EPRO to announce best recycled product awards at IdentiPlast 2017

The European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations (EPRO) has announced that the winners of the Best Recycled Plastic Product Award 2017 will be chosen and announced at IdentiPlast 2017 in February.

The 13th international conference on the recycling and recovery of plastics, IdentiPlast 2017 will be in Vienna 22-23 February, and will focus on circular economy.

EPRO’s Best Recycled Plastic Product Award recognises innovation and sustainability in products and designs made from recycled plastics within the U.K. and Europe. Shortlisted in 2017 in the Product category are entries from the U.K., Germany and Spain while the Design category includes entries from Spain and Ireland.

Creating increased and sustained demand for recycled plastics in products is essential to improve resource efficiency and highlight the possibilities within the marketplace, says EPRO. The organisation says aspirational circular economy systems need strong and consistent demand from the consumer for more products made from recycled plastic materials and showcasing the products available across the U.K. and Europe helps to stimulate that demand.

Peter Sundt, EPRO, secretary general, says, “The EPRO award for best recycled plastic product is meant as an inspiration not only for the participants of this competition, but for everyone in society doing their little extra effort to bring us closer to a circular economy. We will then all be winners.”

Stuart Foster, CEO of RECOUP (Recycling of Used Plastics Ltd.), based in the U.K., says, “There are so many fantastic applications and products now using recycled plastic, and we need to be making much more noise about it. This competition enables the industry to further demonstrate their commitment and work in corporate social responsibility, and help consumers to understand the outcomes of their plastic recycling efforts more fully.”

EPRO says the judges were impressed both with the number of entries submitted as well as how many of the products showed long-term sustainability and innovation. Every delegate at IdentiPlast 2017 will have an opportunity to view the short-listed products and vote on the winning entry on the first day of the conference, Wednesday, 22 February, with the award being presented at the conference dinner. 

The short-listed entries in the Product category are:

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  • Counterplas, with the Loft stilt made from 100% recycled automotive parts;
  • INCOPLAS sa/nv, with the EUR range of bottles made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) circular compound;
  • Papier-Mettler, with reusable bags for life made from back of store waste;
  • Roofeco System SL, with an engineered modular roof tile system; and
  
  • SP-Berner with the Venus outdoor furniture range.

There short-listed entries in the Design category include:

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  • Mi-bin Ltd. the Mi-bin multifunctional intelligent bin; and
  • SP-Berner the Miami Set self-assembly outdoor furniture.

In 2015, Scandinavian Business Seating of Oslo, Norway, was named the winner of the 2015 EPRO Best Recycled Plastic Product award for its HÅG Capisco office chair.