Overview
SIST EN 18120-10:2026: "Packaging - Design for recycling of plastic packaging - Part 10: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic packaging - Protocols for PET bottles" is a European standard developed by CEN. This document sets out the requirements and recommended protocols for evaluating the recyclability of PET bottles, emphasizing the compatibility of their design with mechanical recycling processes. The standard also covers packaging components and ancillary materials made from plastics other than PET, which must be assessed for their impact on PET bottle recycling streams.
The standard provides a systematic evaluation methodology, supporting packaging designers, manufacturers, and recyclers in aligning PET bottle designs with state-of-the-art recycling technologies. The protocols described help ensure that bottles and attached elements-such as closures, labels, and auxiliary materials-do not hinder the recycling process or compromise the quality of recycled PET.
Key Topics
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Recyclability Assessment Process
EN 18120-10 outlines a structured approach for testing the technical recyclability of PET bottles and associated components. The evaluation covers:
- Flake preparation: Grinding, washing, rinsing, floatation, and drying procedures.
- Pellet production: Extrusion, blending, and polymerization steps.
- Conversion into articles: Moulding and performance assessment of final products.
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Compatibility Evaluation
The document stresses the assessment of all bottle components-not only PET but also elements such as caps and labels made from other polymers. The goal is to determine whether these materials are compatible with existing PET recycling technologies.
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Design Guidance
The standard references guidelines for design-for-recycling (typically provided in EN 18120-1 and EN 18120-4), ensuring that bottle design facilitates collection, sorting, and high-quality recycling outcomes. It supports proactive identification and remediation of design features that may impede recycling.
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Testing Benchmarks
The protocol includes standard methods for measuring parameters like intrinsic viscosity, color deviation (ΔE), flake and pellet yield, and the efficiency of material separation steps, which are necessary for robust and repeatable recyclability assessments.
Applications
SIST EN 18120-10:2026 is applicable in several contexts within the plastics packaging value chain:
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Packaging Design
Product developers and brand owners can use this standard to validate that newly designed PET bottles and their components are fully compatible with European recycling infrastructures. Early recyclability assessment aids in meeting sustainability goals and regulatory compliance.
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Quality Assurance and Verification
Recycling facilities and third-party certifiers can utilize the outlined protocols to objectively evaluate whether PET bottle packaging entering the recycling stream meets the required recyclability standards.
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Innovation Assessment
The protocols support the testing of novel materials or design innovations for PET bottles, offering a structured path to determine real-world recycling impacts before market introduction.
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Supply Chain Communication
By following a standardized recyclability evaluation, organizations across the packaging supply chain can clearly communicate and document compliance, supporting product stewardship and lifecycle transparency.
Related Standards
EN 18120-10 is part of a broader series addressing design-for-recycling for plastic packaging. Other relevant standards include:
- EN 18120-1: Definitions and principles for the design-for-recycling of plastic packaging
- EN 18120-3: Sorting evaluation process for plastic packaging
- EN 18120-4: Guideline for PET bottles
- EN ISO 1133-1: Determination of melt mass-flow rate (MFR) of thermoplastics
- EN ISO 1628-1: Determination of polymer viscosity
- ISO 11357-3: Determination of temperature and enthalpy of melting and crystallization
These standards collectively support a harmonized approach to sustainable packaging design and the transition to a circular plastics economy across Europe.
Keywords: SIST EN 18120-10:2026, PET bottle recyclability, plastic packaging recycling, design for recycling, packaging components, CEN standard, PET recycling protocols, sustainable packaging.