Getting certified
How does getting certified work?
Why get your packaging certified?
Upcoming requirements within the European Union will require all brand owners, packaging manufacturers, and distributors to understand the performance of the packaging formats which they place on the market.
CIRCPACK is uniquely positioned to certify your packaging formats due to our positioning within the Veolia group. As an independent consultant under our packaging organisation, we have unrivalled access to hundreds of facilities around the world where we can test the sorting effectiveness of your packaging.
Our primary sorting facility is a state of the art MRF [1] located in Germany which manages plastics, metals, and drinking cartons. This facility has been outfitted with RFID scanners, allowing us to follow your packaging until the exact point where it encounters a problem.
Certification process
Below is a step-by-step guide outlining what you can expect.
1. Preliminary Stage
Once you’ve requested to get in touch, our experts will reach out to you and schedule an introductory call. During the call, we will determine what is required to validate the recyclability of your packaging.
We offer the following certifications:
Design for Recycling
Used for complete and final packaging. It classifies the technical recyclability of plastic packaging within the European market.
Recycling Assessment
Used for complete and final packaging. It classifies and rates the technical recyclability of plastic packaging in a specific country.
Letter of Compatibility
Used for semi-finished packaging. It classifies the technical recyclability of a semi-finished plastic packaging within the European market.
If your packaging is composed of plastic or metal, we recommend that you complete a quick assessment of your packaging format using the RecyClass online tool. By having these results already available, we can ensure that we hit the ground running together.
We typically ask for details about your packaging format, including material data sheets, masterbatch information, and use cases. We always recommend completing the RecyClass online tool if your packaging includes plastic or metal.
RecyClass provides a user-friendly online tool for assessing the recyclability of plastic packaging. Our experts can guide you through the process if needed.
Direct link: https://recyclass.eu/tool/
2. Dedicated Proposal
After our initial discussion, you will receive a dedicated proposal tailored to your needs. Once the document is reviewed and signed, we initiate the certification process.
Costs vary depending on the complexity of the packaging and the tests required. We will provide a detailed cost breakdown in the proposal.
Payment is normally accomplished via a Purchase Order and direct invoicing to your desired destination. We unfortunately cannot take credit card payment at this time.
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of your packaging and whether additional testing is required. On average, the process can take up to three weeks, depending on project scope.
3. Data Collection
We will need you to complete the holistic input data sheet, which is the starting point for our analysis. For plastic and metal packaging, this includes filling in the RecyClass application form and completing their online tool. For fibre-based and glass packaging, we will ask you to complete a separate document matching our CERTIFY methodology.
Yes, you can submit multiple packaging formats for certification. Each will be evaluated based on its unique characteristics and materials.
Each element of a packaging format can affect its overall recyclability. For instance, knowing the inks and adhesives used in a pressure-sensitive label helps assess whether the label could pose a challenge for the packaging to behave as expected during sorting and reprocessing.
Ultimately, accurate certification relies on understanding your packaging from two perspectives: our laboratory, where we look to understand its material composition, and in our Material Recovery Facilities, where we look to understand its real life "in situ" performance. Combining these two perspectives is what sets CIRCPACK apart.
4. Sorting Tests
If necessary, a sorting test is conducted to evaluate how your packaging performs in a recycling facility. This could involve assessing whether your packaging can be properly sorted into the correct recycling stream or whether or not it is behaving as expected, for example based on the description of a raw material supplier.
A typical example of this is cylindrical packaging. While the material composition of such a packaging format might imply that it is effectively recycled, residual product causes it to roll indefinitely on a belt at a MRF, preventing effective ejection into the proper sorting stream. If this happens, these formats are removed due to their impact on efficient recycling in these MRFs.
Cylindrical [2] packaging is a common example of this issue. Although its material composition might suggest that it should preform well, leftover product inside can cause it to continuously roll on the conveyor belts at MRFs. This rolling can prevent the packaging from being correctly sorted into the appropriate recycling stream.
No. Sorting tests are only conducted if necessary, depending on the specific characteristics of your packaging and how it interacts with sorting technology.
For plastic and metal packaging formats, we work in conjunction with RecyClass.
For fibre-based or glass packaging formats, we follow our CERTIFY methodology.
For more information, please visit the RecyClass website or reach out to our consultants.
5. Reprocessing Tests
For certain packaging types, we may need to conduct reprocessing [3] tests. These tests replicate industrial recycling conditions on a smaller scale. This could include evaluating glue removal, fibre loss, or ink bleeding. The testing is based on RecyClass Quick Test Procedures or the EPBP’s QT500-508 guidelines.
To ensure a high level of performance in both our sorting and reprocessing tests, we recommend that you follow our publicly available Design for Recycling guidelines.
These are available in the ReCoRe glossary or our website.
For plastic and metal packaging formats, we work in conjunction with RecyClass.
For fibre-based packaging formats, we align our CERTIFY methodology with the CEPI 2.0 methodology.
For glass packaging formats we follow our CERTIFY methodology, which includes a dedicated optical glass sorting test.
For more information, please visit the RecyClass website or reach out to our consultants.
6. Audit Report
After the data collection phase is complete and any required tests are carried out, we compile an audit report. This report outlines the findings and assessments of your packaging’s recyclability.
Specific PPWR requirements have not yet been published by the European Commission. However, it is expected that the upcoming Design for Recycling rules are going to be in line with both RecyClass and CIRCPACK guidelines due to their high-level alignment on a common principle: the proportion of your packaging format which is composed of recyclable material. This is directly measured in your audit report.
Final DfR guidelines from the EU are expected at a maximum of 18 months after entry into force of the PPWR.
Yes, the certificate will detail your packaging’s overall recyclability grade, including the proportion of your packaging format which is composed of recyclable material.
Even if it’s not fully recyclable, the report provides insights into why that is.
7. Certificate
Upon completion of the audit, a certificate will be issued specific to your project. This document details your packaging’s final recyclability grade and a recyclability rate for one or more European countries if requested.
The results of your certification not meeting your expectations can be the result of a variety of factors.
In our experience, these factors can stem from issues such as inconsistencies in the material composition or masterbatch information, which can lead to unexpected outcomes during the certification process. Additionally, the performance of your packaging after it is collected as waste may impact its ability to be effectively sorted.
In the event that a score does not meet your expectation, CIRCPACK is happy to walk you through the exact reason why this occurred alongside our technical team.
Once certified, you will receive guidance on the use of logos, allowing you to communicate your packaging’s recyclability grade to consumers (B2C) and partners (B2B) as defined by RecyClass.
You are also given the opportunity to enter into further discussions with our consultants about improving your packaging format’s performance in a recycling context.
8. Use of Logo
Once certified, you will receive guidance on the use of logos for plastic and metal packaging, based on RecyClass claim guidelines. For other materials, CERTIFY aligns with industry-specific requirements for logo usage.
Your packaging’s grade must be a C or above in order to make claims.
The type of certification you’ve undertaken determines the possible use-cases for communication.
For Design for Recycling certifications, the logo cannot be used on final packaging but can but used within B2B and B2C communication.
For Recyclability rate certifications, the logo can be used on both final packaging and within B2B and B2C communication.
For Letters of Compatibility, the logo cannot be used on final packaging but can be used within B2B and B2C communication as long as class and use case is stipulated.
Yes, certification needs to be renewed around every three years to ensure that your packaging continues to meet recyclability standards. Renewal frequency will be outlined in your certification guidelines.
