ISO 17422:2018

Overview

ISO 17422:2018 - Plastics - Environmental aspects - General guidelines for their inclusion in standards provides a structured approach for incorporating environmental aspects into standards for plastics products. Primarily aimed at standards writers, it also offers practical guidance for designers, manufacturers, regulators and environmental managers. The document promotes minimizing adverse environmental impact while preserving product fitness for use, and encourages use of life cycle thinking and renewable resources where appropriate.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose: Guidance on adding environmental provisions to both test method standards and product standards without compromising performance.
• Life cycle approach: Recommends application of life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle inventory (LCI) concepts wherever technically justifiable to evaluate environmental impacts.
• Test method standards:
  • Minimize environmental footprint of tests (materials, energy, emissions) while maintaining reproducibility and fitness for purpose.
  • Combine/choose similar test methods to avoid unnecessary testing.
  • Include relevant safety and environmental information (e.g., safety data sheets) for substances of concern.
• Product standards:
  • Balance product functionality and environmental performance; avoid overly restrictive composition-only exclusion clauses.
  • Promote performance criteria and preventive, verifiable environmental measures.
  • Consider end-of-life management, mechanical recycling and energy recovery options where applicable.
• Good practice recommendations:
  • Pollution avoidance, material and energy conservation, safe handling of hazardous substances.
  • Prefer renewable resources and minimize non‑renewable use when LCA shows net benefit.
  • Regular review and revision of standards to reflect technical innovation.
• Coordination and clarity: Encourage cross‑committee coordination and clear, verifiable environmental provisions and verification methods.

Practical applications - who uses it

• Standards writers and technical committees: Use ISO 17422 to draft or revise plastics standards that include environmental provisions.
• Design engineers and product developers: Apply guidance when selecting materials, specifying recyclability, and documenting end‑of‑life options.
• Manufacturers and test labs: Optimize test procedures to reduce material/energy use and follow safety/environmental clauses.
• Regulators, certification bodies and sustainability teams: Reference the guideline when assessing environmental claims, conformity assessment, and policy alignment.

Related standards

• ISO Guide 64 (product sustainability considerations)
• ISO 14040 / ISO 14044 (LCA principles and requirements)
• ISO 11469, ISO 15270 (plastics recycling and end-of-life)
• ISO 472 (plastics terminology)
• ISO 14001 (environmental management terminology)

By following ISO 17422:2018, organizations can systematically include environmental aspects in plastics standards, promote sustainable material choices, and support lifecycle‑aware product development.