SIST EN 17615:2022

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2022
Polimerni materiali - Okoljski vidiki - Slovar
Plastics - Environmental Aspects - Vocabulary
Kunststoffe - Umweltaspekte - Vokabular
Plastiques - Aspects environnementaux - Vocabulaire
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17615:2022
ICS:
01.040.83 Gumarska industrija in Rubber and plastics
industrija polimernih industries (Vocabularies)
materialov (Slovarji)
13.020.01 Okolje in varstvo okolja na Environment and
splošno environmental protection in
general
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 17615
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2022
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 01.040.13; 01.040.83; 13.020.01; 83.080.01
English Version
Plastics - Environmental Aspects - Vocabulary
Plastiques - Aspects environnementaux - Vocabulaire Kunststoffe - Umweltaspekte - Vokabular
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 27 April 2022.

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. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists 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.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17615:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
Bibliography . 44

European foreword
This document (EN 17615:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics”, the
secretariat of which is held by NBN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2022, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by December 2022.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
The need for harmonized terms and definitions in the field of plastics relating to environmental aspects
is growing. This document intends to give a common set of terms and definitions and thus strives to
facilitate the communication and development of standards in this area.
The term “bioplastic” is not defined in this text, since EN 17228 states the following:
The terms “biopolymers” and “bioplastics” are commonly used to identify polymers and plastics that are
either bio-based, biodegradable, or feature both properties. While these definitions are quite widespread
and used by industry, it is recognized that they are susceptible to misunderstanding and thus
inappropriate for standardization purposes.
The terms oxo-degradable and oxo-biodegradable are generally used to indicate plastic products made
of conventional plastics (mostly polyolefins) supplemented in the transformation phase with catalysts
that accelerate oxidation of the polymer. There are no European Standards that clarify how the potential
of oxo-biodegradation can be measured and classified. However, the terms “oxo-degradable” and “oxo-
biodegradable” have been widely used, sometimes arousing controversy. The use for market purposes,
the lack of international standards, and the disputes raised over the marketing of these products are the
reasons for not defining the terms in this document, pending the elaboration of specific standards. It has
to be mentioned that the global market of “oxo-biodegradable” materials is deeply fragmented where, for
example, countries in the EU have banned these materials, while in countries such as the UEA, Pakistan,
Iran, Morocco, Yemen and DR Congo it is forbidden to use certain products like bags and plastic packaging
if they are not oxo-biodegradable.
NOTE A definition of oxo-degradable plastic is present in DIRECTIVE (EU) 2019/904, Art. 3, 3.
General terms have the addition “of plastics”, e.g. “recycling of plastics” in this document for clarification.
However, in practice they are often used without this addition.
1 Scope
This document specifies terms and definitions in the field of plastics related to environmental aspects
and provides a common vocabulary for:
— bio-based plastics;
— biodegradability;
— carbon and environmental footprint;
— circular economy;
— design;
— plastics in natural environments;
— reuse and recycling;
— waste management.
This document aims to provide a comprehensive glossary which uses the applicable definitions providing
when appropriate additional notes to make these definitions understandable without reference to other
documents. Definitions are as far as possible adopted from existing standards but when the original
intention or definition is unclear additional context or definitions are provided.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
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:
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
accelerated-ageing test
short-term test designed to reach more rapidly the natural ageing state for a material, following an
identical mechanism of the physico-chemical processes that occur during longer-term service conditions
3.2
activated sludge
biomass produced in the aerobic treatment of waste water by the growth of bacteria and other
microorganisms in the presence of dissolved oxygen
[SOURCE: ISO 14851:2019, 3.2]
3.3
aerobic biodegradation
biodegradation under aerobic conditions
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 2]
3.4
additives
substances which are used to process plastics or to modify end use properties of plastics
Note 1 to entry: Substances are normally included in carrier matrix.
Note 2 to entry: Impact modifiers are rubbery type of additives added to plastics to improve toughness by absorbing
or dissipating the energy of impact.
