PAS 9017:2020

This standard PAS 9017:2020 Plastics. Biodegradation of polyolefins in an open-air terrestrial environment. Specification is classified in these ICS categories:

• 83.080.01 Plastics in general

This PAS specifies requirements of polyolefinic materials enhanced with an additive technology that imparts biodegradability in an open-air terrestrial environment. This PAS specifies the standards to be used for evaluating the performance of the tested polyolefinic material at each stage, whilst within these protocols it specifies the conditions and maximum timeframes the testing is to be conducted in. Furthermore, it specifies the chemical analysis and the numerical limits required to meet compliance with the PAS at the end of each stage of testing.

Thus, this PAS covers:

1. polyolefin composition and additive technology under evaluation;

2. alignment of specific standardized protocols for testing at each stage, notably:

   1. weathering exposure of test polyolefinic materials for a defined period of time, including chemical analysis to yield quantifiable measurement of chemical transformation into a wax;

   2. eco-toxicity testing upon the wax to ensure no hazardous substances are present; and

   3. biodegradation testing under mesophilic on soil conditions.

3. standardized testing protocol to be used at each stage of evaluation as well as for chemical analyses;

4. reporting of the data at the end of each stage of testing and the specifications to indicate compliance with the PAS.

This PAS does not cover:

• managed biodegradable end-of-life scenarios such as industrial or home composting, landfill and anaerobic digestion;

• unmanaged aquatic environments of freshwater of marine habitats, including the damage that bioaccumulation of plastic pollution creates in these ecosystems;

• durability testing of the polyolefinic material prior to any chemical or biological transformation;

• the suitability or compatibility of the polyolefinic material to be mechanically, chemically or organically recycled;

• the life cycle assessment analysis of the polyolefinic material combined with the biodegradable additive technology;

• self-declared claims of biodegradability outside the framework of an appropriate standard such as BS EN ISO 14021; or

• the requirement of the use of independent third-party certification for claims of conformance to the PAS.

This PAS is intended to be used by plastic or plastic technology manufacturers looking to obtain data as to the performance of the biodegradability of an additive technology within a polyolefinic material in an open-air terrestrial environment. In addition, this PAS provides testing laboratories with a standardized protocol to evaluate polyolefinic materials for conformance to the PAS.

In addition, other standards agencies, national laboratories or academic research groups could use the test method described in this PAS as a universal baseline methodology of evaluating the biodegradability of new technological discoveries within polyolefins.