The Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) and Planet Ark are in the final stages of developing an online tool to assist packaging manufacturers, designers and stakeholders in improving the recyclability of their packaging designs.
The Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) tool has been developed by Planet Ark and GreenChip to help reduce confusion about the recyclability of different packaging products. It also aims to increase recycling volumes and cut contamination in the recycling stream.
The tool combines two forms of evaluation:
- An item’s technical recyclability, as ascertained through consultation with materials recycling facility operators and re-processors.
- The degree of access to kerbside recycling services for the item, as established using the local services information compiled on RecyclingNearYou.com.au
“GECA standards cover criteria for packaging as one of the life cycle impact areas of products,” says GECA’s Standards and Technical Manager, Ingrid Cornander. “The criteria include requirements relating to recycled content, recyclability or compostability; the use of identification codes for plastics; the banning of halogenated and pressurised packaging; and the use of other recycled packaging.
“Once the PREP is launched, GECA will be referring to this tool to establish whether packaging components are commonly recyclable using the Australian kerbside collection system.”
You can find the PREP tool and more information here.
