Made for recycling - why it is worth eco-designing

The concept of Extended Producer Responsibility referred to in Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council indicates that the amount of fees paid by entrepreneurs introducing products in packaging to the EU markets should be differentiated in terms of the properties of the packaging used, especially its durability, reuse and recycling and the presence of hazardous substances. The less environmentally friendly the packaging is, the more the entrepreneur introducing it will pay for subsequent collection and management.

Based on Interzero’s experience, we have identified 3 main difficulties in packaging recycling:

Inappropriate packaging – Poor packaging design can confuse smart sorting equipment, leading to lower recycling rates. For example, the use of oversized labels and black plastics means that sorting machines do not correctly recognize the packaging material.
The use of combinations of different materials in one package – may make it difficult for consumers to properly separate or assign the package to the correct fraction. Even in the case of a jar with a paper label and a metal lid, separation by the consumer can be problematic, because he is not sure which parts to separate (lid) and which to keep (label), because they do not constitute a barrier to glass recycling. However, the biggest challenge is multi-material packaging (e.g. aluminum-coated snack bags), where it is completely impossible to separate the individual raw materials.
Low level of education – packaging is simply thrown into the wrong container, so it cannot go to the right recycler.

Made for Recycling - testing and eco-design of packaging

The Made4Recycling service is the answer to these challenges. In the field of packaging eco-design, we have developed a research and consulting service for customers looking for advice and recommendations on packaging recycling.

Our services include:

assessment of the possibility of recycling and sorting packaging,
consultations on the selection of materials, design guidelines and market experience
creating an action plan in cooperation with the client’s purchasing, marketing and packaging design departments
seminars and training
study visits to modern sorting plants

What does the Made for Recycling service give you?

Thanks to the examination of the packaging conducted on the basis of a methodology developed in consultation with two renowned institutes (bifa and Fraunhofer IVV), the client receives a report containing an assessment of the recycling potential of packaging on a 20-point scale:

Packaging that scores 18-20 points on the research scale is awarded the Made for Recycling certificate and mark.

The report also presents barriers to recycling, thus providing an overview of the necessary changes to make packaging design more sustainable.

“It is necessary to change the way of thinking about sustainable development. One of the fundamental things that need to change to meet the new requirements and achieve recycling levels is thoughtful eco-friendly packaging designsays Markus Müller-Drexel, Managing Director of Interzero Circular Solutions Germany GmbH.