Standards Development

Scope

This document describes a laboratory scale method for determining the key parameters for evaluating the level of recyclability of used beverage cartons alike materials and products, emulating the relevant phases of paper and board recycling mills with specialised process (UBC).

Purpose

This proposal is closely linked to the request from the European Commission about the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) 2025/40 of 19 December 2024. The Commission issued a letter requesting that the technical specifications from CEN be considered by the JRC for secondary legislation (delegated acts) under the PPWR, with work set to begin at the JRC in 2026.

As a result, within CEN/TC 261/SC 4/WG 3/SG 2, designs for recycling (DfR) are being developed in the form of Technical Specifications (TS) to be submitted to the European Commission for all packaging materials including paper and cardboard. DfR are based on the following deliverables: a TS on Test protocols, a TS on process and criteria to evaluate the recyclability, all aiming to meet the EU Commission’s request. Following various discussions and meetings within CEN/TC 172/WG 2 and CEN/TC 261/SC 4/WG 3/SG 2, it has been agreed that the Lab Test Method section should be developed within CEN/TC 172/WG 2 and subsequently integrated into CEN/TC 261/SC 4/WG 3/SG 2. This decision was made due to the specific scope of the working groups and the expertise within CEN/TC 172/WG 2 in this particular Laboratory Recyclabilty Test Method area.

These designs for recycling are defined for: paper and board recycling mills with conventional process, flotation-deinking process, and specialized process (UBC, used beverage carton type). The work proposal here focuses on the Laboratory Recyclability Test Method for recycling mills with specialized process (UBC, used beverage carton). This proposed new work item is based on the 4evergreen document: Annexes documents part III – recycling mill with specialized process (UBC). The document contains the detailed work description of the laboratory procedure and various annexes. The test method itself is expected to be published by the alliance in March 2025 and will be the basis for the TS to be developed by 4evergreen. The evaluation protocol and design tables to be developed under CEN/TC 261/S4 4/ WG 3 require a well well-defined test method: CEN/TC 261/SC 4 / WG 3 will work on a TS for Recyclability Evaluation and Design for Recycling tables to be linked to the Test Method to be developed by CEN/TC 172/ WG 2 The development of the recyclability laboratory test method as a TS under CEN/TC 172/WG 2 should therefore mirror the foundations of the Paper and Board – Recyclability Laboratory Test Method – Part III: Recycling mill with specialized process (UBC), Version 1, ensuring the fidelity of the DfR developments in CEN/TC/261/WG3/SG2.