ISO 18606:2013

Overview

ISO 18606:2013 - Packaging and the environment - Organic recycling - defines technical requirements and test procedures for packaging suitable for organic recycling (industrial composting and anaerobic digestion). The standard sets out how to evaluate packaging components for biological treatability and compostability in managed recovery systems. It clarifies scope and exclusions (e.g., not applicable to littering or small household composting) and links to the procedural framework in ISO 18601.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Component-based assessment: Packaging is considered recoverable by organic recycling only if all individual components meet ISO 18606 requirements, unless components are easily and physically separable before disposal.
• Four assessment aspects for each component:
  • Biodegradation - ultimate biodegradability under controlled biological treatment.
  • Disintegration - physical breakdown during composting or anaerobic digestion/composting processes.
  • No adverse effects on the biological process - packaging must not inhibit microbial activity in treatment systems.
  • No adverse effects on compost quality - including limits for regulated metals and other environmentally hazardous substances (see Annex A).
• Characterization and testing: Materials must be identified and characterized (constituents, presence of regulated metals), and tested using recognized methods referenced in the standard (e.g., ISO methods for biodegradability and disintegration).
• Documentation: Requirements for declaration of results and test reports, plus informative annexes (ecotoxicity testing for plants, flow charts, assessment checklists, examples of suitable packaging).

Practical applications and users

ISO 18606 is practical for:

• Packaging designers and material engineers - to select and validate materials for industrial compostability.
• Brand owners and product developers - to support product claims about compostable or organically recoverable packaging.
• Manufacturers and converters - to design multi-component packaging that is separable or compliant.
• Waste-management operators and composting facilities - to assess incoming packaging suitability and minimize process disruption.
• Regulators and procurement specialists - for policy, standards referencing, and purchase specifications.
• Third-party testing labs - for conducting biodegradation, disintegration, and compost-quality tests required by the standard.

Using ISO 18606 helps reduce landfill reliance, supports circular economy goals, and provides a consistent technical basis for labeling and sustainable packaging strategies.

Related standards

• ISO 18601 - procedure for applying the Packaging and the environment series (procedure for ISO 18606).
• Other standards in the series: ISO 18602, ISO 18603, ISO 18604, ISO 18605 (covering optimization, reuse, material recycling, energy recovery).
• Referenced test methods include ISO biodegradability and disintegration methods cited within ISO 18606.

Keywords: ISO 18606, organic recycling, compostable packaging, industrial composting, anaerobic digestion, biodegradable packaging, packaging and the environment.