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 addition, APR recommends adherence to the product stewardship considerations outlined in the PET Design Guidance. A longer-term goal at APR may be to include adherence to the product stewardship guidance when evaluating package features that meet the APR Preferred category.
ADDENDUM UPDATE
As of March 22nd, 2024 the APR Design Guidance and Guidance Table for PET have 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 for Recyclability Test Methods |
APR Recognized Commercially Available Options | Additional Resources |
---|---|---|---|---|
BASE RESIN |
||||
Crystalline Melt Point |
Preferred if 225-255°C as determined by ASTM D3418-15 test method |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
Non-Recyclable if <225°C or > 255°C, or non-crystallizable |
||||
Intrinsic Viscosity |
Preferred if between 0.72- 0.90 dL/g as determined by ASTM D4603 test method |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
Detrimental if <0.72 dL/g or > 0.90 dL/g Why? |
||||
Monomer Composition | Preferred if > 90% PTA or DMT reacted with MEG |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
Detrimental < 90% PTA or DMT reacted with MEG Why? |
||||
Blends of PET and other resins designed to enhance properties in the intended first use with unknown residual effects on future uses of the recovered resin. | Needs Testing Untested blends may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-01 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
COLOR |
||||
Transparent Clear | Preferred | |||
Transparent Light Green | Preferred | |||
Transparent Light Blue | Preferred | |||
Other Transparent Colors | Detrimental Why? |
|||
Opaque and White | Detrimental Why? |
|||
Black and Dark Colors | Detrimental if Passes APR SORT-B-01 testing criteria Why? |
SORT-B-01 |
External reviews of these technologies |
|
Non-Recyclable if Does Not Pass APR SORT-B-01 testing criteria |
||||
DIMENSIONS |
||||
Large size boundary | Preferred if ≤ 7.5 liters (2 gal.) in volume |
|||
Detrimental if > 7.5 liters (2 gal.) in volume Why? |
||||
Small size boundary | Preferred if > 2 in (5 cm.) in any two dimensions |
Size Sortation | ||
Needs Testing if ≤ 2 in (5 cm) in any two dimensions Untested size boundary may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
SORT-B-02 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
2D/3D Boundary | Preferred if Smallest uncompressed packaging dimension ≥ minimum dimensions per APR-RES-SORT-05 |
RES-SORT-05 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Needs Testing if 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 |
|||
CLOSURES, CLOSURE LINERS & SAFETY SEALS |
||||
Closures, Liners or Safety Seals made of PP, HDPE, LDPE, PE copolymers including TPO’s and EVA, TPE elastomers that float in water after granulation | Preferred ifDensity is ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 or floats in water per PET-S-05 | PET-S-05 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Safety Seals made of any materials that are designed to be removed and discarded before the package can be opened | Preferred | |||
Closures, Liners or Safety Seals that are composites of AL and paper | Detrimental Why? |
|||
PVC | Non-Recyclable | |||
Closures, Liners or Safety Seals made of polymers with density > 1.0 g/cm3 that sink in water after granulation | Needs Testing Untested Closures, Liners or Safety Seals may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-02 |
||
Closures with metal components | Needs Testing Untested closures may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
|
Other Closures, Liners or Safety Seals not Covered in this section | Needs Testing Untested Closures, Liners or Safety Seals may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-02 |
||
SPRAY DISPENSERS & PUMPS |
||||
Dispensers/Pumps made of PP, HDPE, LDPE, PE copolymers including TPO’s and EVA, TPE elastomers that float in water after granulation | Preferred ifDensity is ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 or floats in water per PET-S-05 | PET-S-05 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Any amount of PVC | Non-Recyclable | |||
