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.
⚠ In preparation for the release of a new and improved APR Design® Guide format anticipated in early 2023, this guidance table is no longer being updated. If any new design guidance for PE Film packaging is approved in the interim, we will provide an addendum here.
Design Feature | Recyclability Category | APR Test Methods | APR Recognized Commercially Available Options | Additional Resources | |
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BASE MATERIALS
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Polyethylene mono-material flexible packaging, with a minimum of 90% PE and copolymers by weight of the total packaging structure | |||||
Special grades of PE available in the industry including plastomers, mLLDPE, ULDPE |
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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 | |||||
Ethylene copolymer ionomers designed for film extrusion when used below 20% in weight of the total package | CG Recognition Letters | ||||
PB (polybutenes) up to 5% in weight |
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Postconsumer PE Content | |||||
Less than 90% PE | |||||
PET, PVC, PVDC, Paper, Aluminum foil or degradable polymers | |||||
Less than 80% PE | Untested blends may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable Results |
FPE-CG-01 |
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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 | Untested blends may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
FPE-CG-01 |
CG Recognition Letters | ||
COLOR
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Unpigmented (Natural) PE | |||||
White, buff, or lightly colored film | |||||
Dark colors | Why? |
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Metallic Pigments | Untested pigments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01 |
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Pigments Concentration where density approaches 0.996 | Untested pigments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
O-S-01 |
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CLOSURES, DISPENSERS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS
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Polyethylene flexible seals, closures or dispensers | CG Recognition Letters | ||||
Metal and metal containing closures, dispensers or attachments | |||||
Non-PE flexible or rigid seals, closures, dispensers and other attachments | Untested closures and fitments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01 |
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Polyethylene rigid attachments | Untested attachments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01 |
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ADDITIVES AND BARRIER COATINGS | |||||
"Workhorse" additives historically used without issue | |||||
SiOx and AlOx barrier coatings | |||||
PVDC Coatings | |||||
Additive concentration where density is higher than 1.0 | |||||
Other Additives and Coatings | Untested barrier layers may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01 |
CG Recognition Letters | ||
Metalized Layers | Untested metalized layers may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01 |
Metal Sortation |
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Degradable Additives | Untested additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
APR Position Paper |
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Additive concentrations where density approaches 0.996 | Untested additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 PP-CG-01 |
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LABELS
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Polyethylene labels with tested inks and adhesives | |||||
Polyolefin labels that have been tested and found to be compatible with PE recycling systems | CG Recognition Letters | ||||
Printed labels with untested inks | |||||
Untested label adhesives | |||||
Paper Labels | Why? |
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Metal foil labels | |||||
Label Inks applied to Preferred label materials | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
HDPE-S-01 |
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Labels with metallic inks | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable Results |
SORT-B-03 FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01 |
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Label adhesives | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable Results |
FPE-BM-01 FPE-CG-01 |
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DIRECT PRINT INKS, PRIMERS, COATINGS & LAMINATING ADHESIVES | |||||
Unprinted and non-laminated PE | |||||
Tested inks, primers, coatings and laminating adhesives that disperse in the final polymer without having an impact on quality | CG Recognition Letters | ||||
Direct printing, primers & overprint lacquers and coatings, glossy or matte | |||||
Laminating adhesives, cold seal adhesives | |||||
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 | |||||
Curable inks, coatings & adhesives | FPE-B-01 FPE-CG-01 |
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Metallic inks | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
FPE-BM-01 FPE-CG-01 |
Polyplastics flexible multi-layered film for stand-up pouches with 15.5% or less total TOPAS® Cyclic Olefin Copolymer(COC) containing 62 to 77 weight percent norbornene comonomer
Dow SURLYN™ ionomers with up to and including 20% Plastics loading in multilayer polyethylene film substrates
Dow Chemical Additives RETAIN™
Vishal Containers CIRCUPACK - OTR Barrier Coated PE films
Nova Chemical’s All PE OTR barrier laminates through nanoclay barrier coating
AMPACET’s ReVive™ 311A compatibilizer masterbatch used in conjunction with EVOH with 32% ethylene content and/or PA6 nylon barrier layers in PE films
Scholle IPN polyethylene-based bag for bag-in-box packaging made with two layers of polyethylene-based film including EVOH and a polyethylene closure
UPM Raflatac Undecorated white PE and white PP pressure sensitive labels with acrylic adhesive for PE Film
Avery Dennison direct thermally printed white PE/PP polyolefin blend substrate and white BOPP substrate pressure sensitive labels with general purpose permanent acrylic adhesive for polyethylene films