Recyclability of PP films can now be tested
RecyClass publishes new Recyclability Evaluation Protocol14 Jan 2021
Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for PP films is destined for companies who want to verify whether their polypropylene flexible packaging is compatible with the state of the art post-consumer recycling.
“With an 18% share of the total films placed on the EU market, PP flexibles have a great potential to be recycled not only into the pipe and injection-moulded products but also back to film applications,” said Werner Kruschitz, Chairman of the RecyClass PP Technical Committee. “Beyond increasing thecollection, ensuring their recyclability is indispensable to improve their end-of-life management and to unlock a new processing market which is yet not fully established,” he added.
The protocol outlines a comprehensive methodology that allows testing whether the analyzed innovative packaging poses no negative impact on the output material.
“PP film innovation will undergo the pre-treatment, extrusion and conversion steps that will determine the level of innovations’ compatibility with the PP film stream” commented Achim Grefenstein, Senior Vice President Group R&D at Constantia Flexibles GmbH.
“The Protocol aims to represent as accurately as possible how the PP recycling process should work at an industrial scale to allow PP films to get recycled in high-value applications,” added Auli Nummila-Pakarinen, Application Technology Manager at Borealis.
The Protocol evaluates among others: non-PP layers and coatings, rigid PP and non-PP attachments, paper labels, adhesives and printing inks technologies, compatibilizers and other packaging components.
This protocol adds on to the existing Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for PP containers [2] and sets a clear direction for how to increase recycling rates for PP packaging in Europe.
Any value chain actor interested in analysing if its plastic packaging innovation is compatible with recycling should contact RecyClass to carry out the testing (info@recyclass.eu).
[1] RecyClass Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for PP films
[2] RecyClass Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for PP containers
About RecyClass
RecyClass is a comprehensive cross-industry initiative that works to advance plastic packaging recyclability and to establish a harmonized approach towards recycled content calculation and traceability in Europe. Activities within RecyClass include the development of Recyclability Evaluation Protocols and scientific testing of innovative materials which serve as the base for the Design for Recycling guidelines and the free online tool. RecyClass offers Recyclability Certifications and Recycled Content Traceability Certification for plastic packaging.
Contact: Alice.Wallon@plasticsrecyclers.eu, www.recyclass.eu