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.
ADDENDUM UPDATE
As of March 22nd, 2024 the APR Design Guidance and Guidance Table for PP has been updated with all of the addendum contents. As of this date, these addendums will no longer be available on our website. All future updates will be made directly into the APR Design Guidance and Guidance Table, eliminating the need for separate addendums.
Design Feature | Recyclability Category | APR Design forRecyclability Test Methods | APR Recognized Commercially Available Options | Additional Resources |
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BASE RESIN |
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Polypropylene (PP) Content | PP or PP Blends are consistent with ASTM D4101 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
PP or PP blends have unknown material properties |
PP-CG-01 |
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COLOR |
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Unpigmented (Natural) | ||||
Opaque or Translucent | ||||
All other colors | L value > 40 or average NIR reflectance is > 10% |
NIR Sortation |
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L value < 40 or average NIR reflectance is ≤ 10% |
SORT-S-01 SORT-B-01 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
DIMENSIONS |
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Large size boundary | ≤ 7.5 liters (2 gal.) in volume |
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> 7.5 liters (2 gal.) in volume Why? |
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Small size boundary | > 5 cm (2 in.) in 2 dimensions |
Size Sortation | ||
Untested size boundary may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
SORT-B-02 |
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2D/3D Sortation | Smallest uncompressed packaging dimension ≥ minimum dimensions per APR-RES-SORT-05 |
RES-SORT-05 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Smallest uncompressed packaging dimension < minimum dimensions per APR-RES-SORT-05 Use SORT-B-05 test method to determine if packaging is Preferred or Detrimental |
RES-SORT-05 SORT-B-05 |
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CLOSURES, CLOSURE LINERS & SAFETY SEALS |
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Polypropylene (PP) Closures, Liners or Safety Seals | APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |||
Polyethylene (PE) Closures | Closure is < 10% of total package weight |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
Closure is ≥ 10% of total package weight Why? |
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Closures, Liners or Safety Seal with density > 1.0 g/cm3 | Sinks in water per APR-O-S-01 and Does Not contain PVC |
O-S-01 |
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Sinks in water per APR-O-S-01 and Contains PVC materials Why? |
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Floats in water per APR-O-S-01 |
O-S-01PP-CG-01 |
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Closures or lidding with metal components | Untested closures or liddings may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
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EVA and TPE Liners | ||||
Closure liners or Safety Sleeves made of ANY material that are designed to be COMPLETELY removed before the package can be opened | ||||
Polyethylene (PE) closure liner or safety seal | ||||
Closure liners and safety seals that are composites of AL and paper | Why? |
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SPRAY DISPENSERS AND PUMPS |
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All Plastic Dispensers, Pumps and Valves made with PP, HDPE, LDPE, and/or PE copolymers including TPO, EVA and TPE elastomers | all material floats in water per APR O-S-01 |
O-S-01 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Spray Dispensers, Pumps or Valves with density > 1.0 g/cm3 | Sinks in water per APR-O-S-01 and Does Not contain PVC |
O-S-01 |
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Sinks in water per APR-O-S-01 and Contains PVC materials Why? |
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Floats in water per APR-O-S-01 |
O-S-01PP-CG-01 |
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Valves or springs made of metal | Untested valves may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
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BARRIER LAYERS, COATINGS, ADDITIVES & FILLERS |
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EVOH Barriers | APR Design® for Recyclability | |||
EVOH > 6.0 wt% + PP-g-MAH tie layers with MAH > 0.1 wt% and EVOH:tie layers ratio ≤ 2Why? |
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EVOH > 1% with any other tie layers |
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Fillers, pigments or additives with densities greater than 1.0 g/cm3 | APR Design® for Recyclability | |||
PP blend density is ≥ 1.0 g/cm3 or < 51 wt% of PP blend floats per APR O-S-01 |
O-S-01 |
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PP blend density is > 0.97 g/cm3 and < 1.0 g/cm3Untested blends may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 |
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"Workhorse" additives | PP blend density is > 0.97 g/cm3 Workhorse Additives with unknown PP blend density may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 |
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Optical Brighteners | Why? |
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Non-PP layers and barrier materials other than EVOH | Untested barrier materials may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-S-01 PP-CG-01 |
APR Design® for Recyclability | Squeeze Tubes |
Degradable Additives | SEE APR POSITION PAPER | APR Position Statement |
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LABELS, INKS & ADHESIVES |
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Surface Area Coverage for Any Labels used on PP Packaging | Surface Area <= 55% for Volumes <= 550mL Surface area <= 75% for Volumes > 550mL |
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Surface Area > 55% for Volumes <= 550mL Surface area > 75% for Volumes > 550mL Higher Surface Area Coverage may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-01 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
Polyolefin Film Labels Designed to Remain Adhered to PP Flake | Label material does not interfere with PP flake floating in water |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
Label material, ink or adhesive causes PP flake to sink Why? |
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Polyolefin Film Labels Designed to Seperate from PP Container | APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |||
Film labels with Density > 1.0 g/cm3 that sink in water | Label is designed to release from PP container in wash |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
Label is designed to stay adhered to PP container in wash Why? |
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Film labels that contain PVC | Why? |
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Labels containing metal foil or metalized films or Inks | 1) Label does not interfere with PP flake floating AND 2) Metalized Area Meets APR Design Guide Preferred Criteria per APR RES-SORT-4 |
RES-SORT-04 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Label causes PP flake to sink Why? |
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1) Label does not interfere with PP flake floating AND 2) Metalized surface area is > max allowable per APR RES-SORT-4 Use SORT-B-03 test methods to determine if spherical equivalent threshold yields Detrimental or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
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Paper Labels | Why? |
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Film Labels where adhesive release and substrate float/sink behavior are not known | Untested label/adhesive combinations may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 PP-CG-01 |
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Label Inks | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PP-CG-01 |
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Direct Printing on PP containers | Untested labels may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PP-CG-01 |
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ATTACHMENTS |
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Plastic Attachments with Density > 1.0 g/cm3 | ||||
Contains PVC materialsWhy? |
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Paper Attachments | Why? |
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PVC Attachments | Why? |
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Polyethylene Attachments | Why? |
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RFID | Why? |
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Non-PP Attachments | Untested attachments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 |
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Metal, Metalized, and Metal Containing Attachments | Untested attachments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
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Welded attachments | Untested attachments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 PP-CG-01 |