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.

Design Feature	Recyclability Category	APR Test Methods	APR Recognized Commercially Available Options	Additional Resources
BASE POLYMER
Crystalline Melt Point	Preferred if 225-255°C		CG Recognition Letters
	Non-Recyclable if <225°C or > 255°C, or non-crystallizable
Bio-Based, (MEG and PTA derived from renewable resources), not degradeable	Preferred			APR Position Statement
Recycled PET Content	Preferred			APR Position Statement Virgin vs. Recycled Plastic LCA
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	CG Recognition Letters
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 Why?	SORT-B-01		External reviews of these technologies
DIMENSIONS
Large size boundary	Preferred if <= 7.5 liters (2 gal.) in volume
	Detrimental if > 7.5 liters (2 gal.) in volume Why?
Items more 3-dimensional (round) than 2-dimensional (flat)	Preferred if CASS > 20	SORT-B-0X
Small size boundary	Preferred if > 5 cm (2 in.) in 2 dimensions	SORT-B-02		Size Sortation
CLOSURES & CLOSURE LINERS; SAFETY SEALS
Closures without liners, and valves made from polymers with density < 1.0	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters
Closures + liners, made from polymers with density < 1.0	Preferred
Shrink film safety sleeves of polymers with density < 1.0 that float in water	Preferred
Shrink film safety sleeves that are designed to be removed before the package can be opened	Preferred
Closure liners or safety seals that are composites of AL and paper	Detrimental Why?
Closures, seals, and shrink film safety sleeves made of polymers with density > 1.0	Detrimental Why?
PVC	Non-Recyclable
Closures or lidding with metal components	Needs Testing Untested closures or liddings may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	SORT-B-03		Metal Sortation
Shrink film safety sleeves, all materials	Preferred if completely removed before package can be opened	PET-S-05 PET-CG-01
SPRAY DISPENSERS & PUMPS
Polymers with density < 1.0 that float in water - specifically PE & PP closures; PE foam, EVA, TPE liners	Preferred		MPG & CG Recognition Letters	Meets Preferred Guidance Recognition Program Resource Document for Dispensers
Any amount of PVC	Non-Recyclable
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
Valves or springs made of metal	Needs Testing Untested valves may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	SORT-B-03		Metal Sortation
BARRIER MATERIALS AND ADDITIVES FOR PRODUCT PROTECTION
Barrier Materials and Additives that have received APR Critical Guidance Recognition	Recommended Why?		CG Recognition Letters
Untested Barrier Materials or Additives	Detrimental Why?
Silicon Oxides	Preferred if items meet APR Critical Guidance Test conditions	PET-S-03 PET-CG-01	CG Recognition Letters
Oxygen Scavengers	Preferred if items meet APR Critical Guidance Test conditions	PET-S-03 PET-CG-01	CG Recognition Letters
OTHER ADDITIVES
Optical Brighteners	Detrimental Why?
Untested Additives	Detrimental Why?
Toners	Preferred if items meet APR Critical Guidance Test conditions	PET-S-03 PET-CG-01
Reheat Additives	Preferred if items meet APR Critical Guidance Test conditions	PET-S-03 PET-CG-01	CG Recognition Letters
Degradable Additives	Needs Testing Untested additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results			APR Position Paper
LABELS
PET based films that crystallize and can be recovered with the PET stream	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters
Polymers with density < 1.0 that float in water - specifically PE, PP	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters
Paper	Detrimental Why?
Polymers with density > 1.0, except PVC and PLA	Detrimental Why?
PVC or PLA in any amount	Non-Recyclable
Laminated substrate	Needs Testing Untested substrates may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	PET-CG-01
Containers smaller than or equal to 550 ml, where the label appears to cover a significant surface area (visual inspection, label specification, and testing criteria)	Preferred if containers <= 550 ml, 55% of bottle surface area	SORT-B-01 SORT-B-04		Shrink Sleeve Labels Pressure Sensitive Labels
Full body shrink labels, larger bottles	Preferred if containers > 550 ml, 70% of bottle surface area
Metal Foil, metalized, and metallic printed labels	Needs Testing Untested labels may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	SORT-B-03		Metal Sortation
Polystyrene	Needs Testing Untested polystyrene may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	PET-S-05
INKS AND PIGMENTS
Label inks that have received APR Critical Guidance Recognition	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters	Shrink Sleeve Labels Pressure Sensitive Labels
Direct Printing (other than date coding)	Needs Testing Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	SORT-B-02 PET-CG-02	CG Recognition Letters
Metallic Inks	Needs Testing Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	SORT-B-03		Metal Sortation
Label inks that might stain PET flake in wash process	Needs Testing Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	SORT-B-02		Shrink Sleeve Labels Pressure Sensitive Labels
ADHESIVES
Label Adhesives that have received APR Critical Guidance Recognition	Preferred		CG Recognition Letters	Shrink Sleeve Labels Pressure Sensitive Labels
Standard Hot melt adhesive	Preferred
Label Adhesives that may not completely remove from PET in wash process	Needs Testing Untested adhesives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results	SORT-B-02 PET-CG-02		Pressure Sensitive Labels
Acrylic Copolymer Pressure Sensitive Adhesives	Preferred if items meet APR Critical Guidance Test Conditions	SORT-B-02 PET-CG-02	CG Recognition Letters
Pressure sensitive labels and adhesives	Preferred if items meet APR Critical Guidance Test Conditions	SORT-B-02 PET-CG-02	CG Recognition Letters
ATTACHMENTS
Clear PET with compatible crystalline melting point	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