A recognition program aimed at boosting plastics recycling is expanding to include polypropylene.
Association of Plastic Recyclers is adding six new packaging components to the trade group's Preferred Design Recognition Program, including the new polypropylene eligibility.
The program, formerly known as Meets Preferred Guidance, provides third-party validation that products are compatible with North American recycling systems, APR said. The program also indicates the packaging has achieved "preferred status" according to the APR Design Guild for Plastics Recyclability.
That design guide can be used by packaging designers and makers to ensure the products they are making and using can be handled by the plastic recycling infrastructure.
The packaging components just added to the program include: PP base resins; direct printing for PP packaging, closures, fitments and liners for PP containers; complete and unprinted label constructions for PP packaging; PP contains, bottles and rigid packages; and PP packaging constructions, APR said.
"The expansion of APR's Preferred Design Recognition program will save time, effort, and resources needed for brands and retailers to easily identify recyclable packaging solutions," said Ruben Nance, APR's Preferred Design Recognition Program director, in a statement.
"Since its inception over 20 years ago, APR Design Recognition has reviewed and recognized packaging from more than 120 companies, leading to the mainstream adoption of impactful innovations that improve the recyclability of plastic packaging and reduce plastic waste."
APR said the program expects to further expand in the near future "include PET and colored HDPE containers and packaging constructions, as well as categories for natural HDPE packaging and PE films."