TekniPlex certifies its use of recycled-content plastic

Wayne, Pennsylvania-based TekniPlex Consumer Products says it has obtained International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus certification for its plastic packaging manufacturing facility in Dublin, Virginia.

According to TekniPlex, the facility in Virginia specializes in producing polypropylene- (PP-) based coffee pods and dairy containers. The certification guarantees mass balance tracking for recycled-content PP resins using advanced or chemical recycling processes.

The designation also allows the company to certify the percentages of recycled PP included in the food-sector products made at the plant, which includes fruit and dessert cups, deli packaging and containers for yogurts and other dairy items.

“As we continue to incorporate recycled plastics into a wide array of our materials science-based solutions, we also are committed to the transparency and veracity of our sustainability claims – and, of course, those claimed by our customers,” says Rafael Posada, global sustainability director at TekniPlex.

“This ISCC Plus designation allows us and our customers to verify various percentages of advanced recycled polypropylene--a means of rubber-stamping PCR (postconsumer resin) statements and showcasing sustainability sincerity,” Posada adds.

According to the company, the certification “centers around a key conundrum of advanced or chemically recycled plastic resins.” While chemical recycling processes can produce pristine resins “functionally equal and virtually indistinguishable from virgin materials,” TekniPlex says, “companies incorporating advanced recycled plastics into products must keep careful track of these materials to avoid false or misleading sustainability claims.”

TekniPlex describes the ISCC Plus certification as a globally recognized system for verifiable traceability of recycled materials throughout the supply chain, “including transparent, verifiable standards for advanced recycled materials.”