Note 3 to entry: Rheology modifiers, also referred to as thickeners are additives that make a melt to become flowable
and easily poured when a force is applied.
Note 4 to entry: Plasticizers are additives that are mixed with polymers to make them softer and more flexible.
3.5
ageing
time-dependent irreversible chemical and physical processes in a plastic material under the influence of
one or more environmental factors leading to undesirable change in properties
EXAMPLES Extraction and evaporation.
3.6
agglomerate
larger particles formed by joining or binding together of smaller particles whose original identity can still
be visible in the final form
Note 1 to entry: Agglomerates can be supplied for further processing in the form of free-flowing material.
3.7
amorphous polymers
polymers that do not form a crystalline structure but rather form an irregular arrangement and have no
long-range order
3.8
anaerobic biodegradation
biodegradation under anaerobic conditions
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 3]
3.9
anaerobic digestion
process of controlled decomposition of biodegradable materials under managed conditions where free
oxygen is absent, at temperatures suitable for naturally occurring mesophilic or thermophilic anaerobic
and facultative bacteria species, that convert the inputs to a methane rich biogas and digestate
Note 1 to entry: In a second phase, the digestate is typically stabilized by means of a composting (aerobic) process.
[SOURCE: ISO 18606:2013, 3.10]
3.10
antioxidant
substance used to retard deterioration caused by oxidation
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.56]
3.11
ash content
inorganic mass remaining after complete combustion of a sample under specified conditions expressed
as a percentage of the mass of the dry matter in the sample
3.12
assembly
unit or structure composed of a combination of materials or products, or both
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1272]
3.13
assimilation
uptake of nutrient molecules from the environment by (micro)organisms and incorporation in the
biomass
Note 1 to entry: Assimilation is a key process in biodegradation.
3.14
average molar mass
average relative molecular mass
average of the molar mass or relative molecular mass of a polydisperse polymer
Note 1 to entry: The unit gram per mole is recommended in polymer science for molar mass since then the
numerical values of the molar mass and the relative molar mass of a substance are equal.
Note 2 to entry: Four types of average commonly used are number-average, mass-average, viscosity-average and
centrifugation-average.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.598, modified — In Note 2 to entry “centrifugation-average” was added.]
3.15
bale
compacted plastic waste to facilitate handling, storage and transportation
3.16
baling
process in which plastic waste is compacted and secured as a bundle to facilitate handling, storage and
transportation
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1678, modified — “plastics waste” was changed to read “plastic waste”.]
3.17
batch
quantity of material regarded as a single unit, and having a unique reference
Note 1 to entry: “Batch” is primarily a processing term.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1679]
3.18
beach plastic litter
subcategory of marine plastic litter found on beaches
Note 1 to entry: Beach plastic litter is not necessarily identical with marine plastic litter. Beach studies may not be
representative of marine litter.
3.19
bioavailability
property of a plastic material to be physically and chemically accessible to the action of microorganisms
and enzymes released by them
3.20
bio-based
derived from biomass
Note 1 to entry: The correct spelling of “bio-based” is with a hyphen (-). It is however in common usage sometimes
spelt without a hyphen.
Note 2 to entry: The term “biomass-based” rarely is used as well.
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.1]
3.21
bio-based carbon
biogenic carbon
carbon derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.2, modified — Note 1 to entry deleted.]
3.22
bio-based carbon content
fraction of carbon derived from biomass in a product
Note 1 to entry: There are several approaches to express the bio-based carbon content. These include as a
percentage of: the mass; the total carbon content, or the total organic carbon content of the sample. These are
detailed in the relevant standards of CEN/TC 411.
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.3]
3.23
bio-based composite
DEPRECATED: biocomposite
composite material wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.3 - modified, alternative term “biocomposite” added.]
3.24
bio-based content
biomass content
fraction of a product that is derived from biomass
Note 1 to entry: Normally expressed as a percentage of the total mass of the product.
