ISO/IEC 29142-3:2013

Overview

ISO/IEC 29142-3:2013 - Print cartridge characterization - Part 3: Environment defines a principles-based framework for the environmental assessment of ink and toner cartridges used in digital-input printing devices (including multi-function devices). It establishes foundational terms, definitions, environmental attributes and test-method guidance to support environmental standards, labels and green procurement for cartridges throughout their life-cycle.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and goals: Clarifies objectives for minimizing environmental impact during cartridge design, manufacturing, use and end-of-life.
• Life-cycle approach: Defines cartridge life-cycle phases and prioritizes environmental attributes for each phase (product design, manufacturing, operation, end-of-life management).
• Environmental attributes: Standardized terms and attributes such as recycled content, recyclable, reuse, remanufacture, refill, recovery, landfilled, incineration and waste-to-energy.
• Guidance on end-of-life options: Principles to evaluate and compare reuse, recycling, recovery and reduction techniques and to favor environmentally sustainable practices.
• Verification and test methods: Establishes the need for verifiable, measurable criteria and references relevant methods and documents (for example ISO/IEC 28360 for emissions, ISO 17025 for laboratory competence). The standard includes terminology and testing context (e.g., Ames test, SDS/MSDS references) to support environmental claims.
• Company responsibility: Recommends cartridge suppliers implement documented environmental policies and Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in line with ISO 14001 principles.
• Labeling and procurement: Supports harmonization of environmental labels and green procurement criteria by aligning with ISO 14020 series (ISO 14020, ISO 14021, ISO 14024) and ISO Guide 64.
• Certification, declaration and mutual recognition: Provides framework guidance for declaring conformance, certification and mutual recognition of environmental claims.

Practical applications and users

Who benefits from and uses ISO/IEC 29142-3:2013:

• Cartridge manufacturers, remanufacturers and refillers - to design products and processes that meet environmental criteria and document supplier/collector information.
• OEMs and aftermarket suppliers - to harmonize environmental claims and packaging identification for take-back programs.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - to apply referenced test methods and ISO 17025 competence for verification.
• Procurement professionals and sustainability officers - to set green procurement criteria and evaluate environmental labels for office equipment purchasing.
• Regulators and ecolabel programs - to develop consistent environmental provisions and avoid conflicting requirements.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 29142-1 (general framework), ISO/IEC 29142-2 (data reporting)
• ISO 14020, ISO 14021, ISO 14024 (environmental labels and declarations)
• ISO 14040 series (life-cycle assessment principles), ISO 17025, ISO/IEC 28360

By standardizing environmental terminology, attributes and verification principles, ISO/IEC 29142-3:2013 helps reduce cartridge environmental impacts and supports clear, comparable environmental claims for ink and toner cartridges.