Overview
ISO/TR 18568:2021 - Packaging and the environment - Marking for material identification (Technical Report, 1st edition, April 2021) provides examples of markings for packaging material identification (words, numbers and symbols). The report is applicable to all types of packaging and is intended to support efficient collection, sorting, recycling and recovery by enabling clear identification of materials used in packaging.
Key topics
- Scope and purpose: Illustrative markings to help identify packaging materials across jurisdictions to aid recycling and waste-management systems.
- Markings by material: Example marks for major packaging materials including paper, aluminium, glass, plastics, steel, wood and others (see Clause 4.1 and Tables 1–6).
- Plastics coding: Annex A provides numbers and abbreviations of commonly used plastics/polymers for packaging (useful for plastic recycling codes).
- Markings related to collection and sorting: Examples of non-material marks that indicate collection routes, recyclability or specific waste-management schemes (Table 7).
- Regional examples and issuing bodies: Illustrative references to schemes and legal frameworks used in different regions (e.g., European Decision 1997/129/EC, ASTM D7611 in the USA, China’s GB/T18455‑2010, and national recycling laws referenced for Japan and Korea).
- Recommendations: High-level guidance on use and implementation (Clause 5) and context on limitations where advanced mechanical sorting is in place.
Practical applications
Who uses ISO/TR 18568:2021 and why:
- Packaging designers and brand owners - to select clear material-identification markings that support downstream recycling.
- Recyclers and waste operators - to interpret markings and improve manual/semimanual sorting processes where automatic separation is limited.
- Regulatory bodies and compliance teams - to align labeling policies with international examples and national legislation.
- Standards bodies and policy makers - to harmonize markings or develop national schemes informed by multi‑region examples.
- Supply chain and sustainability teams - to improve packaging circularity by consistent material identification.
Benefits:
- Facilitates correct sorting and higher-quality recycling streams.
- Reduces contamination in material recovery when markings are clear and standardized.
- Acts as a reference for harmonizing marks across markets.
Related standards
- ISO 21067‑1 and ISO 21067‑2 (vocabulary referenced in the report)
- Regional and technical references cited in the report (Decision 1997/129/EC, EN/TR 14311, ASTM D7611/D7611M, GB/T18455‑2010)
ISO/TR 18568:2021 is a practical, illustrative resource for improving packaging material identification, supporting recycling policy, and informing label design and waste‑management practice.