The Association of Plastic Recyclers
  • PET

    PET

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate, Resin Identification Code #1)

Due to its clarity and natural CO2 barrier properties, PET is one of the most widely used packaging resins. It is easily blown into a bottle or formed into a sheet, thereby becoming the resin of choice for many applications. PET does not normally have the desired properties for closures, handles, attachments or labels so other polymers are commonly used for these items and affixed to the PET package. PET properties can be enhanced with colorants, UV blockers, oxygen barriers/scavengers and other additives. Each modification and addition to the base, clear PET in a package must be considered for its effect on the recycling stream. Items should either be economically removed from the PET in the typical recycling process or be compatible with RPET in future uses. The density of PET is 1.38 g/cm3 and so it sinks in water. Closures, labels and attachments should be made from materials with a density less than 1.0 g/cm3 that will float in water and therefore be readily separated from the PET.

ADDENDUM UPDATE

As of March 18th, 2024 the APR Design Guide and Guidance Table for PET have been updated with all of the addendum contents. As March 22nd, 2024, these addendums will no longer be available on our website. All future updates will be made directly into the APR Design Guide and Guidance Table, eliminating the need for separate addendums.

  • Clear PET is valued for its high transparency and colorless appearance; clear PET has the most value for recycling. The APR does not have quantitative guidance on color values for PET base resin today. However, we do encourage those that specify PET resins to work with their suppliers to identify the best resins available that will result in low color in an initial application, and then have good color stability when the PET is recycled.

    PREFERRED

    Base resin used to make injection stretch blow molded containers

    • Melting point between 225° and 255° C
    • Determined by DSC and ASTM D3418-15 with heating rate of 10°C / minute on second melt after 1st melt rapid quench to create amorphous material.

    • Intrinsic viscosity (IV) between 0.72 and 0.90 dL/g, with higher values being more desirable for PET recycling.
    • Acceptable test method: ASTM D 4603 solution IV with phenol/tetra-chlor-ethane at 30°C with values to be converted into intrinsic viscosity according to section 11.2 using the Billmeyer equation.

    • The terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate and monoethylene glycol reacted constitutes at least 90 percent of the mass of the monomer reacted to form the polymer.
    • Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, or BHET, is a solid crystalline compound that can be used as a starting material to produce PET, but it is not in wide commercial use. When terephthalic acid reacts with ethylene glycol, BHET is an intermediate that forms early in PET manufacture. Further, BHET is a reaction product that is recovered from glycolysis of chemically recycled PET.

      PET co-polymers made with BHET can meet this composition requirement. To evaluate, simply convert the BHET employed to the equivalent starting mass of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.

      Purified monomers used to produce PET can be derived from petroleum, renewable sources or from chemically recycled waste PET.

    • Recycled PET resins will need meet the criteria above for melting point, intrinsic viscosity and monomer composition to be considered preferred.

    Base resins for extrusion blow molding applications

    • Preferred resins will meet the testing criteria given in PET-CG-01.

    Base resins for thermoforms

    • PET resins employed for thermoforms should meet the melting point and monomer composition requirements outlined for injection stretch blow molding applications. To benefit PET recycling, thermoform resins should be as high in IV as possible.

    Click below for commercially available base resins that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    DETRIMENTAL

    None listed.

    RENDERS NON-RECYCLABLE

    Melting point < 225° or > 255° C or non-crystallizable

    Determined by DSC and ASTM D3418-15 with heating rate of 10°C / minute on second melt after 1st melt rapid quench to create amorphous material.

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Blends of PET and other resins designed to enhance properties in the intended first use with unknown residual effects in future uses of the recovered resin.

    Blends might be employed with making the initial package. Blends might also result when multi-layer structures are recycled, and a layer or coating used to make a package becomes blended into the recycled PET.

    APR recommends the following protocol to evaluate impact of blends or new co-polymers on PET recycling:

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Should a composition impact the NIR spectrum of the package, APR recommends the following protocol to evaluate:

    BENCHMARK TEST

  • PREFERRED

    Clear unpigmented PET

    Clear material has the highest value as a recycled stream since it has the widest variety of end-use applications. It is the most cost effective to process through the recycling system.

