Polymer Barrier Coatings and Pulpability Test Standards
Polymer barrier paperboard compliance requires passing 0.15mm laboratory slot screening with under 15 percent reject mass to prevent EPR fee penalties.
Cepi 4evergreen Protocol
Recyclability Standard
Fiber-based packaging testing framework established across European paper mills standardizes how recyclability is evaluated under repulping conditions. The cepi 4evergreen protocol defines standardized laboratory disintegration and screening steps to measure usable fiber yield. Mill laboratories apply water at controlled temperature and mechanical shear to release individual cellulose fibers from polymer coats, foils, or synthetic adhesives.
Non-dispersible packaging components collect on screening meshes during processing.
Laboratory Procedure
Mechanical pulping equipment operates for set durations to replicate industrial hydrapulper action without over-fragmenting plastic films. Under the cepi 4evergreen protocol, coarse screening removes large plastic fragments using perforated plates before fine slotted screens isolate adhesive particles and residual flakes. Fiber yield calculation measures the dry weight ratio of recovered pulp to initial package mass.
Yield loss accumulates when cellulose remains bound to discarded packaging materials. Standardized liquid samples undergo water quality testing to quantify dissolved organic chemical loads released into process water during repulping.
Yield Assessment
Disintegration parameters establish clear boundaries for passing recycling compatibility thresholds. Recycled pulp produced during testing forms laboratory sheets to check visual purity and sheet structure. Contaminant mass fraction determines whether a coated paper board stock qualifies for standard recycling streams.
High screen reject levels indicate poor repulpability and require coating reformulations.