Trials & Assessments
With manufacturers, retailers and consumers demanding and seeking more sustainable packaging solutions, companies are keen to promote their environmental credentials at every opportunity. It is essential, however, that all claims can be corroborated and are not exaggerated. The process of ‘greenwashing’ is under increasing scrutiny, with both the UK and EU proposing stricter measures to prevent companies from making unwarranted environmental claims.
A variety of trials and assessments for plastic packaging are available to enable companies to achieve third-party endorsements as to the veracity of their claims.
Trials
RECOUP can take sample packaging and review them based on typical UK systems, testing through appropriate sorting and reprocessing sites where required. The packaging is assessed against accepted recyclability criteria with test sheets completed to confirm each step of the trial process and to document how the samples react within those systems. Material types and components are also assessed against recyclability, which include details of the site’s equipment provider. If the samples are not deemed recyclable, the reasons will be given, and recommendations provided to improve recyclability.
What RECOUP do
- Samples are assessed in the first instance using RECOUPs on site services, before being taken to up to 3 different facilities to ensure good representation across the UK. The samples will be assessed in industrial conditions, being placed with other mixed material to see how they behave and presented to the Near Infra-Red optical sorting equipment to prove detectability.
- Where NIR tests have been specifically requested, the samples will also be placed at the front of the MRF, to determine progress through the system. i.e. to confirm that the packaging will pass through to the NIR stage, and to document where the samples finish.
- RECOUP will help with further development and re-testing as needed.
Testing Parameters
- Size – This impacts the recovery of the sample, if too small can be lost during sorting, if too big or heavy may not be detected.
- Colour – Certain colours can impede identification by not being recognised by the Near IR.
- Mixed or laminated materials – combined/layered polymer types can confuse the Near IR as they set to detect specific materials, testing is recommended to see what polymer type they are identified as.
- Sleeves/labels – These can make a difference to the recovery: how much of the surface area is covered by the label and what polymer the label is derived from. Full sleeves generally impede recovery with ink and colours also impacting.
RECOUP Laboratory
The RECOUP laboratory can help businesses meet the requirements of accreditations and certifications for plastic packaging by assessing and providing feedback on the composition of many different packaging formats.
How RECOUP can help
- Infrared spectroscopy analysis of materials – this uses Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to identify the specific material properties of a pack.
- Near-Infrared Spectroscopy – a fast technique which mimics the detection method in many Material Recovery Facilities and provides assurances that packs will be detected during sorting.
- Fibre loss testing – this is used to analyse the wet strength of labels to ensure no fibres are lost into wash water, which risks contamination of the recycled material.
- Adhesive separation testing – this analyses the separation efficiency of label adhesives.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool to assess the environmental impact of products, goods and services across their life cycle, from raw material extraction through to end of life. The purpose of an LCA is not only to provide data on environmental performance but also to help facilitate the decision-making process. For that reason, it has become an increasingly popular tool that is able to identify significant areas for improvement, avoid unintended consequences, and explore and investigate alternative approaches.
The effective use of LCAs will enable informed evidence-based decisions on product development and design, support supply chain and procurement decisions, track performance over time of packaging changes, improve overall environmental outcomes in line with strategy and policy, and challenge misinformation and greenwash.
What RECOUP do
- Research and compile relevant LCAs, in line with individual companies’ needs and objectives, to help the plastic industry understand the environmental impact of products and processes.
- Utilise LCA knowledge and in-house LCA software to carry out evidence-based research.
How RECOUP can help
- LCA studies conducted in line with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards.
- A full LCA report to support companies’ internal decision-making and innovation processes.
- Access to a library of publicly available LCA reports on plastics materials, products and end-of-life processes. You can access the LCA Library by clicking here.
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