    Transparent light blue

    Light blue material is most often included with the clear material stream to act as a bluing agent and offset some yellowing. This adds volume to the high value clear stream and improves its quality when used in limited amounts. Normally it can also be added to the green stream with little negative effect.

    Transparent light green

    Green material has significant volume in the marketplace and may comprise up to 30% of the PET bale. The reclaimer may process it into a value added product, or send it to another reclaimer dedicated to green material. Its value is second only to clear material.

    DETRIMENTAL

    Opaque colored and white bottles

    Colored bottles that are not transparent may contain pigments that cause contamination in the PET stream. The colorants used to make a white PET bottle are not separable from the resin, and mix with clear and all other colors when the rPET pellets are extruded. This results in undesirable colors and a low-value rPET. Other opaque colored bottles also have very limited market value, as they cannot be included with the transparent bottle stream and the costs of sorting them into a separate bale usually outweigh the value gained.

    Transparent bottles, not light blue or light green

    Other transparent colors are used for PET bottles containing specialty beverages, supplements, personal care and automotive products. These may be sorted as PET and processed into lower value, dark colored fiber or sheet products.

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Black and dark colors with L-Value less than 40 or NIR reflectance less than or equal to 10%

    Historically, black colored packaging items have not been detectable as PET with NIR sorting, and therefore virtually all went to the waste stream. Recent innovations in both black colorants and sortation technology have created the possibility of sortable black PET containers. However, markets for black PET containers remain limited as referenced above. Therefore, testing results are limited to Detrimental and Non-recyclable only at this point in time.

    Sortable colorants are commercially available. Companies that are considering such colorants and are unsure of their compatibility with recycling should ask their suppliers to provide APR test results. As noted above, an item may meet the technical specifications for sorting, but may still not be considered recyclable due to lack of markets

    BENCHMARK TEST

  • Size and volume of items within the recycling stream are important features in determining whether something is Preferred, Detrimental or Needs Further Testing. For that reason, this section splits out size and volume based on sortation steps within the recycling process.
    • Large Size Boundary:

      This boundary exists due to size limits of recycling machinery, particularly automatic sorting equipment, within a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). MRFs typically employ manual sortation before the automatic sort line to remove larger items.

    • Small Size Boundary:

      This boundary exists due to the minimum sieve size within the glass screens at a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). The mixed material that enters the MRF to be sorted is first compressed/crushed and then passed over these glass screens. The glass screens have small sieve openings where the crushed glass drops through and is sent to the glass recycling stream. However, small plastic packaging items that are below these sieve openings in the glass screens will also drop through to the glass stream and will be lost to the plastic recycling streams.

    • 2D/3D Boundary:

      This boundary exists due to the separation process that happens in a Material Recovery Facility in order to separate out the paper (2D items) from the containers (3D items) within the stream of mixed materials. If plastic packaging is sorted by the machinery as 2D, it will be sent to the paper stream and will be lost to the plastic recycling stream.

    PREFERRED

    Large Size Boundary: Items that are < 7.5L (2 gal) in volume

    Recycling machinery, particularly automatic sorting equipment, typically cannot process items larger than 7.5 liters (2 gallons).

    Small Size Boundary: Items that clearly measure larger than 5 cm (2 in) in any two dimensions

    Small size boundaries are of concern because the industry standard glass screen size for Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in North America potentially loses materials less than two inches to the glass stream.

    2D/3D Boundary: Items where the smallest uncompressed dimension ≥ minimum dimensions per RES-SORT-05

    While weight and surface area factor into the likely outcome for 2D/3D separation process, the most critical factor is height of the package when it is laying down. Packages tend to orient themselves so that height is defined as the smallest overall dimension of the package.

    DETRIMENTAL

    Large Size Boundary: Items that are ≥ 7.5 L (2 gal) in volume

    Recycling machinery, particularly automatic sorting equipment, typically not able to accept items larger than 7.5 liters (2 gallons). Items over this max size are manual pulled out of the recycling stream before the automatic sort equipment to avoid damage. These items are recovered in a stream of bulky rigid containers that are sold and processed as polyethylene since the vast majority of bulky rigid items are comprised of this polymer. Other polymers including PET either negatively affect or are lost by the polyethylene processing.

