kSIST FprEN 18120-11:2025

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
01-oktober-2024
Embalaža - Načrtovanje, ki omogoča recikliranje plastične embalaže - 11. del:
Postopek za ocenjevanje možnosti recikliranja plastične embalaže - Protokoli za
togo plastično embalažo iz polietilen tereftalata (razen PET-plastenk)
Packaging - Design for recycling for plastic packaging - Part 11: Recyclability evaluation
process for plastic packaging - Protocols for PET rigid packaging (except bottles)
Verpackung - Recyclingorientierte Gestaltung von Kunststoffverpackungsprodukten - Teil
11: Verfahren zur Bewertung der Recyclingfähigkeit von Kunststoffverpackungen -
Protokolle für starre Verpackungen aus PET (außer Flaschen)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18120-11
ICS:
13.030.50 Recikliranje Recycling
55.020 Pakiranje in distribucija blaga Packaging and distribution of
na splošno goods in general
83.080.20 Plastomeri Thermoplastic materials
oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 18120-11
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
September 2024
ICS 55.020; 13.030.50; 83.080.20
English Version
Packaging - Design for recycling for plastic packaging -
Part 11: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic
packaging - Protocols for PET rigid packaging (except
bottles)
Verpackung - Recyclingorientierte Gestaltung von
Kunststoffverpackungsprodukten - Teil 11: Verfahren
zur Bewertung der Recyclingfähigkeit von
Kunststoffverpackungen - Protokolle für starre
Verpackungen aus PET (außer Flaschen)
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, Türkiye 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
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 18120-11:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Recyclability evaluation process . 6
4.1 Principle . 6
4.2 Testing procedures for pretreatment- Flake preparation . 10
4.2.1 Pretreatment grinding . 10
4.2.2 Pretreatment description for pre-washing, washing, and rinsing . 10
4.2.3 Procedure for pre-washing . 10
4.2.4 Procedure for washing . 11
4.2.5 Procedure for hot rinsing . 11
4.2.6 Procedure for cold rinsing and floatation . 11
4.2.7 Procedure for drying . 12
4.2.8 Procedure for air elutriation . 13
4.2.9 Assessment report, standard testing procedure and recommended benchmark values . 13
4.3 Testing procedures for treatment – Pellet extrusion . 14
4.3.1 Flakes blending for subsequent extrusion . 14
4.3.2 Extrusion – Pellet production . 15
4.3.3 Solid state polymerization (SSP) . 15
4.3.4 Crystallization . 16
4.3.5 Assessment report, standard testing procedures and recommended benchmark values 16
4.4 Testing procedures for conversion into test samples . 18
4.4.1 Pellet blends preparation . 18
4.4.2 Conversion Route 1- Plaque injection moulding . 18
4.4.3 Conversion Route 2 -Sheet extrusion . 19
4.4.4 Assessment report, standard testing procedure and recommended benchmark values . 19
Bibliography . 21

oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 18120-11:2024) 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.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
Introduction
EN 18120 consisting of 15 parts aims via a series of guidelines and protocols to establish consistency and
improvement for the Design for Recycling of household, industrial and commercial plastic packaging.
— Part 1: Definitions and principles for design-for-recycling of plastic packaging
— Part 2: Process and governance to evaluate the recyclability of plastic packaging
— Part 3: Sortability evaluation process for plastic packaging
— Part 4: Guideline and protocols for PET bottles
— Part 5: Guideline and protocols for PET rigid packaging (except bottles)
— Part 6: Guideline and protocols for PE and PP rigid packaging
— Part 7: Guideline and protocols for PE and PP flexible packaging
— Part 8: Guideline and protocols for PS packaging
— Part 9: Guideline and protocols for EPS packaging
— Part 10: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic packaging — Protocols for PET bottles
— Part 11: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic packaging — Protocols for PET other rigid
packaging
— Part 12: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic packaging — Protocols for PE and PP rigid
packaging
— Part 13: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic packaging — Protocols for PE and PP flexible
packaging
— Part 14: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic packaging — Protocols for PS packaging
— Part 15: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic packaging — Protocols for EPS packaging
Design for recycling guidelines are a common way of describing compatibility with plastic packaging
collection, sorting and recycling into high quality recycled plastic into state-of-the-art facilities. They
provide guidance on the level compatibility, defined as:
— green: Packaging constituents with full compatibility with recycling;
— yellow: Packaging constituents with limited compatibility with recycling;
— red: Packaging constituents which are not compatible with recycling.
Recyclability guidelines will require regular review and improvement to reflect innovations in design,
collection, sorting and recycling.
The Design for recycling guidelines provided in this series of standards are representative of the state of
the art in Europe and cover all steps from design for recycling, packaging waste collection, sorting,
recycling into recycled plastic and to use in a new application.
oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
Packaging recyclability is the combination of two parameters: packaging designed for recycling and the
existence of a recycling stream. Design for recycling guidelines act as a first indicator.

oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
1 Scope
This document covers the design of PET pots and trays with respect to compatibility of the design with
recycling processes.
Packaging constituents and packaging components made of other materials than PET are also covered by
this document as they need to be evaluated on compatibility with polymer recycling.
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.
prEN 18120-1, Packaging — Design for recycling of plastic packaging — Part 1: Definitions and principles
for design-for-recycling of plastic packaging
prEN 18120-3, Packaging — Design for recycling of plastic packaging — Part 3: Sortability evaluation
process for plastic packaging
prEN 18120-5, Packaging — Design for recycling of plastic packaging — Part 5: Guideline for PET rigid
packaging (except bottles)
EN ISO 527-3, Plastics — Determination of tensile properties — Part 3: Test conditions for films and sheets
(ISO 527-3)
EN ISO 1133-1, Plastics — Determination of the melt mass-flow rate (MFR) and melt volume-flow rate
(MVR) of thermoplastics — Part 1: Standard method (ISO 1133-1)
EN ISO 1628-1, Plastics — Determination of the viscosity of polymers in dilute solution using capillary
viscometers — Part 1: General principles (ISO 1628-1)
EN ISO 18314-1, Analytical colourimetry — Part 1: Practical colour measurement (ISO 18314-1)
ISO 11357-3, Plastics — Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) — Part 3: Determination of temperature
and enthalpy of melting and crystallization
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in prEN 18120-1 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology 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/
4 Recyclability evaluation process
4.1 Principle
This standard provides a method of evaluating the technical recyclability of a PET rigid packaging (except
bottles) sample in mechanical recycling processes as they are implemented in Europe. The results
characterize both the processability of the sample as well as the quality of the recycled plastic.
oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
Depending on the choice of the sample, the method can either provide a technical recyclability
determination for a given packaging design or item, or it can be employed to selectively study the impact
of individual design elements of a PET rigid packaging on technical recyclability.
The latter approach may be employed to generate data for the updating of design-for-recycling
guidelines.
The test method follows the steps (unit operations) that occur in a mechanical recycling process for PET
rigid packaging (mainly thermoforms) and seeks to simulate each operation on a laboratory scale.
The relevant unit operations are shown in Table 1. Steps 0 to 5 describe the plastic recycling process itself
whereas step 6 represent the conversion of the recycled PET into articles, in this case plaques is preferred
because it offers greater repeatability at laboratory scale than the sheet extrusion.
As such, steps 0 to 4 provide information on the processability of the sample whereas steps 5 and 6
provide information on the quality of the recycled plastic that can be obtained.
To perform the recyclability evaluation process, the below elements shall be considered:
— design for recyclability evaluation process guidelines on PET rigid packaging (except bottles)
described in prEN 18120-5;
— targeted intended use(s) for the final recyclate, this is needed to ensure the testing will be made in
relation to dedicated specifications, as described in part 1 of this series of standards.
And in this document:
— list of unit operations for the whole process until the recyclate is used (grinding, washing, extrusion,
… for example);
— specification of unit operations process capability to be used for the evaluation based on state of the
art of PET rigid packaging recycling processes in Europe (grinding size for example);
— relevant process conditions settings for testing for all relevant unit operations (temperature for
washing for example);
— list of mandatory sampling and tests to be performed on the samples for each unit operation (IV
measurement as per EN ISO 1628-1 for example);
— reference benchmark recommendation values for assessing the results of the tests performed
(Colour deviation Delta B below 1 for example) and help building the final assessment.
The goal of the evaluation process is to identify all foreseeable critical points and establish a testing
strategy that either confirms or excludes a negative impact for each critical point considered. The testing
strategy will use all or only some of the tests described below that will depend on the innovation type
and expected impacts on the recycling process and the recyclate.
For PET rigid packaging the following unit operations are applicable to the whole process until the
recyclate is used. Depending on the intended application 2 different routes may be applied on the last
steps (4.2.1, 4.2.2).
The ‘reference test procedures’ column refers to the subclauses of this document.
oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
Table 1 — List of applicable unit operations for PET Rigid packaging (except bottles)
Step # Unit operation Brief operation description Reference test
procedures
0 Control selection Before any testing, control material
to compare the evaluated packaging
needs to be selected. The selection
of the control material needs to be
approved by the appropriate
technical committee.
1 Sortability Testing to ensure the PET container This testing shall be
evaluation by is sortable, after compaction, via performed according to
means of IR sorting NIR or other sorting technologies prEN 18120-3.
or colour sorting into the correct stream.
2 Pre-treatment: This step simulates the
flakes preparation of PET flakes from
preparation rigid packaging by grinding,
washing and sink/float
separation
2.1 Pre-treatment: Control and evaluated application 4.2.1
grinding PET containers are separately
Pre-treatment grinding
grinded in order to fit the throat of
a standard laboratory extruder.
