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GB/T 27591-2025 "Paper Tableware" new national standard, to be implemented on December 1, 2025

Time：

2025-12-02

The latest recommended national standard GB/T 27591-2025 in the field of Chinese paper tableware has been implemented since December 1, 2025, replacing GB/T 27591-2011 "Paper lunch boxes" and GB/T 27589-2011 "Paper bowls", and is applicable to all types of paper tableware that come into direct contact with food (excluding pulp molded tableware and paper straws).

Paper tableware refers to utensils made from paper or cardboard that are intended for dining or similar purposes. Paper tableware includes but is not limited to paper bowls, paper buckets, paper lunch boxes, cardboard boxes, paper plates, paper knives, paper forks, paper spoons, and matching paper covers.

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01. Applicable limits

This document applies to the production, inspection, and sale of various paper tableware that come into direct contact with food.

This document is not applicable to pulp molded tableware and paper straws.

02. Standard Content

This document defines relevant terms and definitions, provides product classification, specifies requirements, inspection rules, labeling, packaging, transportation, and storage for paper tableware, and describes corresponding test methods.

Among them, the requirements include internal quality (including size deviation, capacity deviation, load-bearing performance, compressive strength, overall stiffness, bending resistance, box cover folding test, grease resistance, water leakage, temperature resistance), shortage of interior quantity, biodegradability, compostability (including biodegradability, disintegration degree, and ecological toxicity), appearance quality, and compatibility.

03. Revision Overview

The scope and indicator name have been changed from "leakage performance" to "temperature resistance performance", and the testing method, appearance quality requirements, inspection rules, labeling, packaging, transportation, and storage requirements have been modified;

Added terms and definitions, product classification, internal quality requirements for paper drums, paper meal boxes, cardboard boxes, paper meal plates, and paper knives (forks, spoons), as well as testing methods for size deviation, load-bearing performance, overall stiffness, bending resistance, lid folding test, and grease resistance, water leakage, shortage of contents, biodegradability, compostability, and compatibility, and corresponding testing methods,

Deleted the requirements for raw materials, hygiene indicators and testing methods, as well as the bending beam compression apparatus equipment in the raw material testing methods and compressive strength determination methods.

04、Main changes

Compared to the 2011 version, a major focus of this update is the addition of requirements for the biodegradability of paper tableware that is explicitly stated as biodegradable (degradable), as well as requirements for the compostability of paper tableware that is explicitly stated as compostable:

For paper tableware that is explicitly stated to be biodegradable (degradable), its absolute or relative biodegradation rate should be ≥ 90%, and the absolute or relative biodegradation rate of the base paper should be ≥ 90%. The absolute or relative biodegradation rate of organic components with a composition of ≥ 1% in various materials used for coating, compounding, combination, printing, etc., except for the base paper, should be ≥ 90%.

For paper tableware that is clearly marked as compostable, in addition to meeting the above requirements for biodegradation rate, the disintegration rate should be ≥ 90%, and the percentage of germination of compost samples and blank compost should be ≥ 90%.

Please note that when the product labeling follows the standard, not indicating the year number will default to the latest version. If the product has been labeled with the implementation standard GB/T 27591 (without an era number) and clearly stated as "biodegradable" or "compostable", then from December 1, 2025, the product must meet the corresponding requirements for biodegradation rate (as well as disintegration rate, germination rate), etc.

Jiayu Testing, as a professional third-party testing and certification service organization, has qualifications such as CMA, CNAS, CPSC, and has obtained laboratory accreditation from multiple authoritative certification agencies at home and abroad. It has a professional testing technology team, equipped with advanced instruments and equipment, proficient in various regulatory standards, and specializes in providing FCM food contact material testing services for various food contact materials (such as plastics, coatings, metals, silicone, glass ceramic enamel, bamboo, paper, and cardboard) in the United States, China, the European Union and its member states (France, Italy, Germany, etc.), Japan, South Korea and other countries to ensure that your products meet the regulatory requirements of various countries. Welcome to contact us at 400-9269-886!