Material Source - TX

As global industries shift towards more sustainable practices, tracking and classifying the material sources used in manufacturing has become critical. Understanding the origin of materials, whether recycled or virgin, is essential not only for environmental reporting but also for aligning with regulatory standards, such as ISO 14021 and ISO 18604, and industry-specific sustainability guidelines.

This document outlines a standardized framework for categorizing material sources, allowing manufacturers, suppliers, and partners to consistently track the environmental impact of materials used in products. This structure supports both transparency and compliance across various industries, offering a clear breakdown of materials by their source of origin.

Key Material Source Categories

Materials Sources are broadly classified into two primary categories based on their origin:

• Recycled Content – Materials that have been recovered from post-industrial or post-consumer processes and reintroduced into the manufacturing cycle. This category also includes recycled additives and other forms of recovered materials.
• Virgin Content – Materials sourced directly from natural resources (such as mined metals or harvested wood) that have not been previously used or processed. This includes raw materials and newly introduced additives.

Why Material Source Matters

Classifying material sources is not just about environmental responsibility—it's about building resilient supply chains and meeting regulatory requirements. By clearly identifying the origin of materials, organizations can:

• Enhance their sustainability profiles.
• Comply with international standards, regulations and certifications (e.g PPWD)
• Facilitate reporting to consumers and stakeholders on the recycled content of products.

Material Source Splits by Material Class

The following sections provide a standardized method for tracking and reporting material sources, categorized by material class. This ensures consistent classification across polymers, paper, metals, textiles, ceramics, wood, glass, and other materials. The value unit for the split is % (percentage).

Material Class: Polymers

• Recycled Content
  • Recycled Post Industrial
  • Recycled Post Consumer
  • Recycled Additives
  • Recycled Other content
• Virgin Content
  • Virgin Crude-oil Derived
  • Virgin Bio-based
  • Virgin Additives
  • Virgin Other Content

Material Class: Paper

• Recycled Content:
  • Recycled Paper Fiber Post Industrial
  • Recycled Paper Fiber Post Consumer
  • Recycled Additives
  • Recycled Other Content
• Virgin Content:
  • Virgin Wood Fiber FSC/PEFC Certified
  • Virgin Wood Fiber non-certified
  • Virgin Other Content

Material Class: Metals

• Recycled Content:
  • Recycled Post Industrial
  • Recycled Post Consumer
  • Recycled Other Sources
• Virgin Content:
  • Virgin Mined Ore
  • Virgin By-product Metals

Material Class: Glass

• Recycled Content:
  • Recycled Post Industrial
  • Recycled Post Consumer
  • Recycled additives
  • Recycled Other Sources
• Virgin Content:
  • Virgin Mined Silica
  • Virgin Additives
  • Virgin Other Sources

Material Class: Ceramics

• Recycled Content:
  • Recycled Post Industrial
  • Recycled Post Consumer
  • Recycled Other Sources
• Virgin Content:
  • Virgin Natural
  • Virgin Synthetic
  • Virgin Other Sources

Material Class: Textiles

• Recycled Content:
  • Recycled Post Industrial
  • Recycled Post Consumer
  • Recycled Other Sources
• Virgin Content:
  • Virgin Natural Fiber
  • Virgin Synthetic Fiber
  • Virgin Other Sources

Material Class: Wood

• Recycled Content:
  • Recycled Wood Fiber Post Industrial
  • Recycled Wood Fiber Post Consumer
  • Recycled Other Sources
• Virgin Content:
  • Virgin Forested Wood (FSC/PEFC)
  • Virgin Forested Wood Other
  • Virgin Additives
  • Virgin Other Sources

Material Class: Generic

• Recycled Content:
  • Recycled Post Industrial
  • Recycled Post Consumer
  • Recycled Additives
  • Recycled Other content
• Virgin Content:
  • Virgin Natural Source
  • Virgin Other Sources

Norms related to material sources

ISO and EN norms relevant to material sources that can apply across different material classes:

• ISO 14021: Defines recycled content classifications, including Post Industrial (materials recovered from manufacturing) and Post Consumer (materials recovered after consumer use).
• ISO 18604: Covers material recycling, particularly for packaging, including virgin materials like Crude-oil Derived and Mined Ore.
• EN 13432: Focuses on bio-based materials, defining standards for Virgin Bio-based materials, typically for biodegradable packaging.