RecyClass publishes science-backed recycling guide for plastics industry circular economy

24 Jun 2022 --- RecyClass has published the RecyClass Design Book, a practical guide clarifying the concepts of recyclability and design for recycling, based on a science-driven approach. The document can be used by all plastic industry members working on designing recyclable plastic packaging. 

The Design Book provides a step-by-step explanation and guidance on designing rigid and flexible plastic packaging to make it compatible with recycling. It defines general principles and explains how the RecyClass Design for recycling guidelines should be interpreted.

“Design for Recycling is a crucial first step in ensuring that a product will be recyclable at the end of its use phase,” says Paolo Glerean, RecyClass chairman. 

“It offers insights into how plastic packaging should be designed and how different packaging components influence its compatibility with recycling. This approach leads to improved quality of recycled plastic and thereby stimulates its uptake in new packaging applications.”

“It offers insights into how plastic packaging should be designed and how different packaging components influence its compatibility with recycling. This approach leads to improved quality of recycled plastic and thereby stimulates its uptake in new packaging applications.”

The general recycling principles by RecyClass.Cross-industry initiative
RecyClass is a cross-industry initiative that works to advance plastic packaging recyclability and establish an approach toward recycled plastic calculation and traceability in Europe.

Beyond providing insights into how the design for recycling guidelines works, the document also looks into the functioning of sorting and recycling processes and how they determine packaging recyclability.

The composition and compatibility of packaging features and more specifically their recyclability are highlighted during the different steps of the waste management process. 

As the recyclability definition stipulates, the packaging must first be made of a plastic for which collection systems are set in place. Subsequently, the behavior of the packaging and its components throughout the sorting and recycling processes will determine its overall recyclability. 

Design for recycling
Design for Recycling offers insight into how different plastic packaging components must be designed and assembled to be compatible with recycling. It considers elements such as caps, labels and additives, and their behavior in a given recycling stream. 

The key principles of RecyClass Design for recycling are:

• Choose plastics that have a recycling stream in the EU
• Maximize the proportion of the main polymer
• Favor monomaterial solutions
• Reduce colors and printing
• Enable consumers to empty the packaging entirely

RecyClass Design Book is a result of a collaboration of the entire plastic value chain represented mainly by RecyClass members and its supporters, aiming to provide scientifically verified and fact-based guidance with the overall objective of fostering a positive environment for innovation that opens the door for a circular plastic future.

Companies eager to lead the move toward circularity can now look to RecyClass for a comprehensive toolbox to understand, assess and certify plastic packaging recyclability and effectively transition from a linear to circular plastic economy.

Transitioning to circularity
The circular future of plastic packaging depends on simultaneous improvements across each stage of a product’s life cycle and along each step of the value chain – however, design is the first step to achieving that.

As portrayed in this guide, the industry is on the path to achieve plastics circularity, but the efforts must be further supported by value-chain collaboration, harmonization and standardization of waste management practices, and design for recycling principles and continuous testing of technologies, says RecyClass.

The industry can look to the RecyClass Design Book as the first step in conceptualizing plastic packaging designs. RecyClass offers additional tools for those willing to commit to further steps by either self-assessing packaging recyclability via the Online Tool or verifying it via independent third parties with RecyClass Recyclability Certifications.

Certified plastic packaging enables reliable claims, building trust in the quality of products among customers and consumers. Additionally, with various legislative targets, verification and certification are expected to take on more importance in the market. 

By Natalie Schwertheim

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