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Small Size Boundary: Items smaller than 5 cm(2 in) in any two dimensions

    The industry standard glass screen size for North American MRFs potentially loses materials less than 5 cm (2 in) to the glass stream. Sortation testing below can determine the impact of the size and shape of a container on sortability.

    BENCHMARK TEST

    2D/3D Boundary: Items where the smallest uncompressed dimension < minimum dimensions per RES-SORT-05

    Aside from not being captured in the PET stream, non-conforming items that are more “flat” can cause contamination in the paper stream. If items are not captured and directed into the PET stream, they are not recycled.

    Sortation testing below can determine if packaging is Preferred or Detrimental

    BENCHMARK TEST

  • PREFERRED

    Primary material employed to make a closure shell and liner

    • Preferred closures will be entirely plastic and can be made with: PP, HDPE, LDPE, PE copolymers including TPO’s and EVA, TPE elastomers. Additional detail on preferred materials that may be used for closure shells and liners:

      • Polypropylene – including copolymers with ethylene, impact modified grades, nucleated or clarified grades.

      • Ethylene polymers and copolymers including EVA copolymers and ionomers.

      • Thermoplastic elastomers based on olefinic constituents. The more common elastomers are ethylene and/or propylene based plastomers/elastomers as well as olefin block copolymers including SEBS.

      • Foamed olefin-based materials.

    • Closures will also entirely float in water after granulation per PET-S-05.

    Click below for commercially available closures that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    Dispensing closures and fitments

    Preferred criteria for closures shells and liners given immediately above also apply to dispensing closures and fitments used for PET containers.

    Examples of dispensing closures are those on condiment bottles that may employ a valve, or multi-component closures on sport drink bottles.

    Safety seals for closures

    Closures with tamper proof features are Preferred when materials described for closure shells and liners are employed.

    Tamper proof features include features such as bands, tapes, induction or heat seals, pull-tabs, or shrink film where at least some, or all, of the tamper evidence material might remain on the PET container after consumer use.

    Safety/tamper evident features that are designed to be completely removed and discarded by a consumer prior to opening the package and are shown to perform as intended in actual use, may be made with any material.

    DETRIMENTAL

    Closure liners that are composites of aluminum foil and paper

    These materials will contaminate wash water, will contribute to waste disposal costs, or will stick to the saleable closure material or valuable PET and reduce quality and value of the final products.

    RENDERS NON-RECYCLABLE

    PVC

    The use of PVC closures or closure liners renders the package non-recyclable per APR. PVC sinks and is extremely hard for the recycler to remove, particularly in small pieces. The recycled PET stream is very intolerant of even minute amounts of PVC.

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Closures, Liners or Safety Seals made of polymers with density >1.0 g/cm3 that sink in water

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Closures or lidding with metal components

    Some metal components may be of sufficient size to either cause rejection at a metal detector, or steel closures may cause a package to be removed by a magnet. In these cases, the package is sent to a waste stream and not recycled

    If a metal closure does not impact metal detectors or magnets, it is categorized as detrimental because metals sink with the PET and are difficult to remove from the washed PET flake.

    BENCHMARK TEST

    Any Closure, Liner or Safety Seal design not within the scope of information provided above

    DEFINITIVE TEST

  • PREFERRED

    Primary material employed to make a closure shell and liner

    • Preferred dispenser/pumps will be entirely plastic and can be made with: PP, HDPE, LDPE, PE copolymers including TPO’s and EVA, TPE elastomers. Additional detail on preferred materials that may be used for dispensers/pumps:

      • Polypropylene – including copolymers with ethylene, impact modified grades, nucleated or clarified grades.

      • Ethylene polymers and copolymers including EVA copolymers and ionomers.

      • Thermoplastic elastomers based on olefinic constituents. The more common elastomers are ethylene and/or propylene based plastomers/elastomers as well as olefin block copolymers including SEBS.

      • Foamed olefin-based materials.

    • Dispenser/Pump materials will also entirely float in water after granulation per PET-S-05.

