Plastics recycling organisation RECOUP has been named the official auditor for a recyclability certification for rigid plastic packaging in the UK.
RecyClass, which is run by trade organisation Plastics Recyclers Europe, is an initiative aiming to create a consistent measurement for the plastics packaging value chain.
RecyClassUK will be managed by RECOUP and will evaluate rigid plastic packaging in terms of recyclability. Packaging will be classified from class A (recyclable) to class F (not recyclable).
Stuart Foster, chief executive of Peterborough-based RECOUP, said: “Over the past 30 years RECOUP have provided support for organisations to understand and improve the recyclability of plastic packaging.
“This includes the ongoing review and understanding of each step of the plastic recycling journey, reviews of specific packaging items, publicly available guidance, and case studies.”
Highlighting the importance of certification for packaging, Mr Foster continued: “There has been increased demand for RECOUP to certify plastic packaging and ensure a recognised central and consistent point for plastic packaging recyclability reviews in the UK, also ensuring alignment internationally where possible.
“We are looking forward to working with the RecyClass platform which provides a fantastic opportunity to not only deliver these aims, but also evolve and align the recyclability certification opportunity as part of a network.”
Other auditors have been appointed in different countries in Europe.
Certification
Recoup will provide a report and recommended further steps after an item of packaging is evaluated, which the charity hopes will achieve greater recyclability of the item.
The certification provides reassurance to the plastic packaging supply chain, RECOUP says, and complements the existing practical pack reviews at sorting facilities the charity provides to members and non-members.
RECOUP’s senior project officer Kate Bedford told letsrecycle.com the RecyClass certification differed from the tests the charity ran currently as it looked at how a pack would behave once it reached a plastic recycler or re-processor.
She said that for a pack to be audited there had to be a recognised collection and sorting process for it. The audit of the pack would look in more detail at its components, weight, dimensions, materials, inks adhesives and easy-to-empty index. The whole pack would be graded with a rating based on its design for recycling.
RECOUP claimed in May reprocessing infrastructure in the UK may need to double its output of recycled plastic to meet governmental targets (see letsrecycle.com story) .
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Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
