Regulatory Compliance
European legislation governing packaging and packaging waste establishes strict rules to ensure all placed packaging can be effectively recycled at scale by a specified target date. These statutory rules are the ppwr recyclability criteria, which mandate that every packaging unit must be categorized into design-for-recyclability classes. This legal framework forces a transition away from hard-to-recycle multi-material laminates.
Packaging Assessment
The assessment process evaluates how easily the paper or board can be repulped and how many contaminants like plastics or adhesives are present. Packaging that does not meet the minimum performance threshold will face high eco-modulation fees or be banned from the market entirely. This system penalizes composite boards that are difficult to separate in conventional recycling mills.
Circular Design
Printers and converters are redesigning their product lines to replace plastic barrier layers with water-based coatings that comply with the ppwr recyclability criteria. This shift ensures that the fibers can be easily reclaimed and used to make high-quality recycled paperboard. By focusing on monomaterial paper solutions and soluble inks, companies can achieve the highest recyclability ratings and avoid financial penalties.
This transition remains a primary driver of technical innovation in the packaging and converting sectors across Europe.