Note 2 to entry: For the methodology to determine the bio-based content, see CEN/TR 16721.
[SOURCE: EN 16575:2014, 2.4]
3.25
bio-based plastic
plastic wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.4]
3.26
bio-based polymer
polymer wholly or partly derived from biomass
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.2]
3.27
biochemical oxygen demand
BOD
mass concentration of the dissolved oxygen consumed under specified conditions by the aerobic
biological oxidation of a chemical compound or organic matter in water
[SOURCE: ISO 14851:2019, 3.4, modified — Note 1 to entry removed.]
3.28
biocompatible
compatible with human or animal tissues and suitable for medical therapy
[SOURCE: EN 17228:2019, 3.5]
3.29
biodegradability
ultimate biodegradability
potential for a polymeric material to undergo a biodegradation process
Note 1 to entry: Has to be demonstrated in accordance with a suitable standard.
Note 2 to entry: Biodegradable is the adjective of biodegradability.
3.30
biodegradation
process leading to the breakdown of an organic compound by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen
to carbon dioxide, water, mineral salts and new biomass, or in the absence of oxygen to carbon dioxide,
methane, mineral salts and new biomass
Note 1 to entry: Breakdown of organic compounds by microorganisms into inorganic compounds is called
mineralization.
3.31
biodegradation phase
time, measured in days, from the end of the lag phase of a test until about 90 % of the maximum level of
biodegradation has been reached
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1726]
3.32
bio-disintegration
physical breakdown of a material into fragments with all dimensions below 2 mm resulting from the
action of microorganisms
Note 1 to entry: The early phase of bio-disintegration is usually called “fragmentation”.
3.33
bioerosion
erosion resulting from biodegradation
3.34
biological treatability
potential of a material to be aerobically composted or anaerobically biogasified
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1727]
3.35
biomass
material of biological origin excluding material embedded in geological formations or transformed to
fossilized material and excluding peat
Note 1 to entry: Biomass includes organic material (both living and dead) from above and below ground, e.g. trees,
crops, grasses, tree litter, algae, animals and waste of biological origin, e.g. manure.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14021:2016, 3.1.1]
3.36
biomass origin
geographic origin(s) of the biomass used for the production a bio-based plastic
EXAMPLES Country, territory or water body.
[SOURCE: EN 16848:2016, 3.1, modified — “product” was replaced by “plastic”.]
3.37
biomass type
type of biomass used to produce a bio-based product
EXAMPLES Plants, trees, algae, animals.
Note 1 to entry: Definition based on EN 16848:2016, 4.2.4.
3.38
bio-mineralization
mineralization caused by microorganisms
3.39
blowing agent
substance used to cause expansion in the manufacture of hollow or cellular articles
Note 1 to entry: Blowing agents can be compressed gases, volatile liquids or chemicals that decompose or react to
form a gas.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.82]
3.40
blow moulding
method of forming hollow objects by inflating a parison into a mould with compressed gas
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.81]
3.41
blown film extrusion
manufacturing process in which molten polymer is extruded through a tubular die and blown into a film
tube with a multiple of the original diameter, which is then collapsed and further processed as a film tube,
half tube or flat film
3.42
bulk biodegradation
faster degradation inside than at the surface resulting from biodegradation
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, e) 6]
3.43
by-product
co-product from a process that is incidental or not intentionally produced and which cannot be avoided,
but which will certainly be further used without any further processing other than normal industrial
practice
Note 1 to entry: Waste is not a by-product.
Note 2 to entry: In-house scrap is a by-product.
Note 3 to entry: For legal definition refer to the European Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC article 5.
3.44
calender
machine that has a series of heated rolls, arranged in pairs, the rolls in each pair turning in opposite
directions
Note 1 to entry: A calender is used to produce film, sheeting, coated substrates or laminates, the thickness being
determined by adjustment of the gap between the last pair of rolls.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.112]
3.45
carbon content
amount of carbon in the constituent, material or product as a percent of the mass
[SOURCE: ISO 16620-1:2015, 3.1.6, modified — “weight (mass)” was replaced by “mass”.]
