Division 3.2 Repulpability

The product shall be suitable for repulping.

Wet strength agents shall not be used except for paper carrier bags and wrapping paper, where they can be used only if the product repulpability can be proven.

Lamination, including polyethene and/or polypropylene, shall only be used to increase the durability of products with a life span of at least 1 year. This includes books, binders, folders, exercise books, calendars, notebooks and diaries. Lamination shall not be used in magazines, paper carrier bags, or wrapping paper. Double lamination shall not be used in any product.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with the criterion supported by the following documentation.

For printed paper products and stationery paper products, the applicant shall declare the non-use of wet strength agents.

For paper carrier bags and wrapping paper, the applicant shall provide a declaration of the non-use of wet strength agents. Otherwise, the applicant shall demonstrate product repulpability supported by the result(s) of test report(s) according to the PTS method PTS-RH 021, the ATICELCA 501 evaluation system or equivalent standard methods that are accepted by the competent body as providing data of equivalent scientific quality.

The applicant shall provide a declaration of the non-use of lamination for newspapers, magazines, paper carrier bags, wrapping paper, or stationery paper products. Otherwise, the applicant shall provide the result(s) of test report(s) proving repulpability according to the PTS method PTS-RH 021 or ATICELCA 501 evaluation system or equivalent standard methods that are accepted by the competent body.

For laminated products, the applicant shall provide a declaration of non-use of double lamination.

Where a part of a paper product is easily removable (for example a metal bar in a suspension file, a magazine insert or a plastic cover or a reusable exercise book cover), the repulpability test may be made without this component.