    Click below for commercially available spray dispensers and pumps that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    DETRIMENTAL

    None listed

    RENDERS NON-RECYCLABLE

    PVC

    The use of PVC in spray dispensers or pumps renders the package non-recyclable per APR. PVC sinks and is extremely hard for the recycler to remove, particularly in small pieces. The recycled PET stream is very intolerant of even minute amounts of PVC.

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Spray Dispensers or Pumps made of polymers with density >1.0 g/cm3 that sink in water

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Valves containing silicone (density and floatability will vary)

    Check valves in spray dispensers or pumps may be made of silicone as an alternative to metals. While polymers are generally preferable to metals, the composition of a silicone part may cause it to be incompatible with PET recycling. It should float in the sink/float system or be compatible with PET if it sinks. Companies that are considering such components and are unsure of their compatibility with recycling should ask their suppliers to provide APR test results.

    SCREENING TEST

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Click below for commercially available valves containing silicone that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognitions

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    Valves or springs made of metal

    Metal contamination is highly undesirable in recycled PET. Metals create wear in process machinery, increase operation costs and yield loss, and are a primary source of defects in products made with recycled PET. MRFs and PET reclaimers use magnets, eddy current separators and metal detectors to keep packages with metal components out of the process stream. Metal components such as pump springs or valves that trigger metal detectors will cause the entire plastic item to be removed from the stream and not recycled. Any dispenser containing metal components must be tested to determine the recyclability category. At best, sortation testing will classify such an item as Detrimental to Recycling.

    BENCHMARK TEST

    Any closure or dispenser design not within the scope of information provided above

    DEFINITIVE TEST

  • Label selection should be considered carefully to find the solution most compatible with the recycling process that also provides the necessary performance characteristics. To be categorized as Preferred, a finished label must meet both of the following criteria:

    1. The printed label will not interfere with automated sorting steps
    2. The printed label (Inks and adhesives) will not interfere with the quality and quantity of the recycled PET.

    PREFERRED

    Automated sorting performance criteria:

    • For containers with a brimful volume of 550 ml or less, the surface area coverage of the label is no more than 55%, and no metal decoration is employed on the label.
    • Surface area is defined as the area of the label divided by the area of the side wall and shoulder of the container. The area of the neck ring, threaded finish and base are not included in the area calculation. Metal decoration includes vapor deposited metal films, metal foils, or inks with metallic pigments.

      Containers with no more than 55% surface area coverage by a label are expected to sort accurately in both NIR and color optical sorters. Labels with metal decoration can be tested for any impact on sorting performance using APR Test Methods.

      Since labels for PET packaging most often become a waste stream, APR encourages labels that are as small in surface area and weight as possible.

    • For containers with a brimful volume of over 550 ml, the surface area coverage is no more than 75%, and no metal decoration is employed on the label.
    • Surface area is defined as the area of the label divided by the area of the side wall and shoulder of the container. The area of the neck ring, threaded finish and base are not included in the area calculation. Metal decoration includes vapor deposited metal films, metal foils, or inks with metallic pigments.

      Containers with no more than 75% surface area coverage by a label are expected to sort accurately in both NIR and color optical sorters. Labels with metal decoration can be tested for any impact on sorting performance using APR Test Methods.

      Since labels for PET packaging most often become a waste stream, APR encourages labels that are as small in surface area and weight as possible.

    Film Labels with density ≤1.0 g/cm3 or float per PET-S-05.

    Labels will employ hot caustic resistant inks designed to be compatible with PET recycling, and float in water.

    Click below for commercially available Film Labels Intended to Float in Water and have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    Labels containing metalized material that are below the preferred surface area per APR-RES-SORT-4.

    Metalized material includes vapor deposited metal films, metal foils, or inks with metallic pigments.

    Polystyrene Labels that float in water per PET-S-05.

    While standard polystyrene has a density of > 1.0 g/cm3 and sinks, expanded polystyrene may float and be separable from the PET.

