CEFLEX to unveil flexible packaging circularity Design Check tool to bolster PPWR requirements

14 Sep 2023 --- The Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) initiative has launched a “Design Check” online assessment tool to guide flexible packaging designers, technologists, customers and suppliers.

CEFLEX has teamed up with recyclability experts Recyda to create “design-check.ceflex.eu,” which will be live publicly on September 19. The Design Check tool is a free service available for industry professionals wanting to make a circularity assessment of packaging.

“The CEFLEX Design Check assessment tool is another important piece of the puzzle needed to make flexible packaging circular and sustainable – and to do this transparently and inclusively,” Graham Houlder, CEFLEX project coordinator, tells Packaging Insights.

“It has been beta-tested and used by CEFLEX stakeholders who have helped refine the tool’s structure, how to enter data, user experience and outputs required. Additionally, uptake from early user groups has included roll out and information sessions to global design teams in major companies from across the value chain.”

Collaboration for regulatory compliance
Houlder details that an international network of leading universities, laboratories and experts are helping advise, develop, peer review and deliver the testing program – which focuses on flexible packaging structures that are not currently widely sorted or recycled and could not yet be classified in the CEFLEX Designing for a Circular Economy (D4ACE) guidelines.

CEFLEX Design Check tool can access existing package, facilitate R&D and design process.“The Design Check tool makes our guidelines easier to use, providing a record to track improvements over time and helping the value chain continue accelerating progress on the circular design. It specifically responds to the needs of our stakeholders and the wider flexible packaging market.”

Reportedly, the European Parliament is discussing a requirement for companies to have an accredited third party conduct conformity assessment. 

“The tool could also be key in implementing an expected EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation conformity assessment procedure. This will require producers and importers of packaged goods to gather relevant technical information and declare that the packaging they place on the market meets legal design requirements,” remarks Houlder.

Adaptable assessments 
The Design Check tool is based on the current D4ACE guidelines, which cover monomaterial PE and PP structures and mixed polyolefin in a mechanical recycling process. 

The tool will be revised to reflect updates based on testing programs and new materials falling within the scope of D4ACE. “This includes incoming results from an extensive testing program to generate robust and independent data to update the D4ACE guidelines and additional guidelines in development, such as flexible packaging containing aluminum foil,” says Houlder.

The Design Check tool and possible accredited partners may have a role in assisting producers and importers of packaged goods to gather relevant technical information and declare that the packaging they place on the market meets legal design requirements.

“The tool can assess an existing package, facilitate the R&D and design process, engage with other parts of the value chain, or prepare for recyclability testing,” explains CEFLEX design lead Liz Morrish. 

“Assessment covers all guidelines, including their sortability and recyclability principles. It indicates if a specification or design is compatible, has limited compatibility or is not compatible with the D4ACE categories. Users are also able to undertake assessments for multiple specifications or designs.”

Steady progress
The flexible industry collaborative announced in 2022 that it received funding of up to £500,000 (~US$624,000), which CEFLEX stakeholder contributions matched, from the UK Research and Innovation for a design testing program. 

“During the development of the initial D4ACE guidelines, a number of knowledge gaps were identified that need to be filled and supported by more testing and data,” explained Morrish. 

“This phase two testing program is a catalyst for pushing state-of-the-art understanding forward. It will improve design choices by understanding how flexible packaging moves throughout end-of-life processes and generates value in a circular economy.”

Furthermore, Aquapak Polymers joined CEFLEX in June this year, and along with Alliance to End Plastic Waste, CEFLEX launched ValueFlex – a commercial-scale recycling solution to address hard-to-recycle household flexible plastic waste.

By Radhika Sikaria