Standards Development

Scope

This document provides requirements for the evaluation process for flexible packaging made of PET with respect to compatibility of the design with recycling processes.

Packaging components and ancillary elements made of other materials than PET are also covered by this document as they need to be evaluated for compatibility with the recycling processes.

Purpose

This document establishes requirements for the evaluation process of flexible packaging made of PET. It defines clear criteria for assessing the material recyclability of the main body and integrated components predominantly made of PET, as well as separate components, supporting sustainable packaging design and the circular economy.

Justification 1. Regulatory Background and EU Objectives

Packaging in Europe has been regulated by Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste, which set key principles for waste reduction and recycling. Despite its success, packaging waste continues to rise. To address this, the EU has revised its packaging legislation, introducing the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EN2025/40) to ensure full recyclability of all packaging by 2030.

Article 6, paragraph 4 of the EN2025/40 requires the development of design-for-recycling criteria and recyclability performance grades by 2028, taking into account:

• The ability of packaging waste to be effectively sorted and recycled into secondary raw materials of sufficient quality.

• The impact of substances of concern on recyclability and potential restrictions on such substances.

• Established collection and sorting processes and available recycling technologies.

• The environmental and economic performance of recycling technologies, including energy use and emissions.

These recyclability performance assessments will categorize packaging into grades (A, B, C, or “technically not recyclable”) based on compliance with defined criteria.

2. Standardization to Support PPWR

This document will support the European Commission in developing delegated acts by establishing:

· Definitions and principles for design-for-recycling (DfR) of packaging made of PET flexible materials.

· Design-for-recycling criteria specific to packaging made of Flexible PET. · A process for evaluating recyclability performance.

3. Comprehensive Coverage of packaging made of PET Flexible materials

This document applies to packaging made predominantly of Flexible PET, covering:

· The main body and integrated components of the packaging unit.

· Separate components that are also predominantly made of Flexible PET.

4. Enhancing Recycling Efficiency

This document sets evaluation criteria to assess:

· Material composition.

· Compatibility with recycling infrastructures.

· End-of-life processing efficiency.

5. Alignment with Existing Standards and Guidelines

Background: currently the prEN 18120 (covered by Mandate M584) covers Design for Recycling and Recyclability Evaluation specifications for PET bottles, PET rigid packaging, PE & PP rigid packaging, PE & PP flexible packaging, PS, XPS and EPS packaging. In January 2025, it was acted at TC level that a NWIP would be needed to create new guidelines for PET bottles, PET rigid packaging, PE, PP, PS, XPS and EPS.

PET Flexible is chemically equal to PET and behave similar to PE/PP flexible packaging. However, separate sorting and recycling at scale must be still built up and technologies are not mature yet. Therefore, the planned TS, in the beginning, will have to be based on experience from other plastics and from currently ongoing European projects scaling up sorting and recycling procedures. It will have to be updated according to the technical progress. This new TS could also provide valuable new information for the TS or standards of other materials. 

This document will take into account:

· Existing material-specific recycling guidelines.

· Standards and Technical Specifications, such as series prEN 18120, developed under Mandate M/584 as part of the Circular Plastics Alliance project.

· CEN/TS 13688, which addresses substances that hinder recycling.

· EN 13430, which sets requirements for packaging recoverable by material recycling.