APR introduces global design guidance platform

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), Washington, has launched the APR Global Design Catalog. The association says the resource provides comprehensive access to the most current plastic packaging recyclability guidelines for countries and regions around the world.

Different countries and regions operate a variety of recycling collection and processing systems, the APR notes. Many of them oversee complex extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs that hold manufacturers and suppliers accountable for the end-of-life fate of packaging materials. EPR programs in virtually all jurisdictions reference some design for recyclability index to encourage companies to design more sustainable packaging.

“The APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability remains the leading package design resource for countries across the globe,” says Steve Alexander, APR president and CEO. “Due to the differences in operational recycling systems and EPR requirements among countries, harmonizing design for recyclability across the globe is a challenging endeavor. APR’s Global Design Catalog gives you all the design requirements at your fingertips to assist in comparing and contrasting best design practices in different countries.”

The new catalog includes guidance from Denmark, the EU, France, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and the U.K. It covers recyclability evaluations for rigid polyethylene terephthalate (PET), rigid high-density polyethylene (HDPE), rigid polypropylene (PP) and flexible polyethylene film packaging. Additional countries and features will be added in the coming months, the APR says. 

“Design for recyclability is key to creating a circular economy for plastics packaging,” Alexander says. “APR’s Global Design Catalog, as a complement to the APR Design Guide, provides the detailed design guidance required for brand owners to achieve their sustainability commitments within the demands of the global marketplace.”

APR members can access the catalog for free with a subscription. See https://plasticsrecycling.org/apr-global-guidance for more information.