OECD Publishes Report on Chemical Verification of Recycled Plastics 
On April 13, 2026, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released a report under its OECD Series on Risk Management of Chemicals. The report reviews existing approaches for identifying and verifying chemical substances—particularly hazardous substances and additives—contained in recycled plastics and analyzes related policy measures.
Residual hazardous additives are considered one of the major barriers to advancing plastic recycling, and the development of internationally harmonized verification rules is viewed as an urgent priority.
The report provides an overview of chemical verification within standards, certification schemes, and quality management frameworks for recycled plastics, and examines analytical techniques used to assess the chemical composition of recycled materials.
- Key challenges in chemical verification include insufficient transparency and traceability across the value chain, inadequate removal of substances of concern during recycling processes, and limitations in material testing capacity. In particular, the handling of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and the complexity of chemical compositions that require advanced analytical techniques are identified as major issues.
- Based on these challenges, the report outlines several policy options for future consideration. These include upstream measures such as reducing or restricting chemicals during product design, and downstream measures such as strengthening separate collection and promoting closed-loop recycling.
To improve transparency of chemical information, the report highlights the need for enhanced disclosure requirements and the introduction of product passports. It also stresses the importance of establishing international standards—including analytical requirements and testing protocols—and strengthening analytical support through database development, research collaboration, and economic instruments. - In conclusion, the report states that ensuring the chemical safety of recycled plastics will require an integrated approach that combines internationally harmonized standards, reliable analytical methods, chemical traceability systems, economic incentives, and research cooperation. Such efforts, it concludes, will enable both higher recycling rates and the realization of a safe circular economy.
Current Status of Plastic Recycling
1. Substances of Concern in Recycled Plastics
- Plastics may contain a wide range of chemical substances, including intentionally added substances such as plasticizers, fillers, and flame retardants, as well as degradation products, impurities from manufacturing processes, and contaminants introduced during use. When non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) are included, the total number of potentially relevant chemicals is estimated to exceed 13,000. NIAS are particularly difficult to predict and are characterized by the high level of difficulty involved in their detection and assessment.
- These substances of concern may remain or accumulate in recycled plastics and, in some cases, may result in higher toxicity than virgin plastics. However, accurately determining the chemical composition of recycled materials to ensure chemical safety is not straightforward. In addition, when different types of plastics are mixed and melted, unintended chemical reactions may occur, potentially generating new hazardous compounds. This possibility represents a significant safety concern in recycling processes.
2. Standards, Certification, and Quality Management Frameworks for Recycled Plastics
(1) Product-focused schemes (e.g., EN 15343, APR PCR):
These schemes ensure traceability, verification of recycled content, and compliance with certain regulatory requirements. However, they generally do not set threshold limits for chemical substances.
(2) Process-focused certifications (e.g., ISO 15270, ASTM D5577-19, RecyClass):
These emphasize quality management, minimization of contamination, and the implementation of analytical testing.
(3) System-level traceability and ecolabels (e.g., RecyClass Traceability, Blue Angel, ISCC):
These schemes track claims related to recycled content and sustainability, but they do not mandate comprehensive chemical analysis.
3. Analytical Techniques
- A wide range of analytical methods is used, including chromatography, mass spectrometry, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, ICP-MS, XRF, and thermal analysis. No single method can detect all substances, so a combination of non-target screening and highly selective targeted analysis is commonly employed.
- In the recycling industry, large-scale processors often conduct only limited testing. In contrast, high-value applications such as food-contact and medical uses require comprehensive analysis based on regulatory or customer requirements. As a result, the scope and practical implementation of testing vary significantly depending on the application.
Challenges and Constraints
1. Economic factors:
Establishing laboratory facilities capable of conducting comprehensive chemical analysis requires substantial upfront investment. Maintaining and developing a workforce with advanced analytical skills also entails ongoing costs. Meanwhile, the scope for automation remains limited.
2. Technical factors:
It is impossible to detect all substances in recycled plastics using a single analytical method. Sample heterogeneity, detection and quantification limits, and complex chemical characteristics—such as the presence of enantiomers—further complicate reliable chemical analysis.
3. Operational factors:
Comprehensive chemical testing is time-consuming and difficult to integrate into continuous industrial processes. Impurities and contaminants may interfere with analytical methods or increase the risk of damaging analytical instruments.
4. Regulatory factors:
No internationally unified standard currently exists that defines comprehensive chemical analysis requirements. Regulatory implementation also varies across jurisdictions. Limited traceability for imported waste increases the risk that substances of concern may enter the recycled-material supply chain.
Policy Options for Addressing the Challenges
1. Upstream and design-stage measures:
Simplifying complex chemical compositions, reducing or regulating substances of concern, and incorporating recyclability and safety considerations into product design.
2. Improving transparency of chemical information:
Strengthening disclosure requirements, standardizing reporting formats, and introducing product passports to enhance traceability throughout the recycling chain.
3. Strengthening downstream measures:
Expanding separate collection, supporting closed-loop recycling, and promoting the development and scaling of advanced recycling technologies.
4. International harmonization of standards:
Developing internationally harmonized standards that define analytical requirements and testing protocols for chemical content.
5. Support measures:
Enhancing analytical support through mechanisms such as fee-based systems, development of chemical databases, and establishment of research partnerships.
OECD Recommendations for Policy Decision-Making
The report notes that scientific knowledge and certainty regarding the health and environmental risks posed by substances of concern in recycled plastics remain limited.
Therefore, it emphasizes that future policy decisions should be based not only on scientific evidence but also on a comprehensive assessment of cost-effectiveness and socioeconomic impacts, ensuring that the appropriateness of proposed measures is carefully evaluated.
Related Links
Chemical Content Validation of Recycled Plastics:
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/chemical-content-validation-of-recycled-plastics_7c862db6-en.html
