New EU initiative to boost post-consumer plastic recycling

By Michelle Yeomans

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Recycling

New EU initiative to boost post-consumer plastic recycling
A new European wide certification and audit scheme is to be rolled out in 2013 to implement standards on post-consumer plastics recycling to give the consumer the assurance that they are buying eco-friendly products.

The new initiative, EuCertPlast will affect industries specialising in post-consumer plastics like most cosmetics featuring PET packaging, and has the potential to contribute to higher plastics recycling targets in Europe.

Although natural and organic cosmetic products have traditionally focused on the formulations by specifying natural and organic ingredients,  brands are increasingly turning its focus to greener packaging alternatives.

Gaining kudos from consumers who are looking for products with a reduced carbon footprint, PET packaging provides major sustainability benefits.

The project has been conducted by the European Plastics Recyclers (EuPR), and the European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations (EPRO) in collaboration with the European plastics Converters (EuPC).

EuCertPlast will assess the quantity and tractability of the material recycle while giving the guarantee that the recycling phase occurred in an environmental sound manner.

According to the EuPR, a suitable auditing scheme for Europe was needed due to the difficulty in gaining access to plastics waste from the different and often complex national systems. “With EuCertPlast, a level playing field has been created and plastics recyclers can work with all national collection schemes to get access to raw materials for further treatment in Europe​.”

EuPC's managing director, Alexandre Dangis adds; "I strongly advise purchasers of post-consumer plastics recyclates to request this EuCertPlast Certificate from their suppliers in order to guarantee good quality products​.”

The quality of EuCertPlast is said to be based on existing European Standards and audited according to the best available 'German' auditor scheme.

COREPLA, the Italian plastics recovery organisation, has already announced that it intends to base the regulatory compliance of its recyclers on the EuCertPlast standard.

 

 

 

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