Certified recyclability

In the new Packaging Act (VerpackG) which has taken effect since January 2019, section 21 defines the ecological structure of the participation fees. It establishes the norm for the rating of the recyclability of packaging subject to mandatory system participation.

Paragraph 1.1 concretely states:

For the production of packaging subject to system participation, systems are required to create an incentive within the scope of the participation fee calculation to promote 1) the use of materials and material combinations with the highest possible percentage of recyclability considering the practice of sorting and recycling ...

(Excerpt of the legal content of the Packaging Act (VerpackG)

For all trademark holders who are deemed to be the initial distributor by law, this opens up various options for action.  Not least for the publication of the commercial packaging style guides, the necessity to change is currently promoted at a considerable rate.

For concrete recyclability rating, the ZSVR (Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister/Central packaging registry) published a minimum norm at the end of August 2019. It defines different fractions which assign the packaging to material flows within the recycling industry.

The calculation of the participation fees can be favoured by the certification of recyclability of packaging by an independent institute. We at ppg > opted for the Institute cyclos HTP. Along with the Dual System Germany (DSD) “Grüner Punkt” (green dot), the institute was involved in the development of the minimum norm and thus is very close to the law.

In order to be able to implement the Design for Recycling principle for our clients early on based on valid information, we have already been issued the first certifications of packaging films. Meanwhile, the results have become available and demonstrate the qualification of the submitted packaging for at least classification A (recyclability exceeding/equal to 70 %) or better. This development is in line with our expectations according to our internal calculation tools and reassures us that we are on the right path with regard to our research and development work on the Design for Recycling principle.

ZERTIFIKATE VOM INSTITUT CYCLOS HTP

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Dirk Stolte head of R&D / technical support
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