The new guidelines (https://recyclass.eu/recyclability/design-for-recycling-guidelines/) published by RecyClass, a comprehensive cross-industry initiative which works to advance plastic packaging recyclability, offer the plastic industry insights on how different components of EPS fish boxes and white goods packaging should be manufactured to be compatible with recycling.
This document shows to what extent a given EPS packaging is suitable for recycling, rating it with a class system from A to F (i.e. from full to no compatibility with recycling).
Jürgen Lang, Eumeps (the association and voice of the European Manufacturers of Expanded Polystyrene - EPS) Managing Director said: “Today is a great day for our industry. The publication of the DfR-guidelines is a milestone on our way towards (full) circularity. Thanks to the great collaboration with Plastics Recyclers Europe (the organization which represents the European plastics recyclers) and RecyClass, we managed to publish these guidelines within the space of a few months. This tight time schedule underlines our commitment to a more sustainable future.”
The EPS value chain is committed to developing a circular vision of plastic waste from design to end of life. These EPS guidelines help designers ensure that their packaging products will be easier to recycle at end of life and thereby reducing the amount of plastic that is sent to landfills, incinerated or ends up in the environment.
Paolo Glerean, RecyClass chairman claimed: “With these new design recycling guidelines which are based on the scientifically backed up findings and developed by the actors from across the value chain, the industry shows its commitment to make all plastic recyclable with a long term objective in mind”.
The RecyClass tool is a first step for EPS manufacturers to evaluate their packaging design, prior to the issuance of a recyclability certification of the EPS packaging attesting to the fact that it is fully recyclable and sustainable.
The EPS industry underlines the fact that EPS packaging strongly contributes to a circular economy and calls on governments throughout Europe to implement collection and sorting systems that recognize the recyclability of EPS waste.
