Overview
SIST EN 18120-11:2026 - "Packaging - Design for recycling of plastic packaging - Part 11: Recyclability evaluation process for plastic packaging - Protocols for PET rigid packaging (except bottles)" - provides comprehensive requirements for assessing the recyclability of rigid PET packaging, excluding PET bottles, in accordance with state-of-the-art collection, sorting, and recycling systems. Developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), this standard aims to ensure that designs for PET rigid packaging, such as pots and trays, are compatible with established recycling processes and deliver recycled outputs comparable to reference materials.
The document also addresses packaging constituents and components made from materials other than PET, requiring their evaluation for compatibility with PET polymer recycling. This ensures a holistic approach to advancing sustainable plastic packaging design and enhancing recyclability across the European market.
Key Topics
- Recyclability Evaluation Process: Outlines the assessment steps for PET rigid packaging, simulating real-world mechanical recycling operations on a laboratory scale. The standard guides users through sortability, pre-treatment (grinding, washing, rinsing), density separation, drying, air elutriation, extrusion, crystallization, solid state polymerization, and conversion into test samples.
- Compatibility Checks: Details the evaluation of all packaging constituents, including non-PET components, to verify their performance within PET recycling systems.
- Performance Benchmarking: Establishes recommended reference values and testing procedures, such as colour deviation and intrinsic viscosity, to compare recycled outputs against control samples.
- Design for Recycling Guidelines: Promotes packaging design practices that support high-quality recycling outcomes by distinguishing between fully compatible, limited compatibility, and non-compatible packaging elements.
Applications
SIST EN 18120-11:2026 serves as an essential resource for a range of stakeholders in the plastic packaging value chain, supporting:
- Packaging Designers and Manufacturers: Provides a structured protocol to evaluate and optimize new PET rigid packaging formats for recyclability from the concept phase, encouraging sustainable innovation and compliance with circular economy targets.
- Brand Owners and Retailers: Assists companies in selecting and specifying packaging that meets recyclability requirements, enabling them to make informed decisions and communicate environmental benefits to consumers.
- Recyclers and Material Recovery Facilities: Supports the consistent, science-based assessment of PET rigid packaging compatibility with state-of-the-art recycling processes, helping to improve recycled material quality and yield.
- Regulatory Bodies and Standardization Organizations: Offers a harmonized, pan-European approach for assessing packaging recyclability, aiding the alignment of national regulations with EU directives on packaging waste and recycling.
Related Standards
For a complete approach to plastic packaging recyclability, consider the following related standards within the EN 18120 series:
- EN 18120-1: Definitions and principles for design-for-recycling of plastic packaging
- EN 18120-3: Sortability evaluation process for plastic packaging
- EN 18120-4: Guideline and protocols for PET bottles
- EN 18120-5: Guideline and protocols for PET rigid packaging (except bottles)
- EN 18120-6 to EN 18120-15: Cover recyclable design protocols for other plastics such as PE, PP, PS, and EPS in various formats, ensuring a comprehensive framework across different packaging types
Additionally, referenced international test standards such as EN ISO 527-3 (plastic tensile properties) and EN ISO 1133-1 (melt flow rates) are integral to the required evaluation procedures.
By implementing SIST EN 18120-11:2026, packaging professionals can improve product sustainability, reduce environmental impact, and align with industry-leading recycling practices for PET rigid packaging. This standard is a pivotal tool in the journey toward a circular plastics economy and responsible packaging design.