What is BS EN 643 – Recycled paper grades about?

BS EN 643 is intended to be used by industry professionals, organisations and individuals with an interest in the paper recycling sector. BS EN 643 defines grades of paper and board for recycling used as raw material for recycling in the manufacture of paper and board products in the paper industry.

BS EN 643 also specifies tolerances for unwanted materials as well as the composition of paper and board for recycling. Unusable materials (prohibited and unwanted materials) are clearly defined for all people involved in the management of paper and board for recycling.

BS EN 643 provides the terms and definitions for prohibited materials and the limits for non-paper components which provide guidance and support for Customs and Excise Officers who are required to differentiate these raw materials from waste in the context of supranational legislation on the control of waste shipments.

Who is BS EN 643 - Recycled paper grades for?

BS EN 643 on recycled paper grades is useful for:

Industry professionals, organisations and individuals with an interest in the paper-recycling sectors
Customs and Excise Officers
The paper and board industry
Paper mills
Paper and paperboard manufacturing companies 
Suppliers and distributors for paper and board
Laboratories for paper and board
Paper analysis researchers

Why should you use BS EN 643 - Recycled paper grades?

Natural fibre-based paper and board suitable for recycling and consisting of paper and board in any shape, and products made predominately from paper and board, which may include other constituents that cannot be removed by dry sortings, such as coatings and laminates, spiral bindings, etc.

BS EN 643 provides you with a European list of standard grades of paper and board for recycling. BS EN 643 also guides you with group classification, grade identification, and requirements for grades intended for deinking.

BS EN 643 assists users in the buying and selling of raw materials, which are intended for recycling by the paper and board industry without the need of additional sorting prior to use at a paper mill. BS EN 643 secures the quality of the supply of paper and board for recycling to the paper mills through responsible sourcing of the paper industry's raw materials.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN 643:2014 supersedes BS EN 643:2001, which is withdrawn. BS EN 643:2014 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 643:2001. These include:

Due to fundamental changes in waste legislation, the classification of grades has to be adapted
The terminology has been modified to be in accordance with the use of the product for paper recycling
Introduction in the classification tables of two new columns, one specifying the limits for non-paper components, and one specifying the limits of unwanted material
Addition of “Bibliography”
Editorial updating

BS EN 643:2014

Paper and board. European list of standard grades of paper and board for recycling

Current

Published:

31 Jan 2014