How recycling-friendly is your packaging?
‘Made for Recycling’: a globally recognised assessment standard for circular packaging
Consumers expect transparency – and policymakers have also been tightening standards: packaging should create a minimal impact on the environment and be easy to recycle.
Want to know where your packaging stands in terms of recyclability? Our science-based ‘Made for Recycling' packaging assessment gives you the answers you need. Developed jointly with the bifa environmental institute, our assessment method has been audited by the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging. After analysing your packaging sample against standardised criteria, our experts provide you with a comprehensive assessment, and help you define sustainable and practical optimisation strategies. This ensures you are not only ready to meet legal requirements in Germany (Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) minimum standard) but can also achieve compliance in many European and global sales markets, including the upcoming requirements of the EU Packaging Regulation "Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation" (PPWR).
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Our key advantages for you:
Independent scientific evaluation methodology
We operate Europe’s largest and most advanced laboratory for analysing and developing post-consumer plastics. At our lab, we assess the recyclability of your plastic packaging under real-world conditions.
Certified recyclability
You are issued with an internationally recognised certificate that officially confirms your results to retailers and consumers.
Comprehensive report
The results of the analysis are summarised in an easy-to-understand full report. If optimisation is required, specific recommendations for action are included.
Recognised ‘Made for Recycling Interseroh+’ quality seal
Make the recyclability of your packaging visible to consumers. Packaging that achieves a score of at least 18 points on our 20-point assessment scale (‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’ rating) may use the mark at no extra cost.
International packaging assessment
Exporting companies benefit from an independent assessment of recyclability in their key global target markets based on our examination of the actual sortability and recyclability in the individual countries.
Science-based PPC expertise
We analyse paper packaging in cooperation with the Institute of Paper Technology (IVP) using the PTS method (PTS-RH 021/2012).
Frequent questions of our customers
- Is the assessment of recyclability only valid for Germany?
Our assessment of recyclability refers to the infrastructure in Germany. Each country has different collection, sorting and recycling systems. If you would also like information on recyclability in other countries, you can select the packaging analysis Global or Europe.
The "Made for Recycling" seal can be used internationally.
- Which countries are covered by the international packaging assessments?
Our European packaging assessment examines the recyclability of your packaging for the following countries: Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal and Slovenia
In our global packaging assessment, we also examine recyclability for the following countries: USA, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore
- What kinds of packaging are the easiest to optimise for sustainability?
Quick, highly visible effects are particularly easy to achieve with ‘flagship products’ and top-selling items. Other candidates suitable for being optimised for sustainability include packaging used for ‘green’ products in particular and packaging for products that are to be relaunched.
- What requirements have to be fulfilled by ‘recyclable’ packaging?
The assessment of the recyclability of packaging required to participate in the system pursuant to Section 21 (3) VerpackG is based on the minimum standard of the Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister, which is revised and republished annually. (current version: August 30, 2019)
- What is meant by combination packaging?
Combination packaging is multi-part sales packaging consisting of an outer and one or more inner packagings made of different materials that are normally separated during use or consumption (e.g. a cream jar in a folding box or a frozen pizza box with film around the pizza).
- Does the use of separation instructions improve the assessment of recyclability?
We take this into account in assessment level 1 "Collection". As soon as a packaging material consists of plastic and paper and the portion of e.g. paper is greater than 20% of total mass, a separation note should be printed on the packaging. If this is the case, the packaging receives a better evaluation than a comparable packaging without a note. Separation labels on packaging which can be easily assigned to a collection system is clear by consumers do not result in a better rating.
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