3.46
carbon footprint of a product
CFP
sum of greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas removals in a product system, expressed as CO
equivalents and based on a life cycle assessment using the single impact category of climate change
Note 1 to entry: A CFP can be disaggregated into a set of figures identifying specific GHG emissions and removals. A
CFP can also be disaggregated into the stages of the life cycle.
Note 2 to entry: The results of the quantification of the CFP are documented in the CFP study report expressed in
mass of CO2e per functional unit.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14067:2018, 3.1.1.1, modified — references to other terms deleted.]
3.47
casting
process in which a liquid or viscous material is poured or otherwise introduced into a mould or on to a
prepared surface to solidify without the use of external pressure
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.120]
3.48
cast film extrusion
manufacturing process that involves extruding a sheet of molten polymer through a flat die and is used
as a lay-flat film
Note 1 to entry: Stretching steps can be added within the process to achieve polymer orientation or breathability.
3.49
catalyst
substance, used in small proportions, that augments the rate of a chemical reaction and remains
unchanged chemically at the end of the reaction
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.122]
3.50
cellular plastic
plastic the density of which is reduced by the presence of numerous small cavities or cells,
interconnecting or not, dispersed throughout the mass
Note 1 to entry: Alternative terms are expanded plastic, foamed plastic, cavitated plastic.
3.51
challenge test
test of a recycling process in which purposely specified contaminants or damaged materials are
introduced in prescribed quantities to judge the ability of the recycling process to produce material with
certain specified properties
[SOURCE: EN 15343:2007, 3.2]
3.52
chemically assisted degradation
polymer degradation that involves changes of the polymer structure and/or molecular weight due to a
chemical reaction caused by a specific chemical substance
Note 1 to entry: There are many different types of possible chemical reactions causing degradation such as
oxidation, photolysis, hydrolysis, ozonolysis, etc.
Note 2 to entry: Uncontrolled reactions, such as combustion, are not chemically assisted degradation.
3.53
chemical recycling
conversion of polymers into chemical substances by changing the chemical structure of plastic waste
through processes such as cracking, pyrolysis, gasification or depolymerization excluding energy
recovery and the production of materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations
Note 1 to entry: “Feedstock recycling” is widely used as a synonym for “chemical recycling”.
3.54
circular economy
economic system that uses a systemic approach to maintain a circular flow of resources, by regenerating,
retaining or adding to their value, while contributing to sustainable development
Note 1 to entry: This definition is based on the current state of the definition drafted in ISO/TC 323 “Circular
Economy”. The definition is still subject to change and may be updated in a future revision of this document.
3.55
closed loop recycling
process in which post-consumer or pre-consumer waste is collected and recycled so it is used again to
make a product of an equivalent product category preserving the quality of the material
3.56
colour
property possessed by an object of producing different visual sensations as a result of the way it reflects
or emits light
3.57
combustion
exothermic reaction of a substance with an oxidizer, generally accompanied by flames and/or visible light
and the emission of effluent
Note 1 to entry: “Combustion refers to a chemical reaction, while “incineration” refers to the destruction of material
such as waste.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.176, modified — Note 1 to entry added.]
3.58
commingled plastics
mixed plastics
mixture of materials or products consisting of different types of plastic
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1683, modified — Note 1 to entry removed.]
3.59
commodity plastics
volume plastics
plastics that are used in high volume usually known for their low costs making them popular in especially
mass productions
3.60
compacting
mechanical treatment to reduce volume of plastic waste
[SOURCE: EN 13965-2:2010, 3.15, modified — “solid” was replaced by “plastic”.]
