The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has paused the rollout of its highly anticipated net-zero standard, sending the draft back for revision after receiving nearly 5,000 comments from global members. The delay highlights the intense debate surrounding corporate climate claims, particularly regarding the use of carbon offsets and the definition of true emissions reductions.
For UK waste companies and Turkish recyclers, this delay prolongs a period of regulatory and reporting uncertainty. Packaging converters and multinational consumer brands increasingly demand detailed carbon footprint data from their suppliers to satisfy their own Scope 3 emissions targets. Recycled polymers, such as rPET and rHDPE, are marketed heavily on their lower carbon intensity compared to virgin resins. However, without a unified ISO standard, recyclers and waste managers must continue navigating a fragmented landscape of voluntary carbon accounting frameworks to prove these credentials.
The lack of a single global benchmark complicates cross-border trade between the UK and Türkiye. Turkish recyclers exporting post-consumer resins to the UK or the EU must align their carbon reporting with varying buyer requirements, which can increase administrative costs. A standardised ISO framework would have streamlined this process, providing a universally accepted methodology for calculating net-zero progress.
The practical takeaway for the sector is to avoid pausing carbon-accounting initiatives whilst waiting for a finalised ISO standard. Companies should continue to align their emissions reporting with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). These frameworks are highly influential and are expected to heavily inform the eventual ISO standard, ensuring that current compliance investments remain future-proof.
