ISO 16620-3:2015

Overview

ISO 16620-3:2015 - "Plastics - Biobased content - Part 3: Determination of biobased synthetic polymer content" specifies a calculation method to determine the mass-based biobased synthetic polymer content of plastic products. The standard applies to plastic products, polymer resins, monomers and additives made from biobased or fossil-based constituents. It complements ISO 16620-1 (general principles) and ISO 16620-2 (determination of biobased carbon content).

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and principle
  • Defines biobased synthetic polymer content as the percentage by mass of synthetic polymer in a product that is derived from biomass.
  • Only synthetic polymers (fully or partly biobased) are eligible for inclusion; natural polymers and biobased additives are excluded from this particular metric.
• Calculation method
  • The biobased synthetic polymer content of a product is calculated from the product composition (mass fractions of constituents) and the biobased synthetic polymer content of each constituent.
  • Formula (summarized): Product biobased synthetic polymer content (%) = Σ (mass fraction of constituent × constituent biobased synthetic polymer content) / 100.
  • Examples in Annex A show straightforward cases (e.g., PLA as 100% biobased polymer) and partly biobased copolymers (e.g., bio‑PET with a 31.25% biobased polymer content).
• Link to biobased carbon
  • ISO 16620-2 is used to determine biobased carbon content when needed; Annex B shows converting between biobased carbon and biobased synthetic polymer content.
• Reporting & traceability
  • Test reports must reference ISO 16620-3:2015 and include experimentally determined biobased carbon content, elemental composition/formulae of constituents, and the calculation showing the product percentage.
• Safety note
  • The standard contains a warning: methods can involve hazardous materials and users must follow appropriate health and safety practices.

Applications and users

• Who uses ISO 16620-3:2015:
  • Polymer and plastic manufacturers calculating biobased polymer fractions for product labels or claims.
  • Sustainability managers and life-cycle assessment (LCA) practitioners quantifying biobased inputs.
  • Certification bodies and regulators evaluating biobased product declarations.
  • Product designers and material specifiers selecting biobased materials (e.g., PLA, bio‑PET).
• Practical uses:
  • Determining the mass percentage of biobased synthetic polymer for environmental reporting, procurement criteria, green product claims, and compliance with sustainability standards.

Related standards

• ISO 16620-1 - General principles (series overview)
• ISO 16620-2 - Determination of biobased carbon content (analytical method)
• (Under development) Parts 4 and 5 - biobased mass content and declaration requirements

Keywords: ISO 16620-3:2015, biobased synthetic polymer content, biobased content in plastics, biobased carbon, bio‑PET, PLA, calculation method, sustainability reporting.