3.61
compatibilizer
substance used in polymer blends to enhance the blend properties while increasing adhesion between
the phases, reducing the interfacial tension and stabilizing morphology
Note 1 to entry: It can be reactive and link with polymers or nonreactive and only miscible with polymers.
3.62
composite
solid product consisting of two or more distinct phases, including a binding material (matrix) and a
particulate or fibrous material
EXAMPLE Moulding material containing reinforcing fibres, particulate fillers or hollow spheres.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.182.1, modified — area of application “” removed.]
3.63
compost
organic soil conditioner obtained by biodegradation of a mixture principally consisting of various
vegetable, fruit and garden residues, occasionally with other organic material and having a limited
mineral content
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14855-2:2018, 3.1, modified — “fruit and garden” was added.]
3.64
compostability
potential of items or materials to be composted as defined by the relevant standards and regulations in
force
Note 1 to entry: The adjective of “compostability” is “compostable”.
3.65
composting
aerobic process designed to produce compost
[SOURCE: EN ISO 20200:2015, 3.3]
3.66
compounding
process of melt blending or mixing of polymers and additives essentially with a goal to achieve a
homogeneous blend
3.67
compression moulding
process of moulding a material in a confined cavity by applying pressure and usually heat
[SOURCE: ISO 472:2013, 2.185]
3.68
contaminant
DEPRECATED: impurity
undesired substance or material
3.69
converter
specialized operator capable of shaping plastics raw material to make a usable semi-finished or finished
product
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1685 – modified: area of application removed: “ waste>”.]
3.70
copolymer
polymer derived from more than one species of monomer
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.212]
3.71
co-product
any of two or more products coming from the same unit process or product system
[SOURCE: EN ISO 14040:2006, 3.10]
3.72
cracking
process by which complex organic molecules are broken down into simpler molecules such as light
hydrocarbons
Note 1 to entry: The end products are strongly dependent on the temperature and presence of catalysts.
3.73
crosslinking
formation of chemical bonds resulting in a three-dimensional molecular network
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.234]
3.74
de-gassing
removal of contained or dissolved gases, vapours, water or monomer residues in the processing of a
plastic material to avoid voids or other imperfections in the final product
3.75
degradability
potential of items or materials to be degraded as defined by the relevant standards and regulations in
force
Note 1 to entry: The adjective of “degradability” is “degradable”.
Note 2 to entry: Designation of the term is necessary by using prefixes such as “bio” or “photo” etc.
3.76
degradation
irreversible process leading to a change of critical property such as mechanical strength, thermal
insulation, colour etc., typically characterized by changes in the structure of a material, composition
and/or molecular mass, affected by environmental conditions, proceeding over a period of time and
comprising one or more steps
Note 1 to entry: Definition is based on definition EN ISO 472:2013, 2.262.
3.77
degree of biodegradation
mass fraction of an original polymeric item that is biodegraded under specified conditions as measured
through specified techniques
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 6]
3.78
degree of bio-disintegration
mass fraction of a bio-disintegrated polymeric item
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, c) 12]
3.79
degree of biomineralization
mass fraction of the initial polymeric item that is biomineralized
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 4]
3.80
degree of degradation
extent of deterioration of properties associated with molecular size and chemical structure
3.81
degree of disintegration
mass fraction of the particles of defined size issued from a fragmented polymeric item
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, b) 4]
3.82
degree of mineralization
mass fraction of the initial polymeric item that is mineralized
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, d) 2, modified — “mass” added.]
3.83
depolymerization
reversion of a polymer to its monomer(s) or to a polymer of lower relative molecular mass
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.268]
3.84
design
creative activity that, based on expressed or implied needs, existing means and technological possibilities,
results in the definition of technical solutions for a product that can be commercially manufactured or
fabricated into prototypes
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1754]
3.85
deterioration
irreversible change in the properties of a plastic caused by degradation, evidenced by significant
impairment of these properties
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.271, modified — “physical properties” was replaced by “properties” and
“caused by degradation” was added.]