2.2 Pre-treatment - Simulation of the prewashing step, 4.2.3
Prewashing in hot water with caustic and with
Pretreatment -
mechanical agitation.
Prewashing
2.3 Pre-treatment - Simulation of the washing step, in 4.2.4
Washing hot water and caustic with
Pretreatement - Washing
detergent and mechanical agitation.
2.4 Pre-treatment - Simulation of the rinsing step, in hot 4.2.5
Hot rinsing conditions, without additives and
Pretreatement – Hot
with mechanical agitation.
Rinsing
2.5 Pre-treatment - Simulation of cold rinsing and 4.2.6
Cold rinsing and flotation process allowing PET flake
Pretreatment – Cold
floatation separation from polyolefins (labels,
rinsing and floatation
lids…) by density in water without
additives.
2.6 Pre-treatment - Reduce the flake moisture with hot 4.2.7
Drying air.
Pretreatment – Drying
2.7 Pre-treatment: air Control and evaluated application; 4.2.8
elutriation PET flakes are separately elutriated
Pretreatment – Air
with air to remove light fraction.
elutriation
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prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
Step # Unit operation Brief operation description Reference test
procedures
3 Treatment: This step simulates the
Pellets production of rPET pellets via
preparation extrusion and polycondensation
by solid state process
3.1 Extrusion – flake Once the control and evaluated 4.3.1
blends preparation application have separately gone
Treatment – Flakes
and composition through all pre-treatment steps
blending for subsequent
(2.1-2.7) blending with the
extrusion.
reference material will be prepared
as per agreed test program.
Standard blending ratios are 2, 5,
10, 25, and 50 %
3.2 Extrusion – pellet Flakes are dried to reduce moisture 4.3.2
production as carried out in an industrial line.
Treatment – Pellet
They are then extruded and filtered
production
and pelletized into cylindrical
pellets.
4 Crystallization and These operations will be performed 4.3.3
SSP to:
Treatment – Solid state
— either assess IV increase rate polymerization
and then assess the colour on
4.3.4
plaque moulding these pellets
Treatment –
(4.1, route 1)
Crystallization
— or to be extruded to sheets to
assess sheet performance (4.2,
route 2)
5 Conversion into This step simulates the
test samples conversion of the above pellets in
test samples (plaques or
preforms and extruded sheet)
4.1 Conversion – Route 1: Once PET pellets have 4.4.1
Plaques been produced and tested,
Conversion – Plaque
reference pellets and samples will
be mixed at 50 % and standardized
plaques will be moulded to assess
colour.
4.2 Conversion – Sheet Route 2: Once PET pellets have 4.4.2
extrusion been produced the applicant will
Conversion – Sheet
convert them sheets and
performance of the sheet will be
assessed.
NOTE This document does not describe sorting steps that occur at material recovery facilities (MRF) or plastics
recovery facilities (PRF). For the evaluation of such sorting operations, reference is made to prEN 18120-3.
oSIST prEN 18120-11:2024
prEN 18120-11:2024 (E)
4.2 Testing procedures for pretreatment- Flake preparation
4.2.1 Pretreatment grinding
Control and innovation samples are separately ground to fit the throat of a common laboratory extruder.
Procedure:
— report the mass of each sample before grinding as m in the table in Annex X;
— grind separately control and innovation sample to flakes using a 12 mm screen;
— report if high quantities of fines (< 1 mm) are obtained;
— store in separate containers;
— take photos of each fraction;
— keep about 20 g of control and innovation flakes for IV and colour measurement. Remove this mass
from m0 to have a fair comparison of m to m ;
1 0
— report the mass of each sample after grinding as m .
4.2.2 Pretreatment description for pre-washing, washing, and rinsing
Control and innovation samples are washed to test the impact on hot washing operations. Washing for
PET flakes from rigid packaging is commonly made in presence of caustic soda as well as detergents and
is multiple steps process. The following procedures shall be utilized for both control and innovation
samples separately.
The tank to be used should respect the following conditions:
— sized to allow water and PET flake to be mixed at a 4:1 ratio by weight;
— will allow a recommended ratio of the water height-to-the tank width of 0,8 to 1,0 and not less than
0,6 or greater than 1,5;
— fitted with a mixer with an impellor blade length at least 0,33 of the mixing tank diameter or width,
and with variable speed capability for impeller;
— incorporating at least three baffles when a round tank is used: baffles not necessary in a square tank.
4.2.3 Procedure for pre-washing
— Prepare the pre-washing stainless steel tank for a 1:4 ratio (1 kg flakes vs 4 L solution) at 70 °C with
a solution of 1 wt% NaOH and 1 wt% MacDermid Master RP 14-LF deter
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