The European standard EN 18065 integrates the German pre-standards DIN SPEC 91446 and DIN SPEC 91481 into a single, harmonised framework for plastic recyclates. For the first time, it establishes a common European system for classification and quality assurance of recyclates, alongside a digital product passport tailored to these materials. The standard is intended to facilitate trade and the use of recycled materials, increase transparency and comparability in the market, and strengthen confidence among investors and buyers in the scalability of circular models, particularly in sectors where recyclates have so far seen limited uptake. It applies across industries, with a focus on applications subject to new regulatory requirements, notably in packaging and automotive. The technical basis of EN 18065 draws on Data Quality Levels that enable classification by origin, material properties or recycling process, and it requires consistent documentation and transfer of data along the entire value chain. The development was led by Cirplus together with the IKK – Institute for Plastics and Circular Economy and the Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid. DIN SPEC 91446 had already been adopted in the automotive sector and underpinned VDA Recommendation 284 with quality criteria. Together with DIN SPEC 91481, these specifications now inform multiple industry standards and gain broader impact through their incorporation into EN 18065. Stakeholders indicate that the next step under consideration is implementation as an ISO standard, which would send a signal beyond Europe, and they frame the European move as significant in light of the failure of UN negotiations for a global plastics agreement in Geneva.
Data quality levels and the digital product passport
EN 18065 uses Data Quality Levels originally developed within DIN SPEC 91446 and DIN SPEC 91481 to structure how recyclates are described and exchanged. The DQL concept allows users to classify material streams according to their origin, material characteristics or the recycling process employed. In parallel, the standard introduces provisions for a European digital product passport for plastic recyclates so that relevant data are documented and transferred consistently along the value chain. The combined approach aims to improve market transparency, reduce information asymmetries between suppliers and buyers, and support more efficient circular flows of plastics.
Adoption in key sectors and outlook
According to the parties involved, the standard is designed to promote the uptake of recyclates in regulated applications, with early traction in automotive and implications for packaging. Cirplus stated: "By transferring our DIN SPECs into a European standard, we now have a unified framework that significantly improves transparency and comparability in the recyclates market. This not only facilitates trade and use but also supports the implementation of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. Investors and buyers gain clarity that extends beyond the European legal framework." Prof. Hans-Josef Endres of the IKK commented: "This positive development shows that standards originating in Germany can successfully be advanced at the European level. This reduces existing barriers to the use of recyclates and strengthens the foundation for a more resource-efficient plastics industry. Germany is once again taking a leading role in circular economy and technology." Martin Doedt of the Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid added: "With the DIN SPECs 91446 and 91481, we demonstrated how data quality in the plastics industry can be defined both practically and scientifically. The fact that this work has now been incorporated into the new European Standard EN 18065 confirms our approach and finally provides the industry with a uniform foundation. For companies, this means more planning security, fewer barriers to the use of recyclates, and significantly faster market penetration."