Dispensers/Pumps made of polymers with density > 1.0 g/cm3 that sink in water after granulation | Needs Testing Untested Dispensers/Pumps may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-02 |
||
Valves containing silicone (density and floatability will vary) | Needs Testing Untested valves may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-S-05 PET-CG-02 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Valves or springs made of metal | Needs Testing Untested valves/springs may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
|
LABELS |
||||
Surface Area Coverage for Any Labels used on PET Packaging | Preferred if Surface Area ≤ 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL Surface area ≤ 75% for Volumes > 550mL |
|||
Needs Testing 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 SORT-B-04 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | ||
Film labels intended to float in water | Preferred ifDensity is ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 or floats in water per PET-S-05 | PET-S-05 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Polystyrene | Preferred if Floats in water per PET-S-05 |
PET-S-05 | ||
Needs Testing Untested Polystyrene may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-02 |
|||
Contains Metalized Material | Preferred if Surface Area is < Preferred Surface Area per APR RES-SORT-4 |
RES-SORT-04 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Needs Testing if Surface Area is > Preferred Surface Area 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 |
|||
Contains Paper Materials | Detrimental Why? |
|||
Contains PVC or PLA in any amount | Non-Recyclable | |||
Film labels that sink in water | Needs Testing Labels that sink in water may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-S-05 PET-CG-02 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Laminated substrate | Needs Testing Laminated substrates may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-02 |
||
ADHESIVES |
||||
No Adhesive | Preferred | |||
Adhesives Designed to Wash Cleanly from PET Package | Needs Testing Adhesives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-02 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
INKS AND PIGMENTS |
||||
Inks for Film Labels Intended to Float in Water | Preferred Hot Caustic Resistant Inks that meet APR PET-B-02 Criteria |
PET-B-02 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Needs Testing Untested Inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
||||
Inks for Film Labels that Sink in Water | Preferred Wash off Inks that meets APR PET-B-02 Criteria |
PET-B-02 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Needs Testing Untested Inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
||||
Inks printed directly on PET package | Preferred Wash off Inks that meets APR PET-B-02 Criteria |
PET-B-02 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Needs Testing Untested Inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
||||
Metallic Inks Used on Any Label or Printed on PET packaging | Preferred if Surface Area is < Preferred Surface Area per APR RES-SORT-4 |
RES-SORT-04 SORT-B-03 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Needs Testing if Surface Area is > Preferred Surface Area per APR RES-SORT-4 Use SORT-B-03 test methods to determine if spherical equivalent threshold yields Detrimental or Non-Recyclable results |
||||
BARRIER LAYERS, COATINGS & ADDITIVES |
||||
Oxygen Scavengers | Preferred if Meets the criteria given in PET-CG-01 when employing the aging conditions given in PET-P-12 |
PET-S-03 PET-CG-01 PET-P-00 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Needs Testing Untested Oxygen Scavengers may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
||||
Optical Brighteners | Detrimental Why? |
|||
Silicon Oxides | Needs Testing Silicon Oxides may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
PET-S-03 PET-CG-01 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Toners | Needs Testing Toners may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
