ENV72
Packaging Material and Marking Requirements
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Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Scope ................................................................................................................................................ 3
2. References.............................................................................................................................................. 3
3. General Requirements .......................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 Country-Specific Marking ............................................................................................................... 5
3.1.1 China .......................................................................................................................................... 5
3.1.2 Japan.......................................................................................................................................... 7
3.1.3 Korea .......................................................................................................................................... 8
3.1.4 Taiwan ...................................................................................................................................... 10
3.1.5 Slovakia ................................................................................................................................... 10
3.1.6 Turkey ...................................................................................................................................... 11
3.1.7 Other......................................................................................................................................... 11
3.2 Packaging and Pallets Made of Wood ....................................................................................... 11
3.3 Timber and Plant Materials .......................................................................................................... 12
Revision History........................................................................................................................................ 12
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1. Introduction
Packaging materials and markings are becoming more regulated throughout the world.
Requirements exist for materials used, substances used in the making and treating of materials
and how packaging materials are marked for subsequent recycling, reuse, or disposal. Due to
the constantly evolving nature of such requirements, the latest applicable source document of a
given requirement should be consulted for questions regarding applicability to any given
situation.
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this document is to summarize the general requirements for all packaging used
for selling or shipping X- Rite products. All packaging for X-Rite products designed or tooled
after the release of this document must comply.
1.2 Scope
The requirements in this document apply globally to all packaging used for selling or shipping XRite products. The document applies globally to all X- Rite business units and X- Rite suppliers.
In the case of a discrepancy between this document and the referenced regulations, the
referenced regulations in effect at the time of application take precedence unless the
requirements specified herein are more stringent.
2. References
DIN 6120-1 and 2 (Germany)
Directive 94/62/EC on packaging waste and its amendments (European Union)
ISPM #15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade
JIS 6899-1 (ISO 1043-1)
Lacey Act and its amendments (USA)
Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (Japan)
National Standard of the Peoples Republic of China, GB 18455:2001 (China)
Presidential Enforcement Decree of December 18, 2002 (Korea)
Regulation EU 995/2010 and its amendments (European Union)
X-Rite Global Product and Component Specification for the Environment (GPCSE)
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3. General Requirements
Restricted Materials Along with the information provided herein, refer to the X-Rite
GPCSE for packaging material and substance restrictions.
Ozone Depleting Substances in Packaging Materials - Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) listed in the X- Rite GPCSE must not be used
in plastic foam packaging materials, e.g., as foaming agents. Methyl bromide sterilization
must not be used on wood packaging.
Heavy Metals in Packaging Materials - Packaging materials must not contain lead,
mercury, cadmium, or hexavalent chromium where the sum concentration of lead,
mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium is greater than 0.01% (100 PPM) by
weight (reference EU Directive 94/62/EC and its amendments).
Chlorine Elemental chlorine should be avoided wherever possible as whitening or
bleaching agent for packaging materials.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - PVC must not be used in packaging materials.
Recyclable Materials - All materials used in the packaging systems must be recyclable.
Choose materials in which recycling systems are readily available. Do not use
permanent glue or adhesives to attach dissimilar materials such as foam cushions to
corrugated surfaces.
Material Marking In general, unless it conflicts with a specific country requirement, the
applicable International Universal Recycling Code and Number (see following table) is
required to be embossed, marked or labeled on all components of the packaging. The
symbol, not including the lettering, must be between 0.5 in (1.27 cm) and 1 in (2.54 cm)
in height. It must be durable, clearly visible, and easily legible when the packaging is
opened. The abbreviations must appear in capital letters. Example:
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Graphic
Reusable
Use only for defined closed loop
systems
Recyclable/renewable
Use for all packaging materials
even if not necessarily actually
recyclable in a given locale
Contains renewable
materials
(Intended to be used for certain
wood and cork type materials)
The China mark for used typical packaging materials consists of the chasing arrows triangle for
recyclable/renewable with the appropriate China alphanumeric code centered below the
triangle. (Placing the alphanumeric code inside the triangle is also acceptable.) Example:
China has its own material alphanumeric code which differs in some cases from the
International Universal Recycling Codes. Use of the Chinese mark with other internationally
required marks is acceptable as long as the China requirements are complied with.
