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For food manufacturers in Europe, one aspect is becoming increasingly important: reliable assurance that their packaging will continue to meet all legal requirements in the future. The PPWR stipulates that, starting January 1, 2030, all packaging placed on the EU market must be demonstrably designed to be recyclable. However, a uniform Europe‑wide definition of “recyclable” is still missing. The guidelines expected from the European standardization institute CEN, which are intended to provide clarity on consistent assessment criteria, are anticipated for March 2026. Until then, realistic and reliable testing procedures are essential, also because some countries, such as Denmark, already require concrete proof as part of their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems.
RecyClass is currently considered the most recognized testing institute in Europe and already offers guidance on future legislation
RecyClass Family Certification of the K3 Portfolio in PP & PET
In previous RecyClass tests, the K3 r100 cup with a diameter of 95 mm and a filling volume of 500 ml demonstrated an exceptionally high separation rate of over 90%. During the recycling process, the cardboard wrap detaches from the plastic cup automatically and reliably. This high separation rate is crucial, as it allows the plastic cup to be classified as a mono-material within the recycling stream, achieving the highest recyclability class (A) according to RecyClass.
The next major milestone followed earlier this year: Greiner Packaging became the first company in Europe to receive a RecyClass family certificate for K3 r100 made of polypropylene. Moreover, at the end of March, Greiner Packaging was awarded the family certificate for its K3 r100 packaging solution made from PET. This means that a large part of the K3 product portfolio has now been officially certified as recyclable by RecyClass. In close collaboration with Circpack Veolia, Greiner’s partner in all recycling certification processes, representative product sizes were defined and tested according to the RecyClass methodology.
The key factor behind the top rating: the cups contain no adhesive whatsoever between the cardboard and plastic components and separate automatically during the waste disposal process. This outstanding self‑separability resulted in the plastic component being rated RecyClass Class A, clear proof that K3 r100 in various sizes can be optimally integrated into the plastics recycling loop.
Cardboard Wrap Also Achieves Top Scores
The cardboard wrap was also tested using the CEPI method* and was found to be highly recyclable, suitable for recycling in conventional paper mills. This confirms that the wrap offers excellent recycling performance and perfectly complements the plastic cup.
Note: This story has not been edited by The Polymerupdate Editorial team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.