    DETRIMENTAL

    Paper labels

    The PET reclamation process involves a hot caustic wash that removes adhesives and other label components. This process renders paper into a pulp which is very difficult to filter from the liquid, adding significant load to the filtering and water treatment systems. Some of the small individual paper fibers will remain with the PET and carbonize when the material is extruded, causing unacceptable quality degradation. Non-pulping paper labels that resist the caustic wash process sink in the float-sink tank, thereby causing RPET contamination.

    RENDERS NON-RECYCLABLE

    PVC and PLA

    Both materials are extremely difficult to remove in the recycling process due to their similarity in density to PET, which causes them to sink in the float/sink tank along with the PET. Both cause severe quality degradation in the final recycled PET stream even in very small amounts.

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Laminated label substrate

    Labels that break into small, very thin pieces of material are more difficult to manage in the recycling process because they behave erratically in a float-sink tank. Therefore, labels that stay intact are preferred. Carry-over of delaminated labels into the RPET can result in contamination.

    In order for any of these label materials to be considered Preferred Design, the specific items must have been tested and found Preferred based on the test results. If these items have not been tested, they are considered Detrimental to Recycling. Testing will determine the appropriate category.

    Companies that are considering such materials and are unsure of their compatibility with recycling should ask their suppliers to provide APR test results.

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Labels that exceed the surface area coverage as described in Preferred Guidance section.

    Labels with high surface area coverage may interfere with detection of the PET container. The label substrate (film or paper), inks, and metal decoration can interfere with NIR detection when the label covers a high surface area of the container. Also, high label surface area coverage may cause a clear PET bottle to be sorted as a colored bottle in a color sorter.

    If one’s design is outside of the best practice guidance above, the labeled bottle must be evaluated using the APR test methods below.

    DEFINITIVE TEST - NIR

    DEFINITIVE TEST - Color

    Film Labels that sink in water per PET-S-05.

    Crystallizing co-polyester label films should be tested to show crystallizing behavior and show they do not cause “clumping” similar to that of amorphous PETG films.

    SCREENING TEST

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Click below for commercially available Film Labels that Sink in Water and have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    Olefin films that sink in water due heavy inks but float after exposure to hot caustic wash solution should be tested

    SCREENING TEST

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Labels containing metalized materials that are above the preferred surface area per APR-RES-SORT-4.

    Labels that have surface areas above the preferred surface areas specified in the Screening Test below would need to be tested using the Benchmark Test below to verify they are under the spherical equivalent thresholds.

    Metalized material includes vapor deposited metal films, metal foils, or inks with metallic pigments.

    Without further testing, labels with metalized material with surface areas above the starting points in the table are categorized as detrimental due to a higher probability of being removed by the metal detector during sortation.

    Solid foils will continue to render the package non-recyclable per APR’s definition.

    SCREENING TEST

    BENCHMARK TEST

    Polystyrene labels that sink

    The density of PET is 1.38 g/cm3 and so it sinks in water. Polystyrene has a density of > 1.0 g/cm3, so it sinks and remains with the PET in float/sink separation systems. It is not compatible with PET and may cause serious processing and end-use problems.

    SCREENING TEST

    DEFINITIVE TEST

  • PREFERRED

    Labels with no adhesives

    DETRIMENTAL

    None listed

    RENDERS NON-RECYCLABLE

    None listed

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Adhesives Designed to Wash Cleanly from PET Package

    Adhesives employed with the label film specifically developed to wash cleanly from the package and not impact the color of recycled PET shall meet the below test critieria. In the specific case of pressure sensitive film adhesives, the adhesive will adhere to the label and the label film with ink and adhesive floats in water.

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Today, the only test available for confirming that an adhesive can be categorized as Preferred is APR Critical Guidance testing. However, QT-504 is a screening test published by EPBP, and the Benchmark test below is a less complex test that can be used to pick “better” adhesives before conducting APR Critical Guidance testing. APR recommends that the information in our Product Stewardship Statement be taken into consideration when developing/approving adhesives for PET packaging.

    BENCHMARK TEST

    Click below for commercially available Adhesives that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

  • PREFERRED

    Hot Caustic Resistant Inks for Film Labels Intended to Float in Water and meet PET-B-02.

