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.
⚠ In preparation for the release of a new and improved APR Design® Guide format anticipated in 2023, this guidance table is no longer being updated. In the interim, new design guidance is provided per the addendum below.
New guidance impacting PET packaging has been recently approved for inclusion in the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recycling. This new guidance is shown below and is available for immediate use. As of May 22, 2023 there are four sections presented: PET base resin; Closures, fitments, liners, and safety seals; Labels, inks, and adhesives; and Additives.
Design Feature | Recyclability Category | APR Test Methods | APR Recognized Commercially Available Options | Additional Resources |
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BASE POLYMER |
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Crystalline Melt Point |
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CG Recognition Letters | ||
Bio-Based, (MEG and PTA derived from renewable resources), not degradeable | APR Position Statement |
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Recycled PET Content | APR Position Statement Virgin vs. Recycled Plastic LCA |
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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. | Untested blends may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-01 |
CG Recognition Letters | |
COLOR |
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Transparent Clear | ||||
Transparent Light Green | ||||
Transparent Light Blue | ||||
Other Transparent Colors | Why? |
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Opaque and White | Why? |
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Black and Dark Colors | Why? |
SORT-B-01 |
External reviews of these technologies |
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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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Items more 3-dimensional (round) than 2-dimensional (flat) | CASS > 20 |
SORT-B-0X |
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Small size boundary | > 5 cm (2 in.) in 2 dimensions |
SORT-B-02 |
Size Sortation |
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CLOSURES & CLOSURE LINERS; SAFETY SEALS |
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Closures without liners, and valves made from polymers with density < 1.0 | CG Recognition Letters | |||
Closures + liners, made from polymers with density < 1.0 | ||||
Shrink film safety sleeves of polymers with density < 1.0 that float in water | ||||
Shrink film safety sleeves that are designed to be removed before the package can be opened | ||||
Closure liners or safety seals that are composites of AL and paper | Why? |
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Closures, seals, and shrink film safety sleeves made of polymers with density > 1.0 | Why? |
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PVC | ||||
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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Shrink film safety sleeves, all materials | completely removed before package can be opened |
PET-S-05 PET-CG-01 |
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SPRAY DISPENSERS & PUMPS |
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Polymers with density < 1.0 that float in water - specifically PE & PP closures; PE foam, EVA, TPE liners | MPG & CG Recognition Letters | Meets Preferred Guidance Recognition Program Resource Document for Dispensers |
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Any amount of PVC | ||||
Valves containing silicone (density and floatability will vary) | Untested valves may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-S-05 PET-CG-02 |
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Valves or springs made of metal | Untested valves may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
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BARRIER MATERIALS AND ADDITIVES FOR PRODUCT PROTECTION |
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Barrier Materials and Additives that have received APR Critical Guidance Recognition | Why? |
CG Recognition Letters | ||
Untested Barrier Materials or Additives | Why? |
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Silicon Oxides | items meet APR Critical Guidance Test conditions |
PET-S-03 PET-CG-01 |
CG Recognition Letters | |
Oxygen Scavengers | items meet APR Critical Guidance Test conditions |
PET-S-03 PET-CG-01 |
CG Recognition Letters | |
OTHER ADDITIVES |
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Optical Brighteners | Why? |
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Untested Additives | Why? |
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Toners | items meet APR Critical Guidance Test conditions |
PET-S-03 PET-CG-01 |
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Reheat Additives | items meet APR Critical Guidance Test conditions |
PET-S-03 PET-CG-01 |
CG Recognition Letters | |
Degradable Additives | Untested additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
APR Position Paper |
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LABELS |
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PET based films that crystallize and can be recovered with the PET stream | CG Recognition Letters | |||
Polymers with density < 1.0 that float in water - specifically PE, PP | CG Recognition Letters | |||
Paper | Why? |
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Polymers with density > 1.0, except PVC and PLA | Why? |
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PVC or PLA in any amount | ||||
Laminated substrate | Untested substrates may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-CG-01 |
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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) | containers <= 550 ml, 55% of bottle surface area |
SORT-B-01 SORT-B-04 |
Shrink Sleeve Labels Pressure Sensitive Labels |
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Full body shrink labels, larger bottles | containers > 550 ml, 70% of bottle surface area |
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Metal Foil, metalized, and metallic printed labels | Untested labels may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
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Polystyrene | Untested polystyrene may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PET-S-05 |
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INKS AND PIGMENTS |
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Label inks that have received APR Critical Guidance Recognition | CG Recognition Letters | Shrink Sleeve Labels Pressure Sensitive Labels |
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Direct Printing (other than date coding) | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-02 PET-CG-02 |
CG Recognition Letters | |
Metallic Inks | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
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Label inks that might stain PET flake in wash process | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-02 |
Shrink Sleeve Labels Pressure Sensitive Labels |
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ADHESIVES |
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Label Adhesives that have received APR Critical Guidance Recognition | CG Recognition Letters | Shrink Sleeve Labels Pressure Sensitive Labels |
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Standard Hot melt adhesive | ||||
Label Adhesives that may not completely remove from PET in wash process | Untested adhesives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-02 PET-CG-02 |
Pressure Sensitive Labels |
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Acrylic Copolymer Pressure Sensitive Adhesives | items meet APR Critical Guidance Test Conditions |
SORT-B-02 PET-CG-02 |
CG Recognition Letters | |
Pressure sensitive labels and adhesives | items meet APR Critical Guidance Test Conditions |
SORT-B-02 PET-CG-02 |
CG Recognition Letters | |
ATTACHMENTS |
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Clear PET with compatible crystalline melting point | ||||
Paper | Why? |
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Welded, regardless of resin | Why? |
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RFID | Why? |
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PS | Why? |
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PVC or PLA in any amount | ||||
Metal, metallized, and metal containing | 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