PET-S-03 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Reheat Additives | Needs Testing Reheat Additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
PET-S-03 PET-CG-01 |
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognitions | |
Other Barrier Materials and Additives | Needs Testing Other Barrier Materials or Additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-recyclable results |
PET-S-03 PET-CG-01 |
||
Degradable Additives | SEE APR POSITION PAPER | APR Position Paper Degradeable Additives |
||
ATTACHMENTS |
||||
Clear PET with compatible parameters to Base Resin Preferred Criteria | Preferred | |||
Paper | Detrimental Why? |
|||
Welded, regardless of resin | Detrimental Why? |
|||
RFID | Detrimental Why? |
|||
PS | Detrimental Why? |
|||
PVC or PLA in any amount | Non-Recyclable | |||
Metal, metallized, and metal containing | Needs Testing Untested metals may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
Eastman Cristal™ One and Eastman Cristal™ One Pro resins
Eastar™ polyester E8001
PolyClear® EBM PET 5507
Array™ EBM 5862
PolyClear® EBM PET 5506
Aspira™ One
Array™ EBM 5862
Laser+® 7000 (B92A)
Array™ EBM 5860 and Array™ EBM 5861
PolyClear® EBM PET 5505
PolyClear® EBM PET 5505
PolyClear® EBM PET 5505
BK 6180
PermaClear® Ti842
Indorama’s PENCo109 PET copolymer with low naphthalate modification
HANA’s globally-patented ECOHELIX 100% polypropylene dispensing pumps for PET, HDPE and PP containers
APackaging Group’s Infinity Pump Series™ all-polyolefin lotion pumps for HDPE and PET bottles
Aptar’s Future all-PE pump for HDPE, and PET bottles
Critical Guidance Recognition (CGR)
APackaging Group's Infinity Trigger Sprayer
100% polymer bag-in-bottle PET aerosol container without base cup system
100% polymer dip tube or bag-in-bottle PET aerosol container with base cup system
PET bottle and all-polymer valve, seal, and dip tube assembly
All-polyolefin lotion liquids pump
Multi-layered PET bottle made with Husky ® HPP5 Multi-Layer Systems and using 2.5% or less of MGC MX Nylon M6007DTM placed specifically in the sidewall with avoidance in the neck finish and base
HyCat and Ultimate UV390™
FreshSafe-PET®
ColorMatrix™ SmartHeat RHC reheat and process aid for PET bottles
Liveo Research’s ECOmply CrystallCycle polyester shrink sleeve label film substrate with PCR content
Fuji Seal Packaging (Thailand)’s crystallizable PET copolyester shrink labels with washable ink systems for PET bottles
Garware Polyester Ltd.’s ECO-REP heat shrinkable film with washable HP Indigo ElectroInk printed on a HP Indigo Press for crystallizable copolyester shrink sleeve labels for PET bottles
Pentalabel® SmartCycle™ and Pentalabel® SmartCycle™ Pro with 30% PCR polyester shrink sleeve label film substrate
MultiColor™ washable ink system on Bonset America’s Bonpet Renew™ Shrink Film made from Eastman Chemical’s Embrace Encore™ resin
EnviroCycle® 4200 Series copolyester heat shrinkable sleeve film substrate
EcoCrys™
Aquantum primer and Sicura inks Printed on Bonset America’s Bonpet Renew™ crystallizable shrink film, made with Eastman Chemical’s Embrace Encore™ resin
Bonpet Renew™ crystallizable shrink film, made with Eastman Chemical’s Embrace Encore™ resin, and printed with Sun Chemical’s SunSpectro® SolvaWash GR washable ink system
TopGreen® Genesis GS™
Recycle Friendly washable ink system printed on SKC Ecolabel™
RecShrink
Eastman Embrace Encore® & Eastman Embrace Float®
SKC Ecolabel™ used with MCC DNX53TM inking system
CleanFlake™ Technology that enables recycling for General Purpose & Beverage applications on PET & HDPE
CleanFlake™ Pressure Sensitive Label Films - Asia Pacific, undecorated clear and white BOPP substrate pressure sensitive labels with SR3013 Cleanflake™ acrylic emulsion adhesive for PET bottles
CCL Label’s EcoFloat™ polyolefin shrink sleeve label decorated with caustic-resistant and non-staining ink
Roll-On Shrink-On (ROSO) label with MCC Colorfast™ Inks CleanFlake™ Pressure Sensitive Label Film
Pentalabel® ClearFloat™ LC8CF (previously referenced as LC8CV) and TC8CF (previously referenced as TC8CV)
Floatable 45 micron TDS65 sleeve label substrate undecorated and converted sleeve label substrate gravure printed by Brook & Whittle Ltd.