    Hot caustic resistant ink is defined by the Design Guide to be an ink specifically developed for labels employed for PET packaging and designed to be compatible with PET recycling.

    Click below for commercially available Hot Caustic Resistant Inks that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    Wash Off Inks for Film Labels that Sink in Water and meet PET-B-02.

    The APR Design Guide defines wash-off inks to be those specifically designed for higher density “sinking” label films where the ink washes off in particles and is designed to be compatible with PET recycling

    Click below for commercially available Wash Off Inks that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    Labels containing metalized material that are below the preferred surface area per APR-RES-SORT-04.

    Metalized material includes vapor deposited metal films, metal foils, or inks with metallic pigments.

    Wash Off Inks printed directly on PET packaging and meet PET-B-02.

    Click below for commercially available Wash Off Inks that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    DETRIMENTAL

    None listed

    RENDERS NON-RECYCLABLE

    None listed

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Labels containing metalized materials that are above the preferred surface area per APR-RES-SORT-04.

    Labels that have surface areas above the preferred surface areas specified in the Screening Test below would need to be tested using the Benchmark Test below to verify they are under the spherical equivalent thresholds.

    Without further testing, metal foils with surface areas above the starting points in the table are categorized as detrimental due to a higher probability of being removed by the metal detector during sortation.

    Metalized material includes vapor deposited metal films, metal foils, or inks with metallic pigments.

    Solid foils will continue to render the package non-recyclable per APR’s definition.

    SCREENING TEST

    BENCHMARK TEST

  • Barrier layers, coatings, and other additives are critical additions to PET bottles to enhance the properties of PET. Unlike closures or labels, these additions cannot be visually determined to be problematic or potentially problematic for recycling. Therefore, testing is particularly important.

    While several additive materials have been tested and received Critical Guidance Recognition, their penetration in the marketplace is currently limited, and the potential range and scope of new performance enhancing barrier technologies is unknown. APR encourages companies to use commercially available, Preferred technologies as determined by testing, and also promotes innovation in the development and testing of new barrier technologies.

    BARRIER MATERIALS AND ADDITIVES

    PREFERRED

    Oxygen Scavengers that meet criteria from PET-CG-01. when employing the aging conditions given in PET-P-12

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    LAB PRACTICES

    Click below for commercially available Oxygen Scavengers that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    DETRIMENTAL

    Optical brighteners

    Optical brighteners are not removed from PET in the recycling process and the residual amount can cause unacceptable fluorescence in the next use of the PET resin. The negative impact on the value and quality of the rPET is not detectable until late in the recycling process.

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Silicone Oxides

    SCREENING TEST

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Click below for commercially available Silicone Oxides that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    Toners

    Toners that have been tested and found to be thermally stable are Preferred. If these items have not been tested, they are considered Detrimental to Recycling. Testing will determine the appropriate category.

    SCREENING TEST

    Reheat additives

    Reheat additives can turn PET flake dark or yellow, thereby reducing the value and marketability of the rPET produced. Testing can verify their impact.

    SCREENING TEST

    DEFINITIVE TEST

    Click below for commercially available Reheat Additives that have achieved APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

    APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions

    Degradable additives

    See APR Position Paper on Degradable Additives

    APR Position Paper

    Other barrier materials or additives

    SCREENING TEST

    DEFINITIVE TEST

  • PREFERRED

    Clear PET attachments with compatible parameters to Base Resin Preferred Criteria

    Attachments made of the base polymer are recovered and recycled with the base polymer without causing contamination or yield loss, thereby generating the highest value.

    DETRIMENTAL

    Paper attachments

    The PET recycling process involves a hot caustic wash that removes adhesives and other components. This process renders paper into a pulp which is very difficult to filter from the liquid, adding significant load to the filtering and water treatment systems. Some of the small individual paper fibers will remain with the PET and carbonize when the material is extruded, causing unacceptable quality degradation.

    Welded attachments

    A certain amount of a welded attachment cannot be separated from the PET in the recycling process. These attachments, even when ground and made of floatable materials, cause RPET contamination and yield loss issues in both cases: when the PET they are attached to causes the ground section containing both polymers to sink, or when the ground section floats.

