this document in a particular form, shall be accepted

without additional tests as being in accordance with this document in any other form having the same or

a smaller mass to surface ratio, the same or lower grammage or the same or lower thickness.

5.3 Carrier bag containing different components

The carrier bag or carrier bag component which is intended to undergo the home composting treatment

shall be recognizable as home compostable by the end user by appropriate means.

In case of a carrier bag formed by different components, some of which are home compostable and some

other not, the carrier bag itself, as a whole is not home compostable.

It shall be clearly specified which components of the carrier bag are home compostable.

EXAMPLE 1 A carrier bag with handles made of a different material and sealed to the bag: Handles which are

sealed to the bag and cannot be easily detached are not components. The bag and the handles are considered as a

whole.
---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)

EXAMPLE 2 A carrier bag which is formed by two bags, one containing the other, not or loosely attached to each

other: The two bags can be easily separated one from the other, thus they are components. Specific claims on the

suitability for home composting of each component can be made providing that the whole carrier bag is claimed as

not suitable for home composting, but just one component.

EXAMPLE 3 A carrier bag which is formed by a film made of two layers: The two layers cannot be easily

separated one from the other, thus they are not components. Claim of suitability with home composting can only be

made on the carrier bag as a whole if it complies with this document. No claim on the layers can be made, even if a

layer should individually meet the requirement of this document.
5.4 Materials of natural origin

Chemically unmodified constituents of natural origin, such as wood, wood fibre, cotton fibre, starch,

paper pulp, or jute shall be accepted as being biodegradable without testing (see 6.3). Nevertheless, they

shall be chemically characterized (see 6.2) and fulfil the criteria for disintegration (see 6.4) and compost

quality (see 6.5).
6 Detailed requirements
6.1 General

In order to meet the requirements of this document, a carrier bag shall fulfil all the requirements given

in 6.2 to 6.5.

Test samples shall not be subjected to conditions or procedures designed to accelerate biodegradation or

disintegration prior to testing according to 6.3 or 6.4.
6.2 Characterization
6.2.1 Control of constituents
6.2.1.1 Regulated metals

The concentration of regulated metals in the material under investigation shall not exceed the limits

according to Table 1.
Table 1 — Maximum concentration of regulated metals
Maximum concentration
Element Test method
mg/kg of dry matter
Cadmium (Cd) 0,5 EN ISO 17294-2
Chromium total (Cr) 50 EN ISO 17294-2
Copper (Cu) 50 EN ISO 17294-2
Mercury (Hg) 0,5 EN ISO 12846
Nickel (Ni) 25 EN ISO 17294-2
Lead (Pb) 50 EN ISO 17294-2
Zinc (Zn) 150 EN ISO 17294-2

The maximum metal concentrations are 50 % of those prescribed in ecological criteria for the award of the

Community eco-label to soil improvers [2].
---------------------- Page: 13 ----------------------
oSIST prEN 17427:2020
prEN 17427:2020 (E)
6.2.1.2 Per- and poly-fluorinated substances (PFCs)

From a precautionary perspective, per- and poly-fluorinated substances (PFCs) shall not be intentionally

added to a material of a carrier bag.

The concentration of per- and poly-fluorinated substances (PFCs) in the material of a carrier bag shall be

less than 100 mg fluorine/kg material (dry matter).
The fluorine concentration shall be analysed according to EN 14582.

NOTE 1 Most of per- and poly-fluorinated substances (PFCs) are extremely persistent in the environment and in

addition, certain PFCs are suspected to have bioaccumulative properties and adverse effects for environment and

human health.

NOTE 2 Per- and poly-fluorinated substances (PFCs) have been frequently used as surface-treatment agents in

e.g. tableware in order to enhance grease resistance or to control water permeability.

If a testing on a material containing talcum results in a value of more than 100 mg F/kg material (dry

matter), then, in addition, the total fluorine content of a material without talcum shall be determined. The

measured fluorine concentration of a material without talcum shall be below

100 mg fluorine/kg material in order to meet requirements regarding the restricted use of per- and poly-

fluorinated substances (PFCs).

NOTE 3 Talcum or talc is an inert mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula

Mg Si O (OH) . The mineral is used in many applications including baby care products, cosmetics and packa

...