When a product reaches the customer, its packaging has already performed several important functions. It has protected the product, supported transportation, provided information, and influenced how the product is presented. But the packaging journey does not necessarily end at the point of sale. What happens after use is becoming an equally important consideration for manufacturers, brands, retailers, and packaging suppliers.
For organizations operating in Delhi, packaging decisions are increasingly connected with wider waste-management and environmental responsibilities. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee provides information on plastic packaging, registration of Producers, Importers and Brand Owners, Plastic Waste Processors, and Extended Producer Responsibility requirements. Delhi’s Department of Environment also addresses plastic-waste management and the environmental impact of packaging materials.
Against this background, ISO 18606 Certification in Delhi can provide a structured way for organizations to evaluate packaging intended for organic recycling. ISO 18606:2013 establishes requirements for packaging suitable for organic recycling and considers the behavior and impact of individual packaging components during the relevant biological treatment process. The standard was reviewed and confirmed by ISO in 2024 and remains current.
What Is ISO 18606 and Organic Recycling?
ISO 18606:2013 belongs to the ISO family of standards dealing with packaging and environmental considerations.
The standard is designed for packaging that is intended to be recovered through organic recycling. It does not treat every biodegradable material as automatically suitable for this purpose. Instead, it establishes requirements that help determine whether packaging components are appropriate for the intended biological treatment process.
This distinction is particularly important for businesses making sustainability-related packaging decisions. A material may be described commercially as compostable or biodegradable, but such terminology alone does not demonstrate conformity with ISO 18606.
ISO states that packaging is considered recoverable by organic recycling only when the applicable individual components meet the requirements. Where components can be easily and physically separated before disposal, the separated components may instead be considered individually.
Why ISO 18606 Is Relevant to Delhi Businesses
Delhi’s environmental framework makes packaging and plastic waste important business considerations. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee maintains resources covering plastic-waste assessment, Plastic Waste Management requirements, EPR registration for Producers, Importers and Brand Owners, and information relating to compostable alternatives.
The Department of Environment, Government of NCT of Delhi, has also highlighted the scale of plastic waste generated in the city and the significant role of packaging in plastic consumption. Its environmental handbook notes that a substantial proportion of manufactured plastic is used for packaging and discusses the need for more effective plastic-waste management and circular-economy approaches.
For businesses, this means packaging choices increasingly need to be considered alongside waste-management objectives. ISO 18606 can contribute to that discussion when the intended recovery route is organic recycling.
ISO 18606 Is Not the Same as Plastic Waste Compliance
Different Purposes, Different Questions
An important point for Delhi organizations is that ISO 18606 should not be treated as a replacement for legal or regulatory compliance.
Plastic-waste regulations and EPR requirements address responsibilities associated with the management, collection, recycling, processing, or recovery of applicable waste. ISO 18606, on the other hand, establishes requirements for packaging intended for organic recycling.
The two can therefore exist alongside each other.
A company may have regulatory responsibilities concerning packaging waste while separately evaluating whether particular packaging is suitable for organic recycling according to an international standard.
Why This Distinction Matters
Confusing certification with regulatory authorization can lead to inaccurate environmental claims.
ISO 18606 does not provide a blanket exemption from applicable Indian waste-management requirements. Organizations should continue to determine their obligations under the applicable laws, rules, notifications, registrations, and EPR framework.
The value of ISO 18606 lies in establishing a technical basis for assessing packaging intended for organic recycling.
What ISO 18606 Looks for in Packaging
The Packaging Component Approach
One of the most important features of ISO 18606 is its treatment of packaging components.
A package can contain multiple materials and elements. The main structure may be accompanied by coatings, labels, adhesives, closures, inks, or other components. Evaluating only the primary packaging material may therefore provide an incomplete picture.
ISO 18606 considers the relevant individual components when determining whether packaging is suitable for organic recycling. If components can be physically separated before disposal, the separated components can be assessed individually under the conditions described by the standard.
This approach encourages businesses to examine the complete packaging construction rather than relying on the environmental properties of only one material.
Biodegradation
Biodegradation is one of the characteristics addressed by ISO 18606.
For organizations developing or purchasing packaging intended for organic recycling, understanding how a component behaves under the relevant biological treatment conditions is important. Supporting technical information and appropriate evidence therefore become important parts of the evaluation.
Disintegration During Biological Treatment
A packaging material must also be considered in terms of its physical behavior during biological treatment.
ISO 18606 addresses disintegration during biological waste treatment, including composting. This is different from simply asking whether a material will eventually biodegrade under unspecified environmental conditions.
Effects on the Biological Process
Packaging entering an organic recycling process should not create unacceptable negative effects on the biological treatment process.
This requirement encourages a broader evaluation of packaging behavior rather than focusing exclusively on whether the material breaks down.
Effects on Compost Quality
The resulting compost is another important consideration.
ISO 18606 addresses potential negative effects on the quality of the resulting compost, including concerns associated with regulated metals and other substances that may be hazardous to the environment.
For companies seeking to support responsible packaging claims, this helps connect packaging selection with the quality of the material produced after organic treatment.
Which Delhi Businesses Can Consider ISO 18606?
