Overview
EN ISO 22526-1:2021 / ISO 22526-1:2020 establishes the general principles and system boundaries for assessing the carbon and environmental footprint of biobased plastics. This Part 1 document is an introductory and guidance standard for the ISO 22526 series and applies to plastic products, polymer resins and materials that contain biobased or fossil-based constituents. It frames how to treat biogenic carbon, how to separate material and process carbon footprints, and how to align footprint work with established LCA and environmental labeling principles.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability: Guidance for plastic products and polymer resins with biobased and/or fossil-derived carbon.
- General principles: Follow ISO 14020 (environmental labels) and ISO 14040/14044 (life cycle assessment) principles when assessing biobased plastics.
- Definitions: Clear terminology for carbon and environmental footprint, material carbon footprint (CO2 removed and incorporated into polymer mass) and process carbon footprint (emissions from conversion at factory gate).
- Material vs. process carbon footprint:
- Material carbon footprint focuses on biocarbon captured (biogenic C-14 methodology referenced) versus fossil carbon replacement.
- Process carbon footprint uses LCA methodology to quantify emissions from feedstock conversion, manufacturing and upstream processes.
- System boundaries: Specifies how to set and document system boundaries for biobased plastic footprint studies to ensure consistency across the ISO 22526 series.
- Alignment with related standards: Normative references include ISO 14067 (product carbon footprint), ISO 16620 series (biobased content) and ISO 14040/14044 (LCA).
Applications and users
EN ISO 22526-1 is practical for:
- Plastics and polymer manufacturers assessing the environmental credentials of biobased resins and finished products.
- Sustainability and LCA practitioners who need standardized system boundaries and definitions for biobased materials.
- Product developers and procurement teams evaluating material substitutions (fossil → biobased) for carbon reduction.
- Regulatory bodies, certification schemes and eco‑label programs that require consistent footprint reporting for biobased plastics.
- Supply chain partners comparing material carbon content and process emissions for supplier selection and reporting.
Practical uses include framing LCA studies, calculating material carbon credit from biobased content, documenting system boundaries for environmental declarations, and supporting claims about reduced carbon footprint when substituting bio-based feedstocks.
Related standards
Relevant documents to use in conjunction with ISO 22526-1:
Keywords: ISO 22526-1, EN ISO 22526-1:2021, biobased plastics, carbon footprint, environmental footprint, life cycle assessment, material carbon footprint, process carbon footprint, system boundaries.
