US-based Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and RecyClass, a cross-industry initiative to advance plastics circularity in Europe, are working together to harmonise their guidance for design for recyclability.
To align with RecyClass guidance, the APR Design Guide for Plastic Recyclability will now state that 6%, rather than 5%, of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) is allowed for HDPE containers. Functional barriers like EVOH are used in plastic packaging to protect the goods from any unfavourable external conditions including exposure to UV light, oxygen, vapour, or odour. They help in keeping goods fresh and prolong their shelf life. However, barriers can have a detrimental impact on the quality of recycled material at the end of life of a package, which is why APR and RecyClass impose a threshold as a percentage of the total weight.
“Because the recycling process is very similar in both geographies [in the US and Europe], packaging will likely be processed similarly,” said Curt Cozart, APR COO. “Although some differences exist, APR Design Guidance is nearly the same as RecyClass. The APR Design Guide previously allowed for 5% EVOH in HDPE containers but will update to 6% to align with RecyClass Design for Recycling Guidelines.”
In addition to guidance on the use of EVOH in HDPE containers, guidance on the use of EVOH in PP containers has also been streamlined through this collaboration.
APR and RecyClass have technical committees where scientific data, gathered based on standardized testing protocols, is shared and serves as the basis for discussions on uncovering the complexities of plastic packaging.
“To achieve a truly circular future for plastics, harmonization is essential,” commented Paolo Glerean, chairman of RecyClass. “The real value of the collaboration between APR and RecyClass is evident in these latest recommendations, providing clearer guidance to the plastics industry globally. These joint efforts will allow the plastic packaging value chain to standardize their products on a larger scale and make the path towards the circular use of plastics more cost efficient.”
Last year, Recyclass published a practical guide called the Design Book, specifically aimed at designers and manufacturers of plastic packaging. The RecyClass Design Book explains the concepts of recyclability and design for recycling and provides a step-by-step explanation and guidance on how to design rigid and flexible plastic packaging to make it compatible with recycling. It defines general principles and explains how the RecyClass Design for Recycling Guidelines are to be interpreted. It also covers the various sorting and recycling processes, and how they determine packaging recyclability.
Also last year, the APR created new global design catalog to help companies navigate various plastics recyclability guidelines around the world.