In cooperation with the Reclay Group, TÜV SÜD is offering a new service for testing and certifying the recyclability of packaging. The testing and certification procedure is used for packaging made of plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, aluminium, ferrous metals, wood and composites. The TÜV SÜD standard "Recyclability of packaging" takes into account all relevant norms and standards.
The European Union has set itself the goal of reusing and recycling all plastic packaging placed on the market in the EU by 2030. To achieve this, it is relying on, among other things, the creation of quality standards for secondary raw materials, the promotion of certifications, binding regulations for the minimum content of recycled content in certain products or the reduction of single-use plastics. With the new TÜV SÜD standard "Recyclability of Packaging", TÜV SÜD and Reclay Group are supporting manufacturers, bottlers, importers, online retailers, retail chains and other suppliers who sell or circulate packaged goods on their way to establishing circular economy systems.
"The assessment of the recyclability of packaging, including all individual components, is carried out in our new TÜV SÜD standard, taking into account regional collection and recovery structures, sortability as a basic prerequisite for recycling, and the market potential of secondary raw materials to replace primary raw materials. In combination with precise material testing, we thus achieve the highest level of accuracy for certification," reports Dr Robert Hermann, Head of the Environmental Technology & Climate Protection Business Stream at TÜV SÜD in Austria.
Barbara Hettche, Senior Consultant at the Reclay Group, adds: "Often even small changes lead to significant improvements. The use of digital technology ensures maximum transparency and holistic assessment of the recyclability of packaging. We can also use it to clearly show which levers should be used for any optimisations. This creates added value for companies already during the testing and certification process."
Testing and certification
The testing and certification process takes between one and three months, depending on the product. After a corresponding application, material samples as well as product and process data are obtained. Based on the product testing as well as the factory production control by TÜV SÜD, the team of experts at the Reclay Group creates a digital twin of the packaging. This documentation of materials, weights and dimensions enables all relevant influencing factors to be taken into account when assessing the recyclability of packaging. If desired, this step can also be scientifically accompanied by the Chair of Waste Recovery Technology & Waste Management at the renowned University of Leoben.
TÜV SÜD then documents the results in an audit or final report. After successful completion of the audit and certification process, the certificate is valid for three years.
The TÜV SÜD standard "Recyclability of packaging" takes into account the following norms or standards:
Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister - Minimum standard for the assessment of recyclability.
DIN EN 13427:2004-10 Packaging - Requirements for the application of European standards on packaging and packaging waste
DIN EN 13430:2004 Packaging - Requirements for packaging for material recycling
ISO 15270:2008 Plastics - Guidelines for the recovery and recycling of plastics waste
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