The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), an international trade association launched the APR Global Design Catalog, a comprehensive resource to access the most current plastic packaging recyclability guidelines for countries and regions around the world on 17 February 2022.
Different countries and regions operate a variety of recycling collection and processing systems. Many of them oversee complex Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs that hold manufacturers and suppliers accountable for the end-of-life fate of packaging materials. EPR programs in virtually all jurisdictions reference some design for recyclability index to encourage companies to design more sustainable packaging.
Steve Alexander, APR president and CEO stated, “The APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability remains the leading package design resource for countries across the globe. Due to the differences in operational recycling systems and EPR requirements among countries, harmonising design for recyclability across the globe is a challenging endeavor. APR’s Global Design Catalog gives you all the design requirements at your fingertips, to assist in comparing and contrasting best design practices in different countries.”
The catalog includes guidance from Denmark, EU, France, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, and UK. It covers recyclability evaluations for rigid PET, rigid HDPE, rigid PP, and flexible PE film packaging. Additional countries and features will be added in the coming months.
“Design for recyclability is key to creating a circular economy for plastics packaging. APR’s Global Design Catalog, as a complement to the APR Design Guide, provides the detailed design guidance required for brand owners to achieve their sustainability commitments within the demands of the global marketplace,” added Alexander.