06 Dec 2024
Revolution for recycled plastics: Why DIN SPEC 91446 / 91481 and EN 18065 are indispensable
From idea to standard - the plastics industry is facing challenges: increasing waste volumes, low recycling rates and growing pressure from regulations such as the PPWR or the End-of-Life Directive, as well as digital product passports. Find out in this blog post how we are paving the way for a sustainable plastics industry, from the development of DIN SPEC 91446 / 91481 to the Europe-wide EN 18065 and our own Cirplus certificate.
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The world is facing an urgent problem: the production of virgin plastics is growing rapidly, while recycling rates are stagnating. Plastic waste often ends up in landfills or incinerators instead of being reused. Added to this is the enormous lack of transparency on the global waste markets, which makes it difficult to establish reliable supply chains for recycled plastics.
With the adoption of the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the necessary introduction of digital product passports, the pressure on companies to provide complete proof of the origin and quality of recycled materials will increase massively. This is precisely where the DIN SPEC 91446 / 91481 and EN 18065 standards come in.
These standards create the basis for clearly classifying plastic recyclates throughout Europe and worldwide, ensuring material quality and promoting transparency along the value chain.
DIN SPEC 91446: The first step towards greater transparency and trust
DIN SPEC 91446, developed by Cirplus with 16 experts from industry and science, enables the classification of recycled plastics based on data quality levels (DQL).
Why is this important?
Improved quality control: Clear guidelines ensure that buyers receive the desired material quality.
Optimized communication: Recyclers and manufacturers use a common language for material properties.
Compliance with legal requirements: The DIN SPEC helps companies comply with the PPWR and other directives such as the End-of-Life Directive.
Building trust: Recyclers demonstrate their quality and transparency by complying with the standard.
Creating new markets: The standard simplifies the trade in recyclates and promotes their sale in new markets.
The introduction of the DIN SPEC has laid an important foundation stone. But setting standards is one thing - contributing to their dissemination is another. That is why, immediately after the publication of DIN SPEC 91446, we set about converting it into a European standard and supplementing it with DIN SPEC 91481.
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DIN SPEC 91481: The standard for polyamide recyclates and digital product passport
A consortium of 19 organizations from research and industry has developed DIN SPEC 91481 to increase the quality and proportion of recycled polyamides. The standard defines clear requirements for the classification of these recyclates according to data quality levels and makes trade more transparent.
The first digital product passport for recyclates
DIN SPEC 91481 integrates a concept for the digital product passport, which makes the entire life cycle of recycled plastics traceable. Unified standards for data collection and transfer make it easy to classify and compare materials.
This digital solution improves transparency, facilitates sales and increases the demand for recyclates - a decisive step towards closing the plastics loop.
EN 18065: The new benchmark for Europe - and the world
With DIN SPEC 91446 and DIN SPEC 91481, we have proven the importance of clear classification standards. Now EN 18065, which will be published in 2025, takes these achievements to a new European level.
Why now?
EN 18065 will fulfill key requirements of the PPWR, the End-of-Life Directive and digital product passports. It creates transparency and strengthens confidence in recycled plastics.
Global signals
In addition to Europe, countries such as India are showing great interest in introducing similar standards. With ambitious recycling quotas under the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Regulation, which come into force five years before the European requirements, India is becoming a pioneering region for recycled plastics and demonstrating the potential for an international breakthrough.
“Walk the Talk": The Cirplus certificate
Standards alone are not enough - they have to be put into practice in industry. Cirplus is making this easier for the value chain with a new offer: We are developing our own certificate based on EN 18065. This certificate is intended to guarantee that all materials offered via our platform meet the highest standards.
The benefits for recyclers:
Increased marketability: recyclers whose materials are certified can expect greater demand and higher prices.
Competitive advantage: Certified recyclates offer buyers the security they are looking for.
The advantages for buyers:
Quality guarantee: the Cirplus certificate gives you access to the best materials on the market.
Legal certainty: The certificate helps to meet the requirements of the PPWR and digital product passports.
The certificate will be put into practice with selected partners in the first quarter of 2025. The great interest shows how urgently such solutions are needed.
Are you also interested? Send us a mail today to find out more about the Cirplus certificate and our standards.
Conclusion: Standards for the future of the circular economy
The combination of DIN SPEC 91446, DIN SPEC 91481, EN 18065 and the digital product passports marks a turning point for the plastics industry.
For recyclers: Now is the opportunity to certify materials and position yourself as a pioneer.
For buyers: Certified materials from Cirplus offer quality, transparency and legal certainty - all from a single source.
Let's shape the future of recycled plastics together.