Previously, Avery Dennison’s standard adhesion film labels were in limited compatibility for the coloured HDPE recycling stream. Avery Dennison requested that the RecyClass HDPE Technical Committee carry out an assessment of several PE and PP solutions within their film label portfolio to verify their impact on the quality of recycled HDPE containers. Upon completion of the assessment, RecyClass has confirmed that these products are fully compatible with existing European industrial recycling processes for HDPE containers for white, coloured and natural plastics.  

RecyClass develops recyclability evaluation protocols and scientific testing methods for innovative plastic packaging materials, which serve as the base for Design for Recycling Guidelines for all plastic packaging types. 

Recently, RecyClass modified the Design for Recycling Guidelines and HDPE evaluation protocol to acknowledge all steps of the HDPE recycling process, including the impact of the grinding process (or mechanical stress), on enabling label removability during the recycling of HDPE packaging. 

Avery Dennison supported these newly developed guidelines, which emphasised that friction, rather than temperature, was the key factor for removability. This criterion is in line with the results of a semi-industrial trial Avery Dennison conducted with The National Test Centre Circular Plastics in early 2024. 

This approval confirms the opportunities these products offer Avery Dennison customers facing the changes introduced by the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The results also show that FMCG brands do not need to seek out separate labeling solutions that are compatible with recycling, since Avery Dennison’s standard adhesion filmic label solutions now meet the DfR Guidelines from RecyClass. 

“This is a great result for us,” Rob Groen, marketing director films at Avery Dennison, said. “This approval applies to the majority of our film labels that are typically used for rigid HDPE containers and proves that our labels can better contribute to a more circular economy.”