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Material
Description
China
Alphanumeric
Plastic
HDPE
LDPE
PVC
PET
PP
PS
WPP
PB
CB
FB
NCFB
FE
ALU
11
12
13
14
21
22
23
31
32
33
34
41
GL1
GL2
GL3
NW
Paper
Metal
Composite
Material
Glass
Wood
Plastic packaging material for China should use the chasing arrow triangle with the material
number in the triangle and the plastic alphanumeric centered under the triangle as shown in this
example:
3.1.2 Japan
The guidelines for Japanese material labeling requirements indicate the following major points:
The guidelines are mandatory for consumer packaging but voluntary for business
packaging.
The vertical size of the marks shall be 6 mm or more for printing and 8 mm or more
for embossing.
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PP, PET
3.1.3 Korea
The South Korea Presidential Enforcement Decree of December 18, 2002 requires a Separate
Discharge Mark for certain molded and fabricated foam cushions, poly bags, padded envelopes
and other plastic wraps and buffers for designated electronic equipment. The requirement was
revised 1 July 2012 to require the mark as shown in the example below. The Separate
Discharge mark may be displayed along with the International Universal Recycling Code and
Number.
The Separate Discharge Mark consists of the triangular symbol, text inside the symbol, and text
below the symbol. Text inside the symbol is the material type name and it must be written in
Korean. The text below the symbol is the material composition name, and depending on the
material type name, the text can be Korean or English, or blank.
Revision: C, November 8, 2013
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PET
(none)
Yellow
Plastic
Blue
Material
Film/sheet plastic
Purple
The symbol (excluding the text below the symbol) must be larger than 8 mm in width and length.
Reference should be made to official artwork descriptions and Korean Graphics Standard for
the proper proportioning of the symbol and use of the optional colors.
Electronic equipment refers to products that are powered by electricity and utilize electronic
motions generated using electronic tubes or semiconductors. They include industrial machinery
and tools (computers, communication machinery and tools, electronic applied machinery and
tools, etc.) as well as household machinery and tools (televisions, refrigerators, washers,
audios, etc.) The scope of electronic products covered by the requirement includes all end-use
electronic equipment (for consumer and commercial use) but excludes parts and supplies of
electronic equipment. For example, a redundant power supply or an external hard disk drive
would be covered; however packaging for internal hard disk drive and other optional internal
components are exempt.
A "buffer" is defined as any packing materials that are made from foam-like synthetic resins,
which are made of beads containing hydrocarbons such as butane, hexane, pentane, and so
forth, and are puffed by applying heat or by other means. Examples of "buffer" materials are
expanded polystyrene (EPS), polystyrene paper (PSP), expanded polyethylene (EPE), and
expanded polypropylene (EPP).
Exemptions to the separate disposal labeling requirement include the following:
Packaging materials whose surface is less than 50 cm2.
Packaging components with a capacity or volume less than 30 grams or 30 milliliters.
Packaging material on which it is technically difficult to print, engrave, or label due to
elements or structural properties.
Plastic film or sheet type packaging materials that are not printed, engraved, or labeled
and are not required to be marked with the discharge mark. (If they are marked with any
information, they must also carry the discharge mark.)
Plastic film or sheet packaging materials with a thickness less than 20 microns (m) or
surface area less than 100 cm2.
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RESY
Example of mark requiring
appropriate licensing prior to use
Specific country and customer requirements should always be consulted for recent changes to
their package marking requirements.
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Revision History
Revision
A, June 18, 2009
B, April 28, 2010
B, January 3, 2012
C, November 8, 2013
Change
SJW - Initial release
ECO 19173, Minor punctuation corrections
Document number changed from SPP 72 to ENV72. Font changed. No content
change. Revision letter intentionally not changed.
General, minor updates throughout.
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