Innovation in plastics and packaging is necessary to maintain a healthy and competitive industry. To support innovators, the APR has developed a variety of laboratory test method documents that can be used to assess the impact of a plastic design feature or component on recycling. APR test methods combine laboratory practices and measurements developed specifically by and for plastic recyclers with standard ASTM tests. The objective of testing is to determine the impact of a design feature on the processability of a package item as well as the ability of post-consumer resin (PCR) derived from such feedstocks to meet quality specifications for end-use applications. To view APR’s test method definitions, click here.

Design Feature	Recyclability Category	APR Test Methods	APR Recognized Commercially Available Options	Additional Resources
BASE MATERIALS
Polyethylene mono-material flexible packaging, with a minimum of 90% PE and copolymers by weight of the total packaging structure	Preferred
Special grades of PE available in the industry including plastomers, mLLDPE, ULDPE	Preferred
EVA copolymers designed for film extrusion at any weight percent, provided the VA (vinyl acetate) levels are 5% or less of the total package weight	Preferred
Ethylene copolymer ionomers designed for film extrusion when used below 20% in weight of the total package	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters
PB (polybutenes) up to 5% in weight	Preferred
Postconsumer PE Content	Preferred
Less than 90% PE	Detrimental
PET, PVC, PVDC, Paper, Aluminum foil or degradable polymers	Non-Recyclable
Less than 80% PE	Needs Testing Untested blends may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable Results	FPE-CG-01
Blends, coextrusion or lamination of PE and other resins designed to enhance properties in the intended first use with unknown residual effects in future uses of the recovered resin	Needs Testing Untested blends may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	FPE-CG-01	CG Recognition Letters
COLOR
Unpigmented (Natural) PE	Preferred
White, buff, or lightly colored film	Preferred
Dark colors	Detrimental Why?
Metallic Pigments	Needs Testing Untested pigments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results	SORT-B-03 FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01
Pigments Concentration where density approaches 0.996	Needs Testing Untested pigments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results	O-S-01
CLOSURES, DISPENSERS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS
Polyethylene flexible seals, closures or dispensers	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters
Metal and metal containing closures, dispensers or attachments	Non-Recyclable
Non-PE flexible or rigid seals, closures, dispensers and other attachments	Needs Testing Untested closures and fitments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01
Polyethylene rigid attachments	Needs Testing Untested attachments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01
ADDITIVES AND BARRIER COATINGS
"Workhorse" additives historically used without issue	Preferred
SiOx and AlOx barrier coatings	Preferred
PVDC Coatings	Non-Recyclable
Additive concentration where density is higher than 1.0	Non-Recyclable
Other Additives and Coatings	Needs Testing Untested barrier layers may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01	CG Recognition Letters
Metalized Layers	Needs Testing Untested metalized layers may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	SORT-B-03 FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01		Metal Sortation
Degradable Additives	Needs Testing Untested additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results			APR Position Paper
Additive concentrations where density approaches 0.996	Needs Testing Untested additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	O-S-01 PP-CG-01
LABELS
Polyethylene labels with tested inks and adhesives	Preferred
Polyolefin labels that have been tested and found to be compatible with PE recycling systems	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters
Printed labels with untested inks	Detrimental
Untested label adhesives	Detrimental
Paper Labels	Detrimental Why?
Metal foil labels	Non-Recyclable
Label Inks applied to Preferred label materials	Needs Testing Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	HDPE-S-01
Labels with metallic inks	Needs Testing Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable Results	SORT-B-03 FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01
Label adhesives	Needs testing Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable Results	FPE-BM-01 FPE-CG-01
DIRECT PRINT INKS, PRIMERS, COATINGS & LAMINATING ADHESIVES
Unprinted and non-laminated PE	Preferred
Tested inks, primers, coatings and laminating adhesives that disperse in the final polymer without having an impact on quality	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters
Direct printing, primers & overprint lacquers and coatings, glossy or matte	Detrimental
Laminating adhesives, cold seal adhesives	Detrimental
High levels of inks, primers, coatings, and laminating adhesives that cause significant degradation of physical and mechanical properties of the end market PCR or product	Non-Recyclable
Curable inks, coatings & adhesives	Needs testing. Untested materials may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results	FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01
Metallic inks	Needs Testing Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	FPE-BM-01 FPE-CG-01