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What Is a Recyclability Assessment?

Still largely voluntary today, but expected to become increasingly important under the PPWR in the coming years: A recyclability assessment evaluates how well a packaging solution can be recycled based on defined criteria and helps identify potential areas for improvement.

However, it represents only one aspect of the overall evaluation of a packaging system. A high rating does not automatically mean that all regulatory requirements are fulfilled, while a lower rating does not necessarily indicate that a packaging solution is non-compliant or unsuitable for its intended use.

What Is a Recyclability Assessment?

A recyclability assessment is a systematic method used to evaluate how well a packaging solution can be collected, sorted and recycled after use.

To do this, various characteristics of the packaging are reviewed and assessed against defined criteria. The objective is to identify potential obstacles within the recycling process and highlight opportunities for improvement.

The assessment generally considers the complete packaging system or packaging combination rather than individual materials alone.

Assessment Area Typical Questions
Materials Which materials are used and are they generally recyclable?
Mono-Material or Multi-Material Structure Does the packaging consist of a single material or several materials permanently combined?
Separability Can individual components be separated before recycling?
Labels and Adhesives Do labels, sleeves or adhesives affect sorting or recycling processes?
Printing Inks and Coatings Can printing inks, varnishes or coatings influence the recycling process?
Barriers and Additives Are functional layers or additives used that may affect recyclability?
Available Recycling Streams Are suitable collection, sorting and recycling infrastructures available for the packaging concerned?

Important: A recyclability assessment does not determine whether a packaging solution is “good” or “bad”. Many packaging solutions fulfil important functions such as product protection, hygiene, shelf life and food safety, which must also be taken into consideration.

A lower rating does not automatically mean that a packaging solution is non-compliant or unsuitable. Likewise, a high rating does not automatically mean that all regulatory requirements have been fulfilled.

As different assessment methodologies and organisations may apply different criteria, results can vary depending on the assessment model used.

PPWR Context: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) introduces future requirements relating to the recyclability of packaging. However, the detailed assessment methodologies and classification criteria are still being developed and further specified through additional legal acts.

Current recyclability assessments can therefore provide valuable guidance, but they do not necessarily correspond to a future official classification under the PPWR framework.