EN 643 Grades Explained: A Practical Guide for Recovered Paper Suppliers

What Is the EN 643 Standard?

EN 643 is the European list of standard grades of paper and board for recycling. It is used by organisations and professionals involved in collecting, sorting, buying, selling and processing recovered paper.

The standard provides descriptions and identification codes for different material grades. It also addresses elements such as non-paper components, unwanted materials and materials that may be detrimental to paper production.

The revised standard introduced more detailed grade descriptions and grade-specific tolerance levels for non-paper components. CEPI’s EN 643 guidance recommends using the standard in transactions involving paper and board for recycling.

EN 643 creates a shared vocabulary, but it does not replace an agreement between supplier and buyer. A buyer may apply additional requirements based on its production process, equipment and final product.

Suppliers can consult the WPT EN 643 grade list for the available codes and descriptions.

Why Correct Recovered Paper Classification Matters

A clear paper for recycling classification allows a potential buyer to evaluate whether the material may be suitable before collection or transport is arranged.

Descriptions such as “waste paper”, “scrap cardboard” or “mixed paper” can be interpreted differently. Two loads described as mixed paper may have very different proportions of cardboard, newspapers, office paper, packaging or non-paper components.

Correct classification can help the parties:

• communicate about the material more consistently;
• compare the material with an intended buyer specification;
• identify possible quality issues at an earlier stage;
• reduce misunderstandings about composition;
• determine which photos, samples or inspections may be required;
• discuss suitable processing and transport arrangements.

An EN 643 code should therefore be supported by an accurate description of the material. Suppliers should not select a grade based only on appearance or on a commercial nickname.

What Are the Five EN 643 Grade Groups?

The European Paper Recycling Council explains that EN 643 divides paper and board for recycling into five main groups. Each group contains more detailed subgrades.

The five groups are not simply a ranking from “worst” to “best”. They represent different material compositions and intended recycling applications.

Group 1: Ordinary Grades

Ordinary grades include several commonly collected types of paper and board, including mixed paper, corrugated packaging, magazines and sorted graphic paper.

Examples include:

• mixtures of different paper and board qualities;
• used corrugated paper and board packaging;
• ordinary corrugated board;
• magazines;
• mixtures of newspapers and magazines;
• sorted graphic paper intended for deinking.

This group contains some of the cardboard recycling grades most frequently generated by warehouses, retailers, distribution centres, commercial facilities and collection businesses.

The exact percentage of corrugated material and other paper products can determine whether a load belongs to one ordinary grade or another.

Group 2: Medium Grades

Medium grades generally include more specifically sorted paper streams, such as newspapers, office paper, printed paper and certain board materials.

Examples include:

• newspapers;
• lightly or heavily printed white shavings;
• sorted office paper;
• coloured letters;
• book-production material;
• coloured wood-free magazines;
• certain board materials with a plastic layer.

The source of the material is important. Paper generated in an office, printing facility or converting operation may look similar after baling, while its fibre composition, printing, coatings and permitted components may differ.

Group 3: High Grades

High grades include selected white, lightly printed or unprinted paper streams, often generated by printers, converters, offices or production facilities.

Examples include:

• printer shavings;
• white wood-free paper;
• white letters;
• business forms;
• printed or lightly printed bleached board.

“High grade” does not mean the material can contain more contamination. These grades are generally more specifically defined and may be required for production processes that depend on a controlled fibre composition.

Suppliers should keep high-grade production material separate from lower or mixed grades wherever possible. Combining it with other paper streams may change its classification and potential use.

Group 4: Kraft Grades

Kraft grades cover specified paper and board materials made primarily from kraft fibre.

Examples can include:

• unused corrugated cuttings;
• used kraft corrugated board;
• kraft sacks;
• unused kraft paper;
• certain new kraft packaging materials.

The material description should state whether it is used or unused, printed or unprinted and whether coatings, wet-strength properties or other components are present.

A broad description such as “brown paper” is not sufficient to identify the correct kraft grade.

Group 5: Special Grades

Special grades include paper and board that require a more specific description and may need particular processing arrangements or agreement between the supplier and buyer.

Examples can include:

• mixed paper with particular characteristics;
• wet-strength paper;
• labels;
• paper or board with plastic layers;
• other composite or specially treated paper products.

Being included in EN 643 does not mean that every paper mill can process a special grade. Suppliers should disclose coatings, laminates, wet-strength properties and other relevant components before the material is offered.

