Cartons are set to carry OPRL’s ‘Recycle’ label from April 2026

From April 2026, cartons across the UK will feature OPRL’s ‘Recycle’ label indicating their eligibility for recycling through household waste collections. Representatives from the carton packaging sector suggest that this labelling supports ongoing progress to enhance the infrastructure needed for the collection and sorting of fibre-based composite materials.

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK described the announcement as a “major milestone” in the advancement of carton recycling – currently claiming that 69% of local authorities accepted them in their kerbside collections.

Under current labelling, households are advised to check with their local council on what materials are collected for recycling or dispose of their liquid cartons at a local recycling point. ACE UK plan to work with local councils to support the transition to kerbside collections through their “Carton Ready” campaign, where percentages for carton collection are expected to exceed the 75% target required for their OPRL label to be granted.

Ahead of wider regulatory changes such as Simpler Recycling, investments into AI-powered sorting technology have begun to be installed in some MRFs allowing for better sortation of materials. A published survey by OPRL reveals that 89% of consumers use the label to inform their recycling decision, however whether enough infrastructure will be in place to manage the expected rise in carton collections and sorting is currently unlikely.