    RFID’s (radio frequency identification devices) on packages, labels or closures

    Unless they are compatible with PET recycling and are demonstrated not to create any disposal issues based on their material content, the use of RFID’s is discouraged as it limits PET yield, introduces potential contamination, and increases separation costs.

    Polystyrene (PS)

    Polystyrene has a density of > 1.0 g/cm3, so it sinks and remains with the PET in float/sink separation systems. It is not compatible with PET and may cause serious processing and end-use problems.

    RENDERS NON-RECYCLABLE

    PVC and PLA attachments

    Both materials are extremely difficult to remove in the recycling process due to their similarity in density to PET, which causes them to sink in the float/sink tank along with the PET. Both cause severe quality degradation in the final recycled PET stream even in very small amounts.

    REQUIRES TEST RESULTS

    Metal, metalized and metal containing attachments

    Examples include metal foils and metalized substrates that sink in water. In the recycling process these items are either identified and removed along with their PET component in the early stages, thereby causing yield loss, or they pass into the recycling process causing a contamination issue. Since they are heavier than water they sink with the PET in the float-sink tank.

    If a metalized attachment causes the PET bottle to fail sortation testing, the bottle is Rendered Non-Recyclable as it is removed from the stream and discarded. If a metalized attachments passes through sortation, it is considered Detrimental as it contaminates PET.

    BENCHMARK TEST

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority maintain rigorous regulatory procedures that the PET recycling industry employs to ensure that recycled PET is used safely in food and beverage packaging applications.

    The Guidance below is provided with these two objectives in mind:

    1. Minimize the risk that any undesirable chemicals or substances will be present in the wastewater generated by the PET recycling process, even at exceptionally low levels of detection.
    2. To remind those in the PET packaging value chain that certain substances have an especially negative public perception. And while these substances are managed in US FDA and EFSA regulations impacting recycled PET, their use is highly undesirable in PET packaging applications.

    The terms used in the guidance below are well known to those that manage regulatory aspects of plastics for food packaging applications. If the terms are not familiar to you, APR recommends that you discuss these requirements with your various suppliers who have the required background.

    The following Stewardship guidance is provided for all PET container, thermoform and component design features in the final state in consumer packaging:

    • All components used for food packaging should conform to the regulatory requirements in the locality of use.
    • Toxic chemical substances and chemical hazards should be avoided in raw material components used in base resins, printing and label products, and other design features and package components. These include the following:
    • All PET container and component materials should conform to the following documented regulations and published exclusion lists with threshold levels to guide proper interpretation of risks:
      • CONEG regulations for metals;
      • California Proposition 65-listed materials having Safe Harbor levels;
      • Substances of Very High Concern listings from ECHA; reference candidate list for authorization

    This APR Guidance is offered today to promote industry awareness of these product stewardship topics. A longer-term goal at APR may be to include adherence to this guidance when evaluating package features that meet the APR Preferred category.

PET Preferred Guidance

Closure

Closure

Made of PE or PP so it separates from PET in a float/sink tank and can be sold as a side stream by reclaimer.
Dimensions

Dimensions

More 2D (round) than 3D (flat), and larger than 5 cm in two dimensions.
Layers & Coatings

Layers & Coatings

APR Critical Guidance recognized barriers or protective coatings.
Resin

Resin

PET with a crystalline melting point between 225C and 255C. Post consumer PET (RPET) content is encouraged.
Label

Label

Crystallizable PET or a polymer that floats in water; label covers less than 100% of bottle surface.
  • Closure

    Closure

    Made of PE or PP so it separates from PET in a float/sink tank and can be sold as a side stream by reclaimer.
  • Dimensions

    Dimensions

    More 2D (round) than 3D (flat), and larger than 5 cm in two dimensions.
  • Layers & Coatings

    Layers & Coatings

    APR Critical Guidance recognized barriers or protective coatings.
  • Resin

    Resin

    PET with a crystalline melting point between 225C and 255C. Post consumer PET (RPET) content is encouraged.
  • Label

    Label

    Crystallizable PET or a polymer that floats in water; label covers less than 100% of bottle surface.

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