For a shorter general overview, suppliers can also read WPT’s article about the different types of paper grades.

Common Grade Descriptions That Need Clarification

Commercial terminology and EN 643 paper grades do not always correspond perfectly. The following terms should normally be supported by more information.

OCC and Corrugated Cardboard

OCC is commonly used to mean old corrugated containers. However, an OCC paper grade can vary according to the proportion of corrugated board, other packaging papers and unwanted components.

Instead of providing only the term “OCC”, suppliers should describe:

• the approximate corrugated-board content;
• whether other packaging paper is present;
• whether the material is sorted;
• its source;
• its moisture and visible contamination;
• whether it is loose or baled.

Photos should show both the outside and representative content of the bales.

Mixed Paper and Board

A mixed paper grade can include different combinations of paper and board. The proportions of newspapers, magazines, cardboard, office paper and packaging can influence the appropriate classification and buyer interest.

Suppliers should explain what produces the mixture. Material collected from offices may differ significantly from paper collected from retail locations, households or industrial facilities.

Office and Printing Paper

Office paper, printer waste and production offcuts may fall under different recovered paper grades depending on colour, printing, coating, glue, fibre composition and whether the material has been used.

Clean production waste should not automatically be combined with post-consumer office paper. Keeping these streams separate can make their composition easier to assess.

How to Identify the Most Likely EN 643 Grade

A supplier does not always need to determine the final classification alone. However, the following process can help WPT and potential buyers assess the material more efficiently.

1. Identify the Source

Explain where the material is generated, such as:

• a warehouse or distribution centre;
• a supermarket or retail business;
• an office;
• a printing company;
• a packaging manufacturer;
• a paper or board converter;
• a sorting or recycling facility.

The source provides useful context about the likely composition.

2. Describe the Main Components

List the main paper and board types and estimate their proportions where possible. Avoid describing a mixed load by naming only its most visible component.

3. Explain How the Material Is Sorted

State whether the material is separated at source, mechanically sorted, manually sorted or collected as a mixture.

4. Check Unwanted and Non-Paper Materials

Identify visible components such as plastic film, metal, glass, wood, textiles, food residue, waxed material or laminated packaging.

Do not remove possible quality concerns from the description. Discovering them before transport is preferable to identifying them at the receiving facility.

5. Consider Moisture and Storage

Explain whether the material is stored indoors or outdoors and whether it may have been exposed to rain or other sources of moisture.

6. Describe the Physical Form

State whether the material is:

• loose;
• baled;
• shredded;
• on pallets;
• in sheets;
• in reels or rolls;
• production offcuts.

For baled material, provide the approximate bale dimensions, weight and loading method if known.

Does an EN 643 Code Guarantee Buyer Acceptance?

No. EN 643 provides a common system for describing paper and board for recycling, but individual buyers may have additional specifications.

A paper mill’s requirements can depend on:

• the products it manufactures;
• its pulping and sorting equipment;
• permitted moisture and contamination levels;
• the required fibre composition;
• its ability to process coatings, adhesives or composite materials;
• commercial and operational requirements.

A supplier should therefore avoid promising that material will be accepted solely because it has been assigned an EN 643 code.

WPT can communicate the available specification, photos and quality information to relevant buyers and determine whether the material meets their initial purchasing requirements. Final acceptance remains dependent on the agreed specification and the condition of the delivered material.

What Information Should Suppliers Send to WPT?

If you want WPT to assess a recovered paper opportunity, prepare the following information:

1. The expected EN 643 grade, if known
2. A clear description of the material
3. Recent and representative photos
4. The collection country, city or postcode
5. The available volume in tonnes
6. Whether the supply is one-off or recurring
7. The material’s physical form and packaging
8. Available loading equipment
9. Known moisture or contamination risks
10. Any quality reports or existing specifications

If the precise grade is unknown, do not guess. Describe the material, its source and its composition as accurately as possible.

Use EN 643 Grades as the Starting Point

EN 643 grades provide a practical common language for suppliers and buyers, but accurate classification requires more than selecting a code from a list.

The origin, composition, sorting method, moisture, unwanted materials and physical form all contribute to an effective material description. Buyer-specific requirements must also be considered before a transaction is agreed.

WPT works with EN 643 paper grades and can help suppliers present their material information, identify potentially suitable buyers and coordinate the commercial, logistical and documentation aspects of an agreed transaction.

Suppliers with recovered paper available can submit their material to WPT for an initial assessment.

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