3.86
differential scanning calorimetry
DSC
technique in which the difference between the heat flow rate into a test specimen and that into a reference
specimen is measured as a function of temperature and/or time while the test specimen and the reference
specimen are being subjected to the same controlled temperature programme under a specified
atmosphere
Note 1 to entry: A distinction is made between two modes, power-compensation differential scanning calorimetry
(power-compensation DSC) and heat-flux differential scanning calorimetry (heat-flux DSC), depending on the
principle of measurement used.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.278]
3.87
dilatometry
thermo-analytical method for measuring the shrinkage or expansion of materials over a controlled
temperature range
3.88
disassembly
process whereby a product is taken apart in such a way that it could subsequently be assembled and
made operational
[SOURCE: EN 45553:2020, 3.1.2]
3.89
disintegration
physical breakdown of a material into very small fragments
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1757]
3.90
dismantling
process whereby a product is taken apart in such a way that some parts can be reused, although the
product (and the parts not intended to be reused) can no longer be reassembled and made operational
Note 1 to entry: “Part” means any element of a product, as defined by that product’s type design [see Regulation
(EU) 2018/1139, Article 3 Definitions (4)].
[SOURCE: ISO 14009:2020, 3.2.16, modified — Note 1 to entry added and references to term numbers
removed.]
3.91
dissolution
homogenous mixtures of two or more components in which the molecules of one component are
dissolved into the other
3.92
disposal
any operation, that is not recovery even where the operation has as a secondary consequence the
reclamation of substances or energy, e. g. by destroying or storing damaged or used plastic waste or
plastic waste containing restricted substances
Note 1 to entry: Including incineration without energy recovery and landfill.
Note 2 to entry: This definition is based on Directive 2008/98/EC, Article 3 (19).
3.93
dry mass
mass of a sample measured after drying
Note 1 to entry: Dry mass is usually expressed as a percentage of the mass of the wet sample.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1761, modified – “usually” was added in Note 1 to entry.]
3.94
durability
ability of a product to retain its required properties during its intended service life in specified conditions
3.95
eco design
design process of making choices that reduce the impact of the product on the environment taking into
consideration the environmental impacts of the materials, resources, and end-of-life scenarios
3.96
eco-profile
cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis
partial life cycle inventory analysis beginning at the raw-material extraction phase and ending at the
point where the product is ready for transfer to the next operator in the supply chain
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1767, modified — area of application “” and “(so-called
cradle-to-gate analysis)” removed, cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis” added as alternative term.]
3.97
elastomer
macromolecular material which returns rapidly to its initial dimensions and shape after substantial
deformation by a weak stress and release of the stress
Note 1 to entry: The definition applies under room temperature test conditions.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.327]
3.98
end-of-life
point at which a product or component is taken out of use and becomes waste
[SOURCE: ISO 8887-1:2017, 3.1.4, modified — “and becomes waste” was added.]
3.99
energy recovery
controlled process of conversion of plastic waste into useful energy or fuel
Note 1 to entry: Production of hot water, steam and/or electricity is a common form for energy recovery.
3.100
environment
conditions and surroundings that might influence the behaviour of an item or biotic life
Note 1 to entry: Environmental matrices are: water, air and soil.
[SOURCE: CEN ISO/TR 21960:2020, 3.17, modified — Note 2 to entry deleted.]
3.101
environmental aspect
element of an organization's activities or products or services that can interact with the environment
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1688]
3.102
environmental impact
any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an
organization's environmental aspects
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1689]
3.103
environmental test
test designed to assess the performance of an assembly simulating different service
conditions including mechanical stress that products are exposed to during their lifetime
3.104
environmental sustainability
responsible interaction with the environment to avoid depletion or degradation of renewable resource
harvest, pollution creation, and non-renewable resource depletion that contribute to the quality of
environment and can be continued indefinitely
Note 1 to entry: For a definition of sustainability, please refer to 3.233.
