Siegwerk has become the first company to receive RecyClass Technology Approval for UV/LED-curable inks used on polyethylene (PE) films in flexible packaging applications. The approval covers a range of acrylic UV/LED-curable inks and varnishes from the company’s SICURA product series.
The RecyClass decision confirms that Siegwerk’s products, including SICURA Nutriflex, SICURA Flex Dual Cure, and SICURA Litho Pack, are compatible with the colored PE flexibles recycling stream in Europe, provided packaging is designed in accordance with RecyClass conditions. The approval is based on independent testing of SICURA Nutriflex NT26, performed under the RecyClass Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for PE films.
This marks the first time UV-curable inks have been addressed by RecyClass through an official technology approval, representing a notable step in broadening recyclable packaging guidelines. “This is a significant milestone for UV printing in flexible packaging, closing a critical gap in recycling,” said Marc Larvor, Head of Technology, Narrow Web EMEA at Siegwerk.
The approval has also been extended by chemical equivalence to additional products in the SICURA range used across Narrow Web, Sheetfed, and Liquid Food packaging. These include SICURA Nutriflex NT25, SICURA Nutriflex LEDtec, and SICURA Nutriplast 2DC, among others.
“This approval is a huge step forward for packaging sustainability as it effectively opens the door for brand owners to use high-performance UV-curable inks in recyclable PE packaging formats,” said Lara Kleines, Business Partner Recycling and Polymers at Siegwerk.
The approval applies to the ink technology itself and not to final packaging, which must still meet full RecyClass design requirements. The detailed conditions are available in the official RecyClass Technology Approval Letter.