recycLABEL™ Clear (HSLPE10002) shrink sleeve label with white, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black decoration
RafShrink PO MDO 40 LS and RafShrink PO TDO 45 HS
Polyphane™ FitSleeve Label with 527 ink system
CleanFlake™ Roll Fed Sleeve Label
RafShrink PO MDO 40 and RafShrink PO MDO 40 HS
Shrink film “FVH2-05” & non-bleeding ink system “IA1-L”
LDPET shrink sleeve labels
Flint Group’s Evolution Varnish with EkoCure® F Inks and UPM Raflatac previously Recognized BOPP pressure sensitive substrates for PET bottles
CE Unbind solvent-based washable ink series, black, white, and blue, for crystallizable copolyester shrink labels for PET bottles
RecShrink
shrink film “FVH2-05” & non-bleeding ink system “IA1-L”
CCL Label’s EcoFloat™ polyolefin shrink sleeve label decorated with caustic-resistant and non-staining ink
Garware Polyester Ltd.’s ECO-REP heat shrinkable film with washable HP Indigo ElectroInk printed on a HP Indigo Press for crystallizable copolyester shrink sleeve labels for PET bottles
Aquantum primer and Sicura inks Printed on Bonset America’s Bonpet Renew™ crystallizable shrink film, made with Eastman Chemical’s Embrace Encore™ resin
Bonpet Renew™ crystallizable shrink film, made with Eastman Chemical’s Embrace Encore™ resin, and printed with Sun Chemical’s SunSpectro® SolvaWash GR washable ink system
Recycle Friendly washable ink system printed on SKC Ecolabel™
Genesis GS™
MultiColor™ washable ink system on Bonset America’s Bonpet Renew™ Shrink Film made from Eastman Chemical’s Embrace Encore™ resin
recycLABEL™ Clear (HSLPE10002) shrink sleeve label with white, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black decoration
Polyphane™ FitSleeve Label with 527 ink system
SKC Ecolabel™ used with MCC DNX53TM inking system
LDPET shrink sleeve labels
PureVue™ White or Clear Recyclable Pressure Sensitive Labels
Four color (white, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) Direct Object Printing™ technology with up to and including 70% surface coverage on a PET bottle
Four color Direct Object Printing™ technology with 2.5% and less surface coverage
Four color (white, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) Direct Object Printing™ technology with up to and including 70% surface coverage on a PET bottle
GreenCycle™ 2.4 mil white top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate (024TL) and 1.85 Mil Clear BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate (018CT), both with 776S acrylic emulsion adhesive
2.6 mil white top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate and 2.0 mil clear top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate, both with PUREfloat™ emulsion acrylic adhesive
RecycLABEL® clear #11581 and RecycLABEL® white #11582 pressure sensitive labels made with clear and white BOPP and an acrylic emulsion adhesive
RW85C acrylic emulsion adhesive and clear or white BOPP films undecorated labels covering 40% or less of the area of a PET bottle
Undecorated optiFLEX ecoFOCUS PP 200 H Clear TC, optiFLEX ecoFOCUS PP 230 H White TC, with V-52RE adhesive
GreenCycle™ 2.4 mil white top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate (024TL) and 1.85 Mil Clear BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate (018CT), both with 776S acrylic emulsion adhesive
HDPE bottle with 10% or less clear ethylene/propylene thermoplastic polyolefin outer layer
LDPET shrink sleeve labels
PureVue™ White or Clear Recyclable Pressure Sensitive Labels
LD-PSL System
FIJI Water pressure sensitive label
GreenCycle™ 2.4 mil white top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate (24WCT) with 776S adhesive
GreenCycle™ 2.4 mil white top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate (024TL) and 1.85 Mil Clear BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate (018CT), both with 776S acrylic emulsion adhesive
GreenCycle™ 2.4 mil white top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate and 1.85 Mil Clear BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate, both with 776S acrylic emulsion adhesive
2.6 mil white top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate and 2.0 mil clear top-coated BOPP pressure sensitive label substrate, both with PUREfloat™ emulsion acrylic adhesive
Multi-Color recycLABEL™ Clear (PSPL78411, PSPL78413) and recycLABEL™ White (PSPL78412, PSPL78414)
RecycLABEL® clear #11581 and RecycLABEL® white #11582 pressure sensitive labels made with clear and white BOPP and an acrylic emulsion adhesiveSpear®RC clear #11581 and Spear®RC white #11582
PureVue™ White or Clear Recyclable Pressure Sensitive Labels
RW85C acrylic emulsion adhesive and clear or white BOPP films undecorated labels covering 40% or less of the area of a PET bottle
SunLam™ ADHA100
Undecorated optiFLEX ecoFOCUS PP 200 H Clear TC, optiFLEX ecoFOCUS PP 230 H White TC, with V-52RE adhesive