Packaging Manufacturers and Converters
Packaging manufacturers and converters may consider ISO 18606 when developing packaging intended for organic recycling. The standard can provide a framework for evaluating materials and components before making environmental claims about their intended recovery route.
Food and Consumer Product Companies
Food, beverage, consumer-product, and other packaged-goods manufacturers may need to make decisions about packaging materials purchased from external suppliers.
ISO 18606 can help such organizations establish clearer technical expectations when evaluating packaging designed for organic recycling.
Retailers and Brand Owners
Brand owners and retailers often influence packaging through procurement specifications and supplier requirements. Even when packaging is not manufactured internally, the organization placing products on the market may need reliable information about the packaging being used.
Businesses Developing Compostable Packaging
Organizations developing or sourcing packaging marketed for composting or organic recycling can use ISO 18606 as a relevant technical reference. However, the specific claims and assessment requirements should always be evaluated according to the packaging, intended treatment route, applicable regulations, and conformity-assessment arrangement.
Preparing for ISO 18606 Certification in Delhi
Here is all you need to knowe about the steps to follow in the ISO 18606 certification in Delhi process:
Define the Packaging and Intended Recovery Route
The first stage is to establish exactly what packaging is being considered.
An organization should identify the relevant products, packaging formats, components, materials, and intended organic recycling route. This creates a clear basis for determining which requirements are applicable.
Review Material and Supplier Evidence
The organization can then review available information about its packaging components.
Material specifications, supplier information, technical data, test reports, declarations, packaging designs, and other relevant records may need to be examined. Where the available evidence is incomplete, additional evaluation may be required.
Evaluate the Individual Components
The assessment should not stop with the main packaging material.
Relevant components should be examined according to their role in the packaging and their intended disposal and treatment route. This component-level evaluation is one of the areas that makes ISO 18606 particularly relevant to complex packaging structures.
Close Identified Gaps
Where the assessment identifies missing information or weaknesses, the organization can take corrective action.
This may involve improving specifications, obtaining additional technical evidence, clarifying supplier requirements, reviewing packaging components, or strengthening internal controls around packaging selection and environmental claims.
Complete the Applicable Assessment
After the relevant requirements have been addressed, the organization can proceed with the applicable conformity-assessment or certification arrangement.
The exact route depends on the organization’s scope and the assessment scheme being used. ISO develops and publishes the standard; ISO itself does not issue individual certificates.
How ISO 18606 Can Support Delhi Organizations
Let us take a look at the benefits of ISO 18606 certification in Delhi:
More Defensible Packaging Decisions
ISO 18606 encourages organizations to base packaging decisions on defined technical characteristics instead of relying only on broad descriptions such as “green,” “eco-friendly,” or “biodegradable.”
Better Control Over Packaging Components
The component-based approach can help businesses identify materials or packaging elements that may otherwise be overlooked during environmental evaluations.
Stronger Supplier Requirements
Companies can use defined packaging requirements when communicating with suppliers, converters, and manufacturers. This can improve the quality of technical information available during procurement.
Greater Alignment Between Packaging and Recovery Objectives
When packaging is intended for organic recycling, the design and material decision should be connected to what happens during the intended treatment process. ISO 18606 provides a structured reference for making that connection.
Why Choose GQS for ISO 18606 Certification in Delhi?
Global Quality Services provides ISO consultancy and certification-related support to organizations across India. GQS supports businesses through the stages associated with ISO certification, including understanding requirements, implementation support, certification readiness, and post-certification assistance.
For organizations seeking ISO 18606 Certification in Delhi, GQS can help examine the organization’s packaging scope, understand the applicable requirements, identify gaps in existing arrangements, and prepare the relevant documentation and evidence for assessment.
The approach should be based on the organization’s actual packaging system rather than applying a generic checklist. Packaging composition, individual components, intended recovery route, available technical evidence, and applicable regulatory obligations all need to be considered.
GQS can help your organization understand the applicable requirements, review its packaging arrangements, identify gaps, and prepare for the relevant assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ISO 18606 cover?
ISO 18606:2013 establishes requirements and procedures for packaging suitable for organic recycling. It addresses biodegradation, disintegration during biological treatment, potential negative effects on the biological process, and potential negative effects on the quality of the resulting compost.
Does ISO 18606 replace Delhi’s plastic-waste regulations?
No. ISO 18606 and regulatory requirements serve different purposes. Organizations must continue to comply with applicable Plastic Waste Management Rules, EPR requirements, registrations, and other legal obligations. ISO 18606 relates specifically to packaging intended for organic recycling.
Does ISO 18606 apply to compostable packaging?
It can be relevant where packaging is intended for organic recycling, but the term “compostable” alone does not establish conformity. The applicable packaging components and intended treatment conditions need to be evaluated against the requirements of the standard.
Can packaging with several different materials be assessed?
Yes. ISO 18606 addresses individual packaging components. If components can be easily and physically separated before disposal, the separated components can be considered individually for organic recycling.
Is ISO 18606:2013 still the current standard?
Yes. ISO states that ISO 18606:2013 was reviewed and confirmed in 2024 and remains the current edition.
Can GQS help a Delhi company prepare for ISO 18606 assessment?
Yes. GQS can help an organization understand the applicable requirements, define its packaging scope, review available technical information, identify gaps, and prepare for the relevant conformity-assessment or certification process.
