Overview - ISO/TR 21960:2020
ISO/TR 21960:2020, "Plastics - Environmental aspects - State of knowledge and methodologies," is a Technical Report from ISO that surveys the scientific literature on the occurrence of macroplastics and microplastics in the environment and biota. The report summarizes current knowledge (coverage to early 2017), describes existing testing methods and gives recommendations for steps toward harmonized standardization of sampling, sample preparation, and analysis. The report excludes indoor and direct health-related aspects and does not endorse citizen social monitoring as a replacement for robust scientific sampling.
Key topics and technical content
The report focuses on practical, laboratory- and field-relevant methodologies and terminology:
- Occurrence and fate of plastics in environmental matrices: marine and fresh waters, sediments, sludge, soils, air and biota.
- Terminology and size classes: effort to harmonize terms such as plastic particles, microplastics and related classes.
- Testing methods:
- Sampling across matrix types (water, sediment, sludge, soil, air, biota) and statistical considerations for representative sampling.
- Sample preparation: physical, chemical and enzymatic approaches to isolate plastics/microplastics.
- Analytical techniques: spectroscopic methods, thermo-analytic methods, and chemical extraction/quantification approaches for identification and quantification.
- Monitoring of entry pathways and basics of environmental assessment for plastics.
- Recommendations for three-step standardization toward harmonized procedures for sampling, sample preparation and analysis.
Practical applications
ISO/TR 21960:2020 is useful for organizations that need reproducible, verifiable methods to detect and quantify plastics in the environment:
- Designing monitoring programs for marine and freshwater microplastic pollution.
- Establishing laboratory workflows for sample preparation and instrumental analysis of plastic particles.
- Informing policy and regulatory frameworks that require harmonized environmental data on plastics.
- Supporting research projects that compare datasets across regions by adopting harmonized terminology and methods.
Who should use this report
- Environmental and analytical laboratories
- Regulatory agencies and environmental authorities
- Standardization bodies and technical committees (ISO, CEN)
- Academic researchers studying plastic pollution and ecotoxicology
- Industry stakeholders (plastics producers, waste management, wastewater treatment) developing mitigation strategies
Related standards and next steps
ISO/TR 21960:2020 serves as a foundation for future normative standards by recommending harmonized, standardized methods. Users should consult relevant ISO and CEN technical committees and subsequent standards developed from these recommendations to implement validated procedures for sampling, sample preparation and analysis of plastics and microplastics.