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preparation for the release of a new and improved APR Design® Guide format anticipated in 2023, this guidance table is no longer being updated. In the interim, new design guidance is provided per the addendum below.
New guidance impacting PP 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 three sections presented: Labels; Closures, fitments, liners, and safety seals; and Additives.
Design Feature | Recyclability Category | APR Test Methods | APR Recognized Commercially Available Options | Additional Resources |
---|---|---|---|---|
BASE POLYMER |
||||
Postconsumer Polyolefin Content | APR Lifecycle Inventory |
|||
Blends of PP and other resins with unknown effects in future uses of recovered resins | Untested blends may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PP-CG-01 |
||
Form | Untested forms may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
CG Recognition Letters | ||
COLOR |
||||
Unpigmented (Natural) | ||||
Opaque or Translucent | ||||
Optical Brighteners | Why? |
|||
Black and Dark Colors | Untested colors may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-S-01 SORT-B-01 |
NIR Sortation |
|
DIMENSIONS (between 8 fluid ounces and 2 gallons) |
||||
Items up to and greater than 7.5 liters (2 gallons) in volume (no large size boundary) | ||||
Items more 3-dimensional (round) than 2-dimensional (flat) | approximate CASS > 20 |
SORT-B-0X(under development) | ||
Small size boundary | < 5 cm (2 in) in 2 dimensions |
SORT-B-02 |
Size Sortation |
|
CLOSURES & CLOSURE LINERS; SAFETY SEALS |
||||
Polypropylene Closures | MPG Recognition Letters | Meets Preferred Guidance Recognition Program Resource Document for Dispensers |
||
Closure Systems without Liners, Valves | CG Recognition Letters | |||
EVA and TPE Liners | ||||
Polymers with density > 1.0 that sink in water - specifically PS, silicone, nylon, acetal, thermosets | ||||
Shrink Film Safety Sleeves that are designed to be completely removed before the package can be opened | ||||
Polyethylene or Polypropylene tamper-evident safety sleeves | ||||
PETG or PLA tamper-evident safety sleeves | ||||
Polyethylene closures | Why? |
|||
Closure liners and safety seals that are composites of AL and paper | Why? |
|||
Closures containing floating silicone polymer | Why? |
|||
PVC Closures and Tamper-evident safety sleeves | completely removed before package can be opened |
|||
Why? |
||||
Closures or lidding with metal components | Untested closures or liddings may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
|
Shrink Film Safety Sleeves, all materials | completely removed before package can be opened |
PP-CG-01 |
||
SPRAY DISPENSERS AND PUMPS |
||||
Polymers with density > 1.0 that sink in water, specifically PS, silicone, nylon, acetal, thermosets | Meets Preferred Guidance Recognition Program Resource Document for Dispensers |
|||
Polyethylene dispensers | Why? |
|||
Valves made of silicone (density and floatability will vary) | Untested valves may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
PP-CG-01 |
||
Valves or springs made of metal | Untested valves may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
||
BARRIER LAYERS, COATINGS, ADDITIVES |
||||
"Workhorse" additives | CG Recognition Letters | |||
Non-PP barrier materials | Untested barrier materials may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-S-01 |
CG Recognition Letters | Squeeze Tubes |
Additive concentration causing blend to sink due to density > 1.0 | Untested additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 |
||
Degradable Additives | Untested additives may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
APR Position Statement |
||
LABELS & INKS |
||||
Polypropylene or polyethylene labels | CG Recognition Letters | Squeeze Tubes |
||
in-Mold labels of a compatible polymer | ||||
Full bottle sleeve labels designed for sorting | Squeeze Tubes |
|||
Paper Labels | Why? |
|||
Label Inks | Untested inks may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
HDPE-S-01 PP-CG-01 |
||
Metal foil, metalized, and metallic printed labels | Untested labels may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 SORT-S-01 |
||
Full bottle sleeve labels | Untested labels may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-S-01 SORT-B-01 PP-CG-01 HDPE-S-01 |
Squeeze Tubes |
|
LABEL/ADHESIVE COMBINATIONS |
||||
Metal Foil Labels that pass Metal Sorting Potential Test | with adhesive that releases in wash |
|||
with adhesive that does not release in wash Why? |
||||
Polystyrene Labels | with adhesive that releases in wash |
|||
with adhesive that does not release in wash Why? |
||||
PLA Labels | with adhesive that releases in wash |
|||
with adhesive that does not release in wash |
||||
PVC Labels | with adhesive that releases in wash Why? |
|||
with adhesive that does not release in wash |
||||
Label/Adhesive Combinations where adhesive release and substrate float/sink behavior are not known | Untested label/adhesive combinations may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 PP-CG-01 |
||
ATTACHMENTS |
||||
Plastic Attachments with Density > 1.0 except PVC | ||||
Paper Attachments | Why? |
|||
PVC Attachments | Why? |
|||
Polyethylene Attachments | Why? |
|||
RFID | Why? |
|||
Non-PP Attachments | Untested attachments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 |
||
Metal, Metalized, and Metal Containing Attachments | Untested attachments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
SORT-B-03 |
Metal Sortation |
|
Welded attachments | Untested attachments may yield Preferred, Detrimental, or Non-Recyclable results |
O-S-01 PP-CG-01 |
Plastic Ingenuity’s Multi-Compartment PP-EVOH Tray
Undecorated PP tray without lidding, but with a sealing layer, and with 8% and less ethylene vinyl alcohol co-extruded barrier layer and maleated polypropylene tie layer and with a compatibilized regrind layer
Versalite™