APR: Biodegradable additives are not conducive to plastic recycling and support restrictions

Recently, the American Plastics Recyclers (APR) updated its recyclability categories, officially confirming that degradable additives are not conducive to recycling. Recycle and regenerate. The association's Design for Recycling Guidelines ban its use in products.

According to APR's design guidelines, a design feature renders packaging non-recyclable if a majority of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) or recyclers are unable to remove it to the extent required to produce a salable end product.

APR stated that packaging containing degradable additives cannot be detected using currently available technology and will affect the quality and yield of post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR). Articles, packaging or films containing these design features will render them unrecyclable. .

APR believes that degradable additives can pose technical challenges for mechanical recycling and reduce the physical properties of plastics during the molding process, thereby compromising the long-term performance of the plastic and reducing the market value of the plastic.

This policy applies to degradable materials and biodegradable materials that are not certified as compostable, including biodegradable materials, oxo-degradable materials, oxo-biodegradable materials used in plastic packaging (including films), Enzymatic materials, anaerobic materials and photodegradable materials.

"This classification change is based on studies and reports published by independent research groups and brings APR more in line with other non-governmental organizations in the recovery and recycling field, as well as international manufacturers and retailers," said Steve Alexander, president and executive officer of APR. “This update clearly reflects APR’s mission Destiny to improve plastic recycling all aspects of the process and protect the quality and yield of the PCR process. "

APR noted that 13 other groups, companies or governments have also taken action to restrict certain types of biodegradable additives ,in Including the EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive (which does not allow products made from oxodegradable plastics to be marketed), CEFLEX, CGF Gold Design Principles, RecyClass, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, American Plastics Pact, WWF, etc., fertile Alma and grocery store chain Aldi issued similar statements.

“We applaud APR’s decision to classify biodegradable additives as ‘causing packaging to be non-recyclable,’" said Rob Flores, Vice President of Sustainability at Berry International. “As APR points out, there is a clear consensus within the wider environmental and packaging community that degradable additives can have a negative impact on plastic recycling. At Berry International, we believe an effective solution to the plastic waste problem is to create a circular economy for plastics by designing products that are recyclable and reusable, adding recycled materials and investing in recycling and waste management infrastructure. ”

Five years later, through the joint efforts of CPRRA and colleagues in all industries, the recyclable design technology system has been initially established. CPRRA has a professional recyclable design R&D team and has released 2 recyclable design group standards. With the support of the Standardization Committee (TC15) Established 1 industry standard and 2 national standards .

In the second five years, CPRRA will continue to improve China's recyclable design system, not only the standardization system of recyclable design (complete the preparation of national standards), but also the evaluation and certification system of recyclable design, as well as the recyclable design The training (talent training) system has become a tool for the implementation of China’s plastic product ecological design policy.