ISO 16620 Plastics - Biobased Content

The “ISO 16620 Plastics - Biobased content” standard, developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO), actually consists of the following sections under the same title:

The standard “ISO 16620-1 Plastics - Biobased content - Part 1: General principles” describes the general principles and calculation methods for determining the amount of biobased content in plastic products. These calculation methods are based on the carbon mass or mass of each component present in plastic products. This standard applies to plastic products and plastic materials made from biobased or fossil-based components, polymer resins, monomers or additives. Knowing the biobased content of plastic products is useful when assessing their environmental impact.
The standard “ISO 16620-2 Plastics - Biobased content - Part 2: Determination of biobased carbon content” describes a calculation method for determining the biobased carbon content in monomers, polymers and plastic materials and products based on the measurement of 14C content. This standard applies to plastic products and plastic materials, polymer resins, monomers or additives made from biobased or fossil-based components. Knowing the biobased content of plastic products is useful when assessing their environmental impact.
The standard “ISO 16620-3 Plastics - Biobased content - Part 3: Determination of biobased synthetic polymer content” describes a method for determining the amount of biobased fraction in biobased synthetic polymer in plastic products. This calculation method for biobased synthetic polymer content is based on the mass of biobased synthetic polymer in plastic products. This standard applies to plastic products and plastic materials made from biobased or fossil-based components, polymer resins, monomers or additives. Knowing the biobased content of plastic products is useful when assessing their environmental impact.
The standard “ISO 16620-4 Plastics - Biobased content - Part 4: Determination of biobased mass content” describes a method for determining biobased mass content in plastic products based on radiocarbon analysis and elemental analysis. This standard is applicable to plastic products and plastic materials made from biobased or fossil-based components, polymer resins, monomers or additives. This method is applicable provided that the plastic product contains the element carbon and an expression giving the elemental composition and biobased carbon content is available.
The standard "ISO 16620-5 Plastics - Biobased content - Part 5: Declaration of biobased carbon content, biobased synthetic polymer content and biobased mass content" describes the requirements for declarations and labels of biobased carbon content, biobased synthetic polymer content and biobased mass content in plastic products. This standard applies to plastic products and plastic materials made from biobased or fossil-based components, polymer resins, monomers or additives.

For the purposes of these standards, the following terms and definitions apply:

Biobased carbon content is the amount of carbon derived from biomass present in the product. Biobased carbon content is expressed as a fraction of the sample mass, a fraction of the total carbon content, or a fraction of the total organic carbon content.
Biomass is material of biological origin, excluding material embedded in geological formations or fossilized.
A biobased synthetic polymer is a polymer derived in whole or in part from biomass sources through chemical or biological industrial processes. Natural polymers are not classified as biobased synthetic polymers.
Biobased synthetic polymer content is the amount of biobased synthetic polymer present in the product. The amount of biobased synthetic polymer in the product is expressed as the ratio or percentage of the mass of biobased synthetic polymer to the total mass of the product.
Carbon content is expressed as a percentage by weight (mass) of the amount of carbon in the component, material or product.
Total carbon is the amount of carbon present in a sample in the form of organic, inorganic and elemental carbon.
Total organic carbon is the amount of carbon converted to carbon dioxide by combustion and not released as carbon dioxide by acid treatment.
Biobased mass content is the total amount of biobased synthetic polymer, natural polymer, and biobased additives in a product. Total biobased mass content in a product is expressed as the ratio or percentage of the sum of biobased synthetic polymer, natural polymer, and biobased additives to the total mass of the product.
The modern carbon percentage is the normalized and standardized value for the amount of 14C isotope in a sample. It is calculated based on the standardized and normalized amount of 14C isotope in the oxalic acid standard reference material.
Radiocarbon is a radioactive isotope of the element carbon (8C) having 6 neutrons, 6 protons, and 14 electrons.

A plastic product typically consists of six components:

Biobased synthetic polymers (component A)
Fossil-based synthetic polymers (component B)
Natural polymers (component C)
Biobased organic or inorganic additives (component D)
Fossil-based organic additives (component E)
From inorganic additives (component F)

The 14C found in chemicals originates from carbon dioxide recently released into the atmosphere. It is almost absent in fossil products that are 20 to 30 thousand years old due to radioactive decay. Therefore, the 14C content is considered a tracer of chemicals synthesized from recently released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and especially of recently produced bioproducts.

The determination of biomass content is based on the measurement of 14C in polymers, which allows the calculation of the biobased carbon fraction. Extensive experience in 14C determination and reference samples can be gained from the dating of archaeological objects, on which the three methods described in the ISO 16620-2 standard are based:

Method A: Liquid scintillation counter method
Method B: Beta ionization method
Method C: Accelerator mass spectrometry method

Specifying the biomass used in plastic products is a practical way to evaluate efforts to develop fully or partially biobased synthetic polymers. It also helps consumers understand and compare relative contributions to environmental protection. The ISO 16620-3 standard provides a method for measuring the content of biobased synthetic polymers derived from biomass sources.

In the ISO 16620-4 standard, two product groups are distinguished as follows:

Group I products are obtained by chemical, biochemical or biological reactions.
Group II products are obtained by mixing Group I products without any chemical, biochemical or biological reaction.

Natural ingredients can be used to produce Group I products or as components of Group II products.

Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies that our organization has carried out for businesses in various sectors, it also provides certification and testing services defined in the “ISO 16620 Plastics - Biobased content” standard with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.