One of the questions we get asked about Kiwi AI is: what exactly does it know?
Today, the specific answer. The global standard frameworks the recyclable paper and plastics trade uses - and how each is represented in Kiwi AI's grade taxonomy.
PAPER: THE GLOBAL STANDARD FRAMEWORKS
ISRI Scrap Specifications (now ReMA - Recycled Materials Association). The North American standard for recovered paper grades, used as the global benchmark in international trade. The ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular defines grades across ten categories - OCC-11, OCC-12, DSOCC, DLK, ONP, OMG, SOP, Mixed Paper, Kraft grades, and specialty grades - each with defined contamination tolerances, prohibited materials lists, and moisture specifications.
EN 643 / CEPI - the European List of Standard Grades of Paper and Board for Recycling, published by the Confederation of European Paper Industries. The current revision defines 95+ grades organized into five groups: Ordinary Grades (mixed paper and board), Medium Grades (sorted office paper, newspapers, magazines), High Grades (woodfree papers, white shavings), Kraft Grades (corrugated kraft, sack kraft, new kraft), and Special Grades. EN 643 specifies maximum tolerance levels for non-paper components - 1.5% for most grades, 1% for premium sorted grades. Adopted by paper mills across Europe, India, Turkey, and Southeast Asia for import documentation.
- Australian Council of Recycling. The Australian recovered paper grade definitions, used across the Pacific Rim trade corridor.
- Bureau of International Recycling. The Brussels-based global federation of recycling industries. grade references are used in cross-border trade documentation internationally.
Used by Japanese paper mills and for exports targeting Japanese buyers.
Essential for any generator or broker targeting Chinese buyers.
PLASTICS: THE GLOBAL STANDARD FRAMEWORKS
RIC Codes 1–7 - Resin Identification Codes. The globally recognized system for polymer identification. RIC-1: PET. RIC-2: HDPE. RIC-3: PVC. RIC-4: LDPE. RIC-5: PP. RIC-6: PS. RIC-7: Other. The baseline classification used in all plastic grade communication globally.
- the European Plastic Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Protocol, developed by Plastics Recyclers Europe. Recyclability ratings used for EPR compliance, eco-design requirements under EU PPWR, and recycled content certification.
- international standard for the identification of plastics. The scientific polymer designation system: PE, PP, PET, PVC, PS, ABS. Used in manufacturing specifications and international trade contracts.
ISRI Plastics Specifications - US standards for recycled plastic grades covering post-consumer and post-industrial types.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Every grade in the Kiwi AI taxonomy carries its specification, contamination thresholds, standard end uses, and market synonyms across all relevant frameworks simultaneously.
A listing for HDPE natural bales on Inacsys is described with its RIC-2 designation, RIC code, ISRI specification reference, and the market synonyms buyers in India, Turkey, Southeast Asia, and North America use for this grade.
Majority platforms operating in this market are either geo-locked, single-material, or building listing volume without grade intelligence. None has built AI-powered grade intelligence covering paper AND plastics globally simultaneously.
This is the grade intelligence layer that makes the Circular Industry Cloud different from a listing directory.
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