Pre-Approval now required to initiate Critical Guidance Recognition

APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition provides third-party validation that a package or packaging component’s design is compatible with the North American recycling system. This is done by confirming that the item has met the highest criteria for recyclability according to the APR Design® Guide. Complete packages and all components of package design are eligible for APR Design® Recognition.

APR Design for Recyclability badge

There are currently three paths to achieve APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition: Preferred Design, Critical Guidance, and Responsible Innovation.  Each has its own test and review criteria, depending on the item being submitted. All paths lead to the same outcome. Learn more here about which path is right for you.

To streamline the process and ensure there is alignment between the innovator and APR on the required testing and resulting recognition before testing is started, starting October 1, 2024,  all Critical Guidance Recognition submissions will require pre-approval by APR before testing is started.

Following review and approval of the pre-approval application, there will be a 25% downpayment of the recognition fee required in order to receive a unique ID. This ID number will authorize the innovator to complete the testing at a 3rd party lab. The total cost of APR Design® Recognition will remain the same, it will simply be divided between a pre-approval and an application fee. Once testing is complete, the results will be submitted to APR via email (recognition@plasticsrecycling.org) and the process will remain the same. This change ONLY applies to Critical Guidance testing; other test protocols (sorting, benchmark, early evaluation, etc.) do not require pre-approval.

Since its inception, the APR Design® Recognition Program’s review process has helped to eliminate problematic items and commercialize alternative innovations like pressure sensitive adhesives, NIR sortable black colorants, and crystallizable PET shrink sleeves.  Ultimately, this makes the recycling system more efficient which means less waste, more efficient use of limited natural resources, and more high-quality PCR. This new pre-approval process will provide an even smoother path to APR Design® Recognition.

Still have questions?  Read this FAQ about the process.