Design4recycling guidelines
Assess the recyclability of your packaging
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Packaging diagnoses

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Assess the recyclability of your packaging

One of the mainstays of circularity is the design of packaging such that it can be perfectly recycled and ideally reused for the production of new packaging.

Is your packaging recyclable? Take this quick test to find out.

Is your packaging recyclable?

Take the yourpackagingscore test and find out how sustainable your flexible plastic, rigid plastic or paper/cardboard packaging is.

Design4recycling Guidelines

Flexible plastics (film, covers, etc.)

Plastiques Rigides

Rigid plastics (Containers, buckets, ...)

Le Carton

Paper/cardboard

Design4recycling Guidelines

Question 1

Does the packaging contain non-plastic material layers or is it composed of layers of different polymers?

Yes

Question 2

Is at least 90% of the main component from the same polyolefin family (PE, HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE, PP)?

Yes

Question 3

Does the packaging contain PVC or PVDC?

Yes

Question 4

Does the packaging contain an EVOH or PA barrier?

Yes

Question 5

Is the packaging coloured?

Yes

Question 6

Is the colour of the packaging light/transparent or dark/opaque?

Light/transparent

Dark/opaque

Question 7

Is the packaging printed?

Yes

Question 8

Does the printing cover < 10% of the total surface area of the packaging?

Yes

Question 9

Do the inks contain elements which are excluded by the EuPIA list?

Yes

Question 10

Does the packaging contain additives based on EVOH or EVA of more than 5% by weight?

Yes

Question 11

Does the packaging contain additives (talc, CaCO3 and TiO2) that increase the density > 1 g/cm³?

Oui

Non

Question 12

Are labels used?

Yes

Question 13

Is the label made of PE or PP?

Yes

Question 14

Is the label self-adhesive paper and pulped/fiberised?

Yes

Question 15

Is the label made of metal foil?

Yes

Your packaging is perfectly recyclable and retains (almost) the same characteristics as the virgin material. It can be used in the manufacture of new packaging with comparable properties.

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Your packaging is recyclable and can be reused in the production of new goods and products but has an impact on one or more properties. As a result, certain concessions will have to be made during the production of the new product.
Examples of this are: colour, transparency, strength, density, area of application.

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Your packaging can be recycled in applications other than its original function (not as packaging).

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Your packaging is not technically and/or economically recyclable in the current collection and recycling systems.

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Plastiques Rigides

Question 1

Does the packaging consist of layers of different polymers?

Yes

Question 2

Is at least 90% of the main component from the same polyolefin family(PE, HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE, PP)?

Yes

Question 3

Does the packaging contain PVC or PVDC?

Yes

Question 4

Does the packaging contain an EVOH or PA barrier?

Yes

Question 5

Does the packaging contain non-plastic materials which cannot be removed manually?

Yes

Question 6

Is the packaging coloured?

Yes

Question 7

Is the colour white or blue?

Yes

Question 8

Is the packaging printed?

Yes

Question 9

Does the printing cover < 10% of the total surface of the packaging?

Yes

Question 10

Do the inks contain elements which are excluded by the EuPIA list?

Yes

Question 11

Does the packaging contain sealing additives (EVA/EVOH) for > 0.96 g/cm³ (only for PE and PP)?

Yes

Question 12

Does the packaging contain additives (talc, CaCO3 and TiO2) that increase the density > 1 g/cm³?

Yes

Question 13

Are labels used?

Yes

Question 14

Is the label made of PE or PP?

Yes

Question 15

Is the label self-adhesive paper and pulped/fiberised?

Yes

Question 16

Is the label made of metal foil?

Yes

Your packaging is perfectly recyclable and retains (almost) the same characteristics as the virgin material. It can be used in the manufacture of new packaging with comparable properties.

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Your packaging can be recycled in applications other than its original function (not as packaging).

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Your packaging is not technically and/or economically recyclable in the current collection and recycling systems.

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Le Carton

Question 1

Does the packaging contain double-sided water-repellent lacquers or coatings?

Yes

Question 2

Is the packaging bituminised?

Yes

Question 3

Does the packaging consist of more than 85% paper and/or cardboard?

Yes

Question 4

Can the other material be removed manually?

Yes

Question 5

Does the packaging contain fillers and/or functional additives > 15% by weight?

Yes

Question 6

Is hotmelt used?

Yes

Question 7

Is the packaging coloured?

Yes

Question 8

Is the printing based on UV ink/lacquer?

Yes

Question 9

Is the printing based on inks excluded by the EuPIA list?

Yes

Question 10

Does the packaging contain moisture repellents, substances soluble in water?

Yes

Question 11

Are self-adhesive labels used, other than paper?

Yes

Your packaging is perfectly recyclable and retains (almost) the same characteristics as the virgin material. It can be used in the manufacture of new packaging with comparable properties.

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Your packaging can be recycled in applications other than its original function (not as packaging).

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Your packaging is not technically and/or economically recyclable in the current collection and recycling systems.

Please refer to our design4recycling guidelines for more info.

Design4recycling guidelines Quick wins