Recyclability Standard
Set of technical recommendations created to evaluate and improve the compatibility of plastic packaging with existing recycling processes. Developed by a European platform, the RecyClass Design Guidelines assist packaging designers in selecting materials, closures, and adhesives that do not hinder the sorting and recycling of polymers. This framework helps brands create packaging that is chemically and physically compatible with commercial recycling streams.
Technical Assessment
Each packaging component is evaluated on a scale from fully compatible to incompatible, based on how the material behaves in sorting systems, washing baths, and extrusion lines. For example, the guidelines specify the use of water-soluble adhesives and water-washable inks, which ensures that labels and print layers can be cleanly detached during the recycling wash. The use of heavy metals, carbon black pigments, and certain barrier polymers like polyvinylidene chloride is discouraged because they contaminate the recycled polymer or prevent accurate optical sorting.
Following these guidelines allows manufacturers to optimize their designs and earn recyclability certifications.
Circular Integrity
Incorporating these principles into the design phase increases the yield of high-purity recycled resins that can be reused in high-value packaging applications. It also reduces the volume of composite materials that must be incinerated or sent to landfills. Compliance with these criteria is increasingly required by retailers and brands seeking to meet circular economy goals.
