Standards Development

Scope

This document describes a laboratory scale method for determining the key parameters for evaluating the level of recyclability of paper and board-based materials and other cellulose fibre-based products, emulating the relevant phases of paper and board recycling mills with conventional process without deinking technology or other special features to recycle paper for producing new paper and board.

 This document considers only the minimum characteristics of paper and board that can be generally recycled. Therefore, it does not take into consideration additional specifications necessary to valorise the paper and board for recycling using deinking technologies. It also does not include parameters of recyclability in mills with specialized processing technology

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. Concerning paper and board based materials and products, 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 Recyclability 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 typ). The work proposal here focuses on the Laboratory Recyclability Test Method for recycling mills with conventional process. Several laboratory recyclability testing methods already exist in different European countries since years and are used to assess papers and boards which are intended to be recycled. All these methods simulate the main process steps of a recycling plant, which are pulping and cleaning (with or without flotation step), and sheet making. A new recyclability laboratory test method has recently been developed by CEPI, with the aim of being used as a common method in European countries. The principle of the method is still to emulate the relevant phases of paper and board recycling mills with conventional process, without flotation deinking technology or other special features, under standard conditions in a laboratory scale pulping and cleaning devices. This proposed new work item is based on the Paper and Board – Recyclability Laboratory Test Method – Part I – Recycling mill with Conventional process, version 3, February 2025, issued by CEPI. The evaluation protocol and design tables to be developed under CEN/TC 261/S4 4/ WG 3 require a 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 I – Recycling mill with Conventional process, ensuring the fidelity of the DfR developments in CEN/TC/261/WG3/SG2.