APR recognizes plastics innovators

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), Washington, D.C., has recognized three companies for new packaging products that it says meet or exceed voluntary guidelines under its Critical Guidance Recognition Program.

To receive the recognition, the three companies had to demonstrate that their packaging innovations were compatible with recycling processes and will not be a source of contamination that would negatively affect the quality of the plastic scrap.

DAK America LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina, was recognized for its Array EBM 5862 resin, which has been designed to have the melt strength and slow crystallization rate required to produce large handleware containers by extrusion blow molding, 

The APR also recognized Plastipak Packaging, Plymouth, Michigan, for its two-color direct object printing technology on a pigmented copolymer high density polyethylene bottle, which eliminates the need for label substrates. 

Sleever International, based in France, was recognized for its LDPET (low-density polyethylene terephthalate) shrink sleeve labels. The company launched the product in 2014 after five years of research and development. The company says the LDPET product permits the 100 percent recycling of sleeved bottles while producing a completely pure recycled resin, which is a prerequisite for manufacturing new bottles.

The APR also awarded its inaugural APR Responsible Innovation Acknowledgment award to Berry Plastics, Evansville, Indiana, for its Versalite cellular polypropylene (PP) cups.

APR says its program directs innovators to conduct production scale evaluations, collect testimonials that address specific questions and to publicly describe the innovation to APR members.

“We are pleased and excited that consumer brand companies and their suppliers continue to recognize the importance of utilizing APR Guidance Documents when creating new innovations for plastic packaging,” says Steve Alexander, APR executive director. “These guidance documents are the industry-tested models to ensure new innovations do not contaminate or interfere with a container’s or package’s ability to be recycled. They are a critical component to our ultimate goal to increase supply and reduce contamination of material available for recycling.”

John Standish, APR technical director, says, “These companies have developed exciting innovations in packaging materials and capability. By employing APR Critical Guidance Tests, Plastipak, DAK and Sleever have each demonstrated that their innovations will be compatible with today’s recycling processes.”

He continues, “Berry Plastics invested in production scale evaluations and shared the results of these evaluations to illustrate how their product is expected to perform when recycled. We applaud the leadership of these companies in both innovation and their support of plastics recycling.”