4evergreen reveals recyclability guidelines for fiber-based beverage packs

22 Jun 2023 --- 4evergreen has released a second version of its “Circularity by Design Guideline,” with new design recommendations for recyclable fiber-based beverage packaging.

The recommendations cover fiber-based composite packaging types and inform designers of their compatibility with specialized recycling processes. The organization says the research was expert-led with industry-backed references looking at solutions from coffee cups to juice and milk cartons. 

The guidelines aim to provide a holistic, practical and comprehensive tool for the industry to use in all fiber-based packaging design.

“The guidelines result from a meticulous screening of existing knowledge and in-depth expert research and discussions across the entire value chain. That’s what makes our guidelines unique. We now have a functional and holistic document where designers can find reliable recommendations to ensure fiber-based packaging is designed with circularity in mind,” says Hans Wortman, 4evergreen alliance chair.

What works, what doesn’t
The guidelines show an overview of fillers, additives and agents used in paper production and their compatibility with the standard recycling process. Incompatible fillers are formaldehyde, urea, melamine and siliconizing agents.

4evergreen aims its fiber-based beverage guidelines will influence the PPWR.Regarding barrier coatings and polymer content, thermoplastics (two sides coated) are not deemed compatible, while thermoplastics (one-sided coating) are conditionally compatible. Other conditionally compatible barriers include adhesive lamination (inside of pack) of PET, metalized PET and PE, lamination with aluminum-containing film, wax dispersion, direct metallization and more. 

Additionally, hot and cold transfer was dubbed the only standard recycling-compatible way to add decorative metalized components to fiber-based beverage packaging.

“Packaging recyclability starts with good design,” writes 4evergreen. Its first version of the Circularity by Design Guideline was published in March 2022, providing recommendations for the standard recycling process through comprehensive design tables for each product group.

Fiber in the future
The organization previously released its “Recyclability Evaluation Protocol” for standard mills. It provides a harmonized method to evaluate individual fiber-based packaging products and score their suitability for recycling in standard mills.

4evergreen’s “Guidance on the Improved Collection and Sorting of Fiber-based Packaging for Recycling” offers an overview of existing systems and practical recommendations for enhancing the collection and sorting of different types of fiber-based packaging.

Version two further enhances these recommendations with new guidance on design choices for used beverage cartons and packaging of similar composition. The next step will be the publication of the final version of the guideline in 2024. A final version will include design recommendations focused on floatation deinking mills and specialized mills for fiber-based composite packaging.

4evergreen wants its tools, alongside other input from industry stakeholders, to be used as a knowledge basis by policymakers for upcoming legislation on recyclability, collection and sorting, most notably the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation revisions.

Edited by Sabine Waldeck