Understanding SANS 1728: Guidance on labelling of degradable plastic

There is a growing public demand for environmentally neutral (or even beneficial) food products and packaging. As a result, environmental claims are becoming commonplace, and an ever-increasing number of products making such claims are being seen on our supermarket shelves.

Currently there are no mandatory regulations in South Africa for environmental claims and labelling. This creates room for confusion for both manufacturers and consumers – as well as an opportunity for those who may wish to take advantage of the lack of regulation.

The South African Bureau of Standards released a voluntary standard on the requirements for the marking and identification of degradable packaging (SANS 1728). This standard intends to assist the manufacturer in recognising the correct material for food packaging, and also to ensure that the product is labelled in a manner that equips the consumer with the knowledge required to allow them to dispose of the packaging waste in an appropriate manner.

SANS 1728 offers guidance in terms of the design, the performance requirements for specific packaging materials, and the restrictions on the use of misleading or vague environmental claims. Let’s take a look at these elements in more detail:

The design

There are three key components that are required when a claim is made for the degradability of a product.

Firstly, the material identification code must be presented on the packaging, in a triangle. There are seven identification codes that are used to identify the type of packaging materials used:

1) PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

2) PEHD (High-density polyethylene)

3) PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)

4) PELD (Low density polyethylene)

5) PP (Polypropylene)

6) PS (Polystyrene)

For all other materials (e.g. ABS, PLA, SAN, etc.) a numerical value of 7 must be shown in the triangle.

Secondly, the acronym for the packaging material must be stated below the triangle; and lastly, the degradability claim – ‘biodegradable’, ‘compostable’ or ‘oxo-biodegradable’ – must be stated. Read more on the definition of each, here.

The wording must be clearly legible, and the size used must be relative to the size of the packaging. For example:

The physical and performance requirements

SANS 1728 does not include the specific performance requirements of the plastics, but does refer to the appropriate standards for each claim.

Biodegradable plastics must conform to DIN 38412:30 or ISO 14855-1 standards, compostable plastics must conform to the ISO 17088, EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 standards, and oxo-biodegradable plastics must conform to the ASTM D6954-04 standards.

Any degradability claims stated on a product must be verified by accredited laboratories in accordance with their claimed applicable physical and performance standards.

There are only a few laboratories in the world that are able to test packaging for its degradability properties. These tests are conducted under industrial compostable conditions and include disintegration trials as well as seed germination and biodegradability trials. The disintegration trials and biodegradability trials are conducted to ensure that the product breaks down in in the expected time, as prescribed by the standards. The germination tests are done to ensure that the finished product will not be detrimental to the environment, and will allow for the germination of seeds. Testing of packaging is important for product development, to differentiate products and to validate degradability claims.

Each packaging component must clearly indicate for which waste stream it is intended, and which components are compostable. If the consumer is required to separate components, clear directions for separation must be provided.

Restrictions on the use of misleading or vague environmental claims

Manufacturers are advised to refrain from using vague claims such as ‘environmentally safe’, ‘green’ or any claims implying that a product or the packaging is ‘environmentally beneficial’, ‘benign’ or ‘sustainable’, as these claims do not yet have clear definitions and can easily be confusing or even misleading to consumers.

‘Free from’ claims should only be used where a specific substance is present in levels less than the acknowledged trace contaminant levels. Self-declared environmental claims may be presented on labels when accompanied by an explanatory statement. If the claim has been validated, the explanatory statement may be omitted.

There is a great need for enforceable regulations on environmentally friendly labelling. In the absence of such regulations, the SANS voluntary standard offers guidance to manufacturers. These standards help to ensure that the information presented to consumers is both appropriate and clear, and that the most appropriate manner for the disposal of that waste is plainly indicated.

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