The DIN SPEC 91481 standard creates more clarity for polyamide-based waste and recycling and provides an important step towards deeper digitalization of the Plastics and Waste Industry.

The European digital recycled plastics procurement platform Cirplus, together with the IKK (Institut für Kunststoff), developed a new standard for the use of recycled plastics.

The new DIN SPEC 91481 standard aims to provide clear guidelines for the classification and description of polyamide-based recycled plastics, which can ultimately provide solutions to the problem caused by inadequate or missing data on these types of materials.

It also provides guidelines for calculating and labeling the content and type of recycled material, as well as characterizing plastic waste as a source material for recycling.

The new standard hopes to facilitate the large-scale commercialization of polyamide-based recyclates and raw materials from plastic waste.

Digital passport for recycled plastics

Additionally, the developers of the new standard are collaborating on the development of a digital product passport (DPP) for recycled plastics and waste throughout the entire value chain. The objective is that this document can be applied at European level.

The DPP, which complies with DIN SPEC 91481, aims to ensure the quality of material data throughout its life cycle, producing and distributing frequently missing information at the raw material level.

According to Cirplus, the wide scope and application of digital platforms within the new standard “paves the way for a paradigm shift towards a truly circular plastics industry, catalyzed by standardization and digitalization.”

The standard for recycled plastics

The new standard is based on DIN SPEC 91466, also created by Cirplus, and applies the data quality standards established in that context to the particular specifications of polyamide recyclates.

The predecessor of the standard, which has already found application in the packaging and construction sectors, was adopted by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) in early 2023. This integration of the standard occurred within the structure of VDA Recommendation 284, a guideline that outlines the use of recycled plastics in the automotive sector.