The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and RecyClass Mark a Second Year of Progress in Driving Global Harmonisation of Plastic Recyclability
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and RecyClass published the second progress report1 of their collaboration, which aims to accelerate the global harmonisation of plastic recyclability.
Key updates include streamlining the measurement of intrinsic viscosity variation for PET bottles and harmonising the filter pack used in extrusion during HDPE and PP rigid packaging recyclability tests to facilitate future common assessments.
‘We are pleased to maintain the impactful partnership between APR and RecyClass as both organisations remain committed to promoting innovation, harmonising design for recyclability guidance, and continued progress toward a global circular economy for plastics.’ said Steve Alexander, APR President & CEO.
Over the past year, APR and RecyClass conducted extensive test campaigns. The main areas of investigation included inks and laminating adhesives for PE films, additives that cause yellowing in recycled PET for PET bottles, and metallised labels.
Following the results, the two associations actively participated in the respective Technical Committees to align the benchmarks of the APR Critical Guidance Test Protocols2 and RecyClass Recyclability Evaluation Protocols3.
‘In an era where sustainability is gaining momentum, global harmonisation of packaging design is critical to boosting plastic recycling rates and helping brands meet their environmental goals.’ stated Paolo Glerean, Chairman of RecyClass. ‘We are extremely proud of the significant progress made in 2024 and look forward to the next steps in our collaboration with APR.’
Moving forward, APR and RecyClass are set to conduct further test campaigns to enhance the Design for Recycling Guidelines for various packaging solutions. These efforts will help ensure better alignment and effectiveness of recyclability standards worldwide.
1 APR & RecyClass Cooperation Report 2025 is available here.
2 APR Critical Guidance Test Protocols are available here.
3 RecyClass Recyclability Evaluation Protocols are available here.
About RecyClass
RecyClass is a non-profit, cross-industry initiative advancing recyclability, bringing transparency to the origin of plastic waste and establishing a harmonized approach toward recycled plastic calculation & traceability in Europe. RecyClass develops Recyclability Evaluation Protocols and scientific testing methods for innovative plastic packaging materials which serve as the base for the Design for Recycling Guidelines and the RecyClass Online Tool. RecyClass established Recyclability Certifications for plastic packaging, Recycling Process Certification and Recycled Plastics Traceability Certification for plastic products.
RecyClass – Plastic Future is Circular
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Contact : communication@recyclass.eu, www.recyclass.eu
About Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is an international non-profit and the only North American organization focused exclusively on improving recycling for plastics. APR’s tools & resources help companies design packaging that can be recycled, support innovations that overcome existing recycling challenges, and encourage stable and reliable markets for post-consumer recycled content. Visit plasticsrecycling.org for more information.
Contact: Kara Pochiro, APR VP of Communications & Public Affairs, Kara@plasticsrecycling.org
