OPINION: Design for Recyclability Guidelines – Why do standards matter?
March 2024
Dimitra Rappou, executive director, sustainable products at Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) discusses the company’s recently released Design for Recyclability Guidelines and what they mean for the future.
Setting the bar high has long been fundamental for progress and innovation in the paper sector and instrumental in its long-term credibility and growth. Today, with the UK recycling rate for packaging paper and cardboard exceeding 80%, and a remarkable 78% reduction in carbon emissions since 1990, the importance of standards in driving such achievements cannot be ignored.
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CPI Design for Recyclability Guidelines: Setting Standards for Sustainable Fibre-Based Packaging Products
March 2024
The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) has published the fourth version of its Design for Recyclability Guidelines.
In the latest publication, the Guidelines aim to inspire the next generation of packaging products and technological progress. The policy section has been thoroughly reviewed to reflect current developments, while a comprehensive overview of the different sources of contamination provides insights to improve the quality of recyclate. Feedback from external stakeholders and industry experts was invaluable and further promoted dialogue to drive sustainable practices across the sector.
This edition encourages packaging designers and specifiers to limit non-paper components in new products to 5% of the pack weight, a recommendation designed to complement other guidance within the document. While ambitious, this design target reflects advancements in fibre-based packaging technology, and it is not a strict determinant of recyclability; each packaging product requires individual assessment.
For this purpose, and as a result of the upcoming legislative changes and innovation in material development, CPI has created a separate entity, Papercycle, an automated recyclability assessment tool, which provides a robust and comprehensive system tailored for fibre-based products and materials. Since its official launch nearly a year ago, Papercycle has become an invaluable tool in product development, removing the uncertainty faced by brands and manufacturers on the recyclability of their products.
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STATEMENT: Clarification on Minimum Requirements for Testing and Affiliation Claims
August 2023
Papercycle has been made aware of certain misconceptions about minimum requirements for product assessments and the testing procedures for various product types. CPI wants to clarify that the certification process does not impose any preconditions based on material composition. The online tool is structured to ensure an equitable and impartial evaluation for all fibre-based products.
Additionally, CPI has been alerted to instances where companies have claimed collaboration with Papercycle in the development of their products. We would like to emphasise that any such claims must be substantiated by a valid recyclability certificate which can only be issued by Papercycle. Without a valid certificate, we cannot verify whether or not a company has used Papercycle’s tools as part of their product development.
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PRESS RELEASE: First of its kind recyclability tool for fibre-based packaging launches in UK
Wednesday 24 May 2023
Introducing Papercycle, the UK’s first comprehensive recyclability assessment and certification service for fibre-based packaging
Today marks a turning point for the UK’s Paper-based Industries with the launch of Papercycle: a ground-breaking recyclability assessment and certification service for fibre-based packaging products and materials for the UK and beyond. With Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation on the horizon, this new service could not arrive at a better time.
Developed by the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) and supported by the UK’s Paper-based Industries, Papercycle’s automated online tool provides a robust, comprehensive system to assess the recyclability of fibre-based products and materials in a consistent and credible way. It also identifies whether fibre-based packaging materials can be recycled in the UK and which type of recycling mills can reprocess them. Recyclability can be tested at any stage, be it finished or semi-finished products.
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