PD ISO/TR 24699:2009

Rubber and rubber products. Environmental aspects. General guidelines for their inclusion in standards. | Status: Current

1 Scope This Technical Report provides guidelines for inclusion of environmental aspects in standards for rubber and rubber products. It proposes an approach which is directed at minimizing any adverse environmental impact of the products under consideration without detracting from the primary purpose of ensuring their adequate fitness for use. It closely follows the guidelines laid down in ISO 17422, with certain modifications to make it applicable to rubber and rubber products. The guidance provided by this Technical Report is intended primarily for use by standards writers. Over and above its primary purpose, however, the Technical Report provides guidance of value to those involved in design work and other activities where the environmental aspects of rubber and rubber products are being considered. It promotes the use of renewable, recycled and recyclable materials when environmentally beneficial and includes guidance on compliance with legislation concerning the end-of-life treatment of rubber products and the management of restricted and prohibited substances.

NOTE This Technical Report is intended to promote the following practices:

1. a) the use of techniques for identifying and assessing the environmental impact of technical provisions in standards, and for minimizing their adverse effects;
2. b) the adoption of good practices such as:
   1. 1) environmentally sound procedures for the harvesting and production of raw materials,
   2. 2) procedures for minimizing environmental pollution during the life cycle of the product,
   3. 3) material and energy conservation during the service life of the product,
   4. 4) ensuring safety in the use of hazardous substances,
   5. 5) the use of technically justifiable procedures,
   6. 6) encouraging the use of performance criteria, rather than exclusion clauses such as are based, for example, only on chemical composition;
3. c) paying due regard during standards development to environmental impact, product function and performance, health and safety, and regulatory requirements pertaining to end-of-life product disposal and the use of restricted substances;
4. d) the regular review of existing standards in the light of technical innovations permitting improvement in the environmental impact of products;
5. e) the application of life cycle analytical approaches wherever applicable and technically justifiable;
6. f) the use of both recyclable and recycled materials in the construction of rubber products when environmentally beneficial and technically and economically justifiable;
7. g) the use of designs and constructions that facilitate the disassembly of rubber products for recycling at the end of their service life when environmentally beneficial and technically and economically justifiable;
8. h) the use of materials derived from renewable and sustainable resources in rubber and rubber products when environmentally beneficial and technically and economically justifiable.