3.105
enzymatic degradation
degradation caused by the catalytic action of enzymes under abiotic experimental conditions
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, e) 7]
3.106
erosion
faster degradation or dissolution at the surface than in bulk
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, a) 6, modified — “or dissolution” was added; “inside” was replaced by
“in bulk”.]
3.107
expansion
manufacturing process where melted plastic is expanded with the use of a blowing
agent so that the melt is foamed at the latest when it is relaxed to create plastic foam
3.108
extended producer responsibility
EPR
set of measures taken to ensure that producers of products bear financial responsibility or financial and
organisational responsibility for the management of the waste stage of a product’s life cycle
EXAMPLE Deposit systems.
Note 1 to entry: A scheme is defined in point 21 of Article 3 of Directive 2008/98/EC.
[SOURCE: Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Article 1 (3)(h)
amending Directive 2008/98/EC]
3.109
extrusion
process whereby heated or unheated plastic forced through a shaping orifice becomes one continuously
formed piece
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.356]
3.110
fibre reinforced plastics
FRP
composite made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres that are generally strong and stiff with high
specific strength and specific stiffness
EXAMPLES Glass, carbon, aramid, cellulose, etc.
Note 1 to entry: Specific strength is also known as strength-to-weight ratio and specific stiffness is also known as
stiffness-to-weight ratio.
3.111
filler
relatively inert solid material added to a plastic or to an adhesive to modify its strength, permanence,
working properties or other qualities, or to lower costs
Note 1 to entry: A filler only used to reduce cost is termed an “extender”. An extender can also be a liquid.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.369]
3.112
flake
plate-like regrind
Note 1 to entry: The shape depends on the plastics being processed and the manner of processing.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1691]
3.113
flotation
float-sink
process for separating plastics from mixed plastic waste streams where the
plastics are in a fluid that has density in between the materials making it possible for less dense material
to float and heavier to sink
3.114
fluff
filament-like regrind
Note 1 to entry: Common usage of the term “fluff” also includes shredder residue fractions produced in the
commercial recycling of durable goods such as automobiles.
[SOURCE: ISO 472:2013, 2.1692]
3.115
fragmentation
early phase of disintegration leading to the breakdown of a polymeric item into smaller pieces
3.116
froth flotation
air bubbles adhere (or not) to a selected polymer surface, thus causing it to float (or sink) following a
precursor step wherein the surface characteristics of selected polymers are changed from hydrophobic
to hydrophilic
3.117
gas
substance which (i) at 50 °C has a vapour pressure greater than 300 kPa (absolute); or (ii) is completely
gaseous at 20 °C at a standard pressure of 101,3 kPa
[SOURCE: Opinion on an Annex XV dossier proposing restrictions on intentionally-added microplastics,
ECHA, June 2020]
3.118
gasification
transformation of organic materials into gases including nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and
carbon dioxide by reacting the materials at high temperatures without combustion, via a controlled
amount of oxygen and/or steam
Note 1 to entry: The resulting gas mixture is called synthesis gas or syngas.
3.119
glass transition
reversible change in an amorphous polymer or in amorphous regions of a partially crystalline polymer
from (or to) a viscous or rubbery condition to (or from) a hard and relatively brittle one
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.440]
3.120
glass transition temperature
approximate midpoint of the temperature range over which the glass transition takes place
Note 1 to entry: The glass transition temperature varies significantly, depending on the test method and conditions
selected to measure it.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.441, modified — In Note 1 to entry “depending upon the specific property
and the test method” was replaced by “depending on the test method”.]
3.121
granulation
process of forming grains or granules from solid plastic, suitable for processing in a plastics
manufacturing or plastics conversion process
3.122
greenwashing
unsubstantiated or misleading claim on the environmental characteristics of a product meant to gain an
unfair competitive advantage either by promoting a product or by discrediting the competitors
Note 1 to entry: Greenwashing is also referred to in EU legal texts, e.g. in Regulation (EU) 2020/852, recital (11) on
the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment.
