How Do I Test Disposable Paper Products?
author: Iris
2024-04-22
How Do I Test Disposable Paper Products?
Nowadays, plastic pollution control has become an urgent issue for sustainable development. 2021 "14th Five-Year Plan" Action Programme on Plastic Pollution Control puts forward the need to steadily promote plastic substitutes, give full consideration to the resource and environmental impacts of the whole lifecycle of bamboo and wood products, paper products, biodegradable plastic products, etc., and improve the quality of related products and food safety standards. Food safety standards for related products should be improved. As a non-degradable plastic substitute, how to evaluate the degradability of paper products? Yangrui provides you with a test guide for disposable paper products, escorting relevant enterprises and institutions and upstream and downstream related industries, and assisting enterprise development.
1. Which Paper Products Need to Do Degradability Testing?
GB/T 39951-2021 "degradation of disposable paper products degradation performance evaluation method" clearly put forward paper diapers (tablets, pads), sanitary napkins (pads), wet wipes, paper cups, quality tableware, paper bags, paper boxes, pulp moulding products and other disposable paper products degradation performance evaluation method, but not all disposable paper products need to be degradation performance testing.
1) Pure paper products do not need to carry out degradability testing. Such as GB/T 41008-2021 "biodegradable straws", the standard clearly put forward pure paper straws are not applicable to the standard. Because the plant fibre is recognised as a degradable material, there is no need to prove its degradation performance through the test.
2) Composite with non-biodegradable materials of disposable paper products, do not need to carry out degradable performance tests, such as PE lamination paper and other paper products. Non-biodegradable plastic materials include: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and so on.
3) When the product is indicated as a degradable material product, it can be applied to a third-party testing organisation for degradation performance testing. This category of products usually includes degradable composite materials made of film cups, paper boxes, paper bags, etc., but also by the plastic film, absorbent materials and non-woven fabrics and other degradable materials such as nappies, sanitary napkins, etc., such composite or synthetic materials are required to carry out degradation performance testing.
1) Pure paper products do not need to carry out degradability testing. Such as GB/T 41008-2021 "biodegradable straws", the standard clearly put forward pure paper straws are not applicable to the standard. Because the plant fibre is recognised as a degradable material, there is no need to prove its degradation performance through the test.
2) Composite with non-biodegradable materials of disposable paper products, do not need to carry out degradable performance tests, such as PE lamination paper and other paper products. Non-biodegradable plastic materials include: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and so on.
3) When the product is indicated as a degradable material product, it can be applied to a third-party testing organisation for degradation performance testing. This category of products usually includes degradable composite materials made of film cups, paper boxes, paper bags, etc., but also by the plastic film, absorbent materials and non-woven fabrics and other degradable materials such as nappies, sanitary napkins, etc., such composite or synthetic materials are required to carry out degradation performance testing.
2. What Standards Do the Products Need to Meet?
1) Meet the Requirements of Product Standards
When there are specific product standards for paper-based degradable products, they can be tested according to the product standards. For example, GB/T 27590-2022 "paper cups" (officially implemented on 1 February 2023), the standard has both degradation performance test requirements, but also sensory and physical properties test requirements.
2) Meet the Requirements of Degradation-Related Standards
If there is no corresponding product standard for paper-based degradable products or no degradation performance requirements in the product standard, the test can be based on GB/T 39951-2021. At present, GB/T 39951-2021 "Evaluation Method of Degradation Performance of Disposable Paper Products" has been formally implemented. If the product needs to provide proof of biodegradation (degradation) performance, it can be tested for biodegradation performance in accordance with this standard; if the product needs to provide proof of compostable performance, it should undergo the test of biodegradation (degradation) performance, the test of degree of disintegration and the test of eco-toxicity and the product should not be tested for heavy metals, toxic and hazardous substances. The content of heavy metals, toxic and hazardous substances should be in line with the limit value requirements in the standard.
3) Conform to the Requirements of Relevant Standards for Food Contact Materials
Paper tableware, paper cups, paper straws and other paper products as food contact materials, which have been or are expected to be in contact with food in the process of use, or its components may be transferred to food, in addition to meeting the requirements of the product standards, degradation performance requirements, must also meet the relevant national safety standards for food contact materials. Taking the film-laminated paper cups (PLA film) as an example, the paper cups should not only meet the relevant requirements of GB/T 27590-2022 Paper Cups, but also need to meet the requirements of GB 4806.7 Plastic Materials and Products for Food Contact and GB 4806.8 Paper and Cardboard Materials and Products for Food Contact (the new standard of the 2022 edition will be formally implemented on 30th June, 2023) and the relevant announcements; The use of additives should also comply with GB 9685 "Standard for the Use of Additives in Food Contact Materials and Products" and related announcements.
3. How Enterprises Ensure Compliance
1) Manufacturing
(1) Degradable paper products related to the production of enterprise manufacturers in the manufacture of related products, raw material suppliers can be requested to have CNAS and CMA qualification of the third-party testing organisations issued by the biodegradable test report.
(2) Degradable paper products such as in the manufacturing process to re-add auxiliary materials, additives, the need for biodegradability testing; if there is no such addition, that is, the raw materials directly processed into a finished product, you can carry out its own declaration of biodegradability, but still need to comply with the relevant product standards, in addition to biodegradation of biodegradable performance outside the other indicators required.
(3) The producer of biodegradable paper containers shall pass the self-inspection or send it to the testing organisation with relevant qualification for testing before it is allowed to be circulated on the market.
(4) Paper and paperboard materials and products for food contact materials must meet the relevant requirements of GB 4806.8, and its additives must also comply with the provisions of GB 9685 and related announcements, such as products containing plastic film or synthetic fibre raw materials should also meet the relevant requirements of GB 4806.7.
(2) Degradable paper products such as in the manufacturing process to re-add auxiliary materials, additives, the need for biodegradability testing; if there is no such addition, that is, the raw materials directly processed into a finished product, you can carry out its own declaration of biodegradability, but still need to comply with the relevant product standards, in addition to biodegradation of biodegradable performance outside the other indicators required.
(3) The producer of biodegradable paper containers shall pass the self-inspection or send it to the testing organisation with relevant qualification for testing before it is allowed to be circulated on the market.
(4) Paper and paperboard materials and products for food contact materials must meet the relevant requirements of GB 4806.8, and its additives must also comply with the provisions of GB 9685 and related announcements, such as products containing plastic film or synthetic fibre raw materials should also meet the relevant requirements of GB 4806.7.
2) Purchasing and Selling Parties
(1) The purchaser of biodegradable paper products should ask the supplier for the qualified test reports of the corresponding products, such as: GB 4806.8 and/or GB/T 39951 test reports.
(2) Purchasers of degradable paper products should pay attention to whether the labels of the products are complete, and whether there are special instructions for use or precautions and other information.
(2) Purchasers of degradable paper products should pay attention to whether the labels of the products are complete, and whether there are special instructions for use or precautions and other information.
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