European Standards for Biobased Products
- Several biobased product standards are under development in Europe
- Separate CEN Technical Committees are responsible for different biobased products
The European Union has strengthened the innovation potential of biobased products within its member countries via the Lead Market Initiative. The development of products made from renewable sources is an important prospect for the EU as it promotes a biobased economy.
Examples of biobased products with growing markets are the biopolymers, which encompass bioplastics and all other polymers partly or wholly made from renewable materials like agricultural and forestry products. To overcome perceived uncertainty about their properties and the industry's weak market transparency, there is a need for standardization, labelling, and certification of biobased products.
The European Commission has mandated Europe’s standardization bodies to develop technical specifications and standards for biopolymers and bio-lubricants (Mandate M430) and to elaborate a standardization program for biobased products starting with the definition of the term “biobased” (Mandate M429).
CEN Standards for Biobased Products
The European Committee for Standardization (Comite Europeen de Normalisation or CEN), the organization responsible for creating standards for materials used or manufactured in Europe, is already developing standards for biopolymers like bioplastics and bio-lubricants. The initiative, which started in 2008, led to:
(1) The prCEN/TR 15932 or the “Recommendation for terminology and characterization of bioplastics” - This technical report is under approval and set to be available by 2010. The CEN/TC 249/WG 17 is in charge of this report.
(2) The CEN Technical Specification on Biopolymers, specifically the determination of their biobased carbon content – The TS is still under development by the CEN/TC 249/WG 17 and would become available in 2012.
(3) A Technical Report on Bio-lubricants (Bio-lubricants: Need, feasibility and required CEN deliverables) – The TR is still under development by the CEN/TC 19/WG33. It is slated for publication in 2011.
Sources: CEN/TC 249- Standards under Development and CEN/TC 19- Standards under development
CEN/TC 249/WG 17 for Biopolymers
The CEN Technical Committee 249 is in charge of all standards for plastics. One of its working groups, the Working Group 17, is responsible for the development of standards for biopolymers. WG17 was established in October 2008 and has been active since January 2009.
WG17 is expected to publish a technical report on its recommendations for the terminologies and characterization of bioplastics/biopolymers. CEN/TC 249/WG 17 is also looking into (1) the determination of the biobased content of bioplastics based on ASTM D6866 and related CEN standards, and (2) the format and requirements for claims on selected characteristics of biopolymers. The technical specifications are set for release in 2010, and their corresponding European Standards will be published in 2012.
CEN/TC 19/WG 33 for Bio-lubricants
The CEN Technical Committee 19 is responsible for developing standards for product quality characterization, quantity measurement, and operational procedures concerning the downstream oil industry’s naturally occurring materials and their derivatives (gaseous and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum).
The CEN/TC 19 Working Group 33 develops standards for bio-lubricants concerning their biodegradability; product functionality; impact on greenhouse gas emissions and raw material consumption; and measurement methods, test methods, and Life Cycle Assessment procedures. WG33’s technical specification is expected to be available in 2010.
CEN BT/WG 209 Biobased Products
The European Commission Mandate 249 to develop a standardization program for biobased products was assigned by the CEN Technical Board (BT) to its Working Group 209. The WG 209 is expected to finalize a report on biobased products definitions and terminologies and gap analysis by July 2010. The working group is also responsible for identifying biobased products research needs.
