APR recognizes plastic dispensers through Meets Preferred Guidance program

The Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR), Washington, has announced the first companies to receive Meets Preferred Guidance (MPG) recognition, a program it launched in August.

The MPG program recognizes materials, components and complete packages made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) that are considered Preferred according to the APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability.

The MPG Review Program is designed to provide confidence for purchasing and sourcing personnel for brand owners that what they are purchasing is designed for recyclability. It encourages packaging manufacturers to obtain an independent assessment from the APR that determines if their product meets the Preferred Guidance criteria. Companies with products that meet APR Preferred Guidance receive a letter that can be presented to customers and used for marketing purposes.

Plastic dispensers for use with PET, HDPE and PP containers are the first design components to be eligible for the program. The following companies have developed dispensers that have received MPG recognition:

• Apackaging Group’s Infinity Pump Series all-polyolefin lotion pumps for HDPE and PET bottles;
• Aptar’s Future all-PE pump for HDPE; and
• Hana’s globally patented Ecohelix 100 percent PP dispensing pumps for PET, HDPE and PP containers.

“Dispenser design features have historically led to contamination in the recycling stream, which impacts not only the recyclers but also the companies that use recycled content,” says Sandeep Kulkarni, APR technical consultant for its recognition programs. “We commend these manufacturers for stepping up to the plate and developing new dispensers that are compatible with recycling infrastructure.”

Additional design elements will become eligible for MPG recognition in the coming months:

• HDPE base resin;
• labels for HDPE containers;
• PET base resin;
• caps and closures for PET containers; and
• labels for PET containers,

“The Meets Preferred Guidance program provides assurance that packaging and components are compatible with recycling and enable a circular economy,” says Steve Alexander, APR president and CEO. “We are pleased to see the interest in the MPG program and look forward to announcing continued expansion of eligible items for the program, as well as additional MPG recognition recipients.”

The association says using plastic packages that achieve the design principles outlined in the APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability help to ensure that high-quality recycled plastic is available in the market for brand companies that are committed to using postconsumer resin, or PCR, in their plastic products.