Centexbel-VKC, the Belgian competence centre of plastics and textile, and the Belgian Quality Association (BQA) have established the PolyCert Europe consortium in partnership with the industry associations ECRA, EuPC and ESWA.
via Shutterstock
PolyCert Europe established to harmonise existing certification schemes for converters
The objective of the consortium is to set up a EU-level third-party quality compliance scheme for converters of polymeric materials and to harmonise the methodology for calculation of recycled content used by existing certification schemes in Europe. Such harmonisation is needed to ensure compliance with the relevant standards and regulations and to stimulate circular economy.
The PolyCert Europe scheme will help companies verify compliance with quality standards and ensure their products meet specifications regardless of whether they use virgin or recycled polymers. At the same time, the objective is to provide converters with a quality certification and verification of recycled content in converted products.
PolyCert Europe has been established to form an umbrella compliance scheme setting an international standard. It is complementary to and aims at harmonising the existing certification.
The PolyCert Europe compliance scheme is based on the principles of third-party auditing. Such auditing work must by definition be done by an auditing system based on a network of accreditation certification bodies and independent auditors to ensure impartiality and credibility. The European network of accredited certification bodies will ensure a harmonised implementation of the PolyCert Europe scheme across Europe.
The consortium of partners is open to any interested stakeholders being it national or sector plastic converters associations.