3.123
hardness
ability of a material to resist local plastic deformation, which is determined by a standard test where the
surface resistance to indentation is measured
3.124
hazardous waste
waste that is suspected to have or displays one or more hazardous properties and that must be handled
in a specific way according to precautionary actions because it can be toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic,
poisonous, explosive, corrosive, radioactive, harbour disease-causing microorganisms, or is hazardous
for any other reason
Note 1 to entry: For a legal definition and list of hazardous properties, see Directive 2008/98 and Annex III of the
Basel Convention.
Note 2 to entry: There can be certain types of waste which can be considered as hazardous waste, e.g. from hospitals.
3.125
heterogeneity
degree to which a constituent and/or structure is not uniformly distributed throughout a quantity of
material
[SOURCE: EN 14899:2005, 3.4, modified — “and /or structure” added.]
3.126
homogenizing
processing to improve the degree to which a constituent and/or property is uniformly distributed
throughout a quantity of material
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1693]
3.127
homopolymer
polymer derived from a single species of monomer
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.465]
3.128
hydrodegradation
degradation identified as resulting from hydrolytic cleavage of macromolecules
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 15351:2006, e) 8]
3.129
incineration of waste
controlled combustion of waste with or without energy recovery
[SOURCE: EN 13193:2000, 5.1.6, modified — “controlled” added.]
3.130
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 referred to as professional composting.
[SOURCE: EN 17427:2022, 3.3]
3.131
inherent biodegradation
level of biodegradation achieved which indicates the test compound is unlikely to be persistent in the
environment
[SOURCE: ISO 7827:2010, 3.2]
3.132
in-house recycling
recycling of materials left over from product manufacturing in the same facility
Note 1 to entry: This excludes the processing of by-products in accordance with Directive 2008/98/EC article 5.1.
3.133
in-house scrap
materials recovered by industry within the original manufacturing process
Note 1 to entry: Recovery of in-house scrap is not considered as recycling.
Note 2 to entry: In-house scrap is a by-product.
3.134
injection moulding
process of moulding a material by injection under pressure from a heated cylinder through a sprue into
the cavity of a closed mould
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.492]
3.135
intrinsic biodegradability
ability of a polymer or plastic material to be biodegraded established under controlled laboratory
conditions
[SOURCE: EN ISO 22403:2021, 3.1]
3.136
laboratory sample
sample intended to be used for an inspection or for laboratory tests
[SOURCE: ISO 8656-1:1988, 3.10]
3.137
lag phase
time, measured in days, from the start of biodegradation tests for substances/materials until adaptation
and/or selection of the degrading microorganisms is achieved and the degree of biodegradation of a
chemical compound or organic matter has increased to about 10 % of the maximum level of
biodegradation
[SOURCE: EN ISO 472:2013, 2.1801, modified — application area removed: “ waste>”, composting test is replaced with biodegradation tests for substances/materials.]
3.138
landfill
waste disposal site for the deposit of waste on to or into land
Note 1 to entry: Landfill can be controlled or uncontrolled.
3.139
large microplastic
solid plastic particle or object insoluble in water with any dimension between 1 mm and 5 mm
Note 1 to entry: This term relates to plastic materials within the scope of CEN/TC 249. Other polymer-based
materials such as rubbers, fibres, adhesives, paints, etc. are not within the scope.
Note 2 to entry: Typically, a large microplastic object can be formed as a fragment of a larger plastic article. A large
microplastic object can also represent plastic pellets, an end-user product or a part of an end-user product.
Note 3 to entry: Large microplastics may show various shapes.
Note 4 to entry: The defined dimension is related to the longest distance across the particle.
Note 5 to entry: The term “large microplastic” is commonly used in different sectors; however, the precise scientific
term would be mesoplastic.
3.140
life cycle
consecutive and interlinked stages of a product, from raw-material acquisition or generation of natural
resources to end of life
...