CPI publishes revised Design for Recyclability Guidelines

The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) has published its revised Design for Recyclability Guidelines following extensive consultation with the paper industry and packaging supply chain. The revision was led by the CPI Recyclability Technical Expert Committee, while wider engagement was held with stakeholders in the UK and abroad.

First published in 2019, the guidelines provide design parameters which will help to deliver recyclable fibre-based packaging for the industry and improve environmental and social impact in the supply chain.

The guidelines aim to optimise recyclate entering the supply chain, stimulate technological developments in packaging materials, and provide a direction of travel for future packaging design within the context of sustainability and resource efficiency.

The 2019 edition has been updated for clarity purposes and to give guidelines on what the industry considers ‘easily recyclable’. It defines components of paper that can normally be dealt with by standard paper mills and those that can be problematic and, depending on their amount, composition and interaction with other components, can lead to undesired consequences.

Further, they illustrate the distinction across fibre content, yield and paper content, as defined by the work carried out in Europe by the 4evergreen Alliance.

CPI stresses that the Recyclability Guidelines aim to express the preferred position of the paper industry and are not a definitive expression of the acceptability of packaging formats for recycling.

To keep up with new government proposals, CPI intends to launch ‘Papercycle’, a service to assess recyclability and deliver verification and certification services for fibre-based packaging. A wholly owned subsidiary of CPI, the automated tool will allow designers to receive clear answers on the recyclability of fibre-based packaging formats in keeping with government requirements.

Papercycle will determine whether fibre-based packaging formats are recyclable in the UK, and which types of mills can reprocess the packaging. The tool will also offer recyclability assessments for product development services for any suppliers and designers who want to test a product before its launch.

CPI says its revised version of the Recyclability Guidelines has taken into consideration the technological and policy developments across Europe. Through the organisation’s connection with 4evergreen alliance, the CPI Guidelines will be as closely aligned as possible with the work being undertaken in Europe.

Dimitra Rappou, Director of Recycling of CPI, said: “I am delighted to see the publication of the revised CPI Design for Recyclability Guidelines. This publication is vital in guiding manufacturers around recyclability for the UK Market and looking at sustainability and resource efficiency for the future.

“In the coming months I look forward to the launch of Papercycle, which will support companies determining the recyclability of their products and maximise the availability and quality of paper for recycling.”