Recyclass has launched its Recycled Plastics Traceability Certification, a new certification scheme for products with recycled plastics. An AIMPLAS auditor participated in the two Recyclass pilot audits conducted in Spain.
AIMPLAS
Recyclass launches Recycled Plastics Traceability Certification
Enrique Moliner
The new certification verifies the traceability of recycled plastic material from the source to the final product and can also indicate the recycled content.
The Recycled Plastics Traceability Certification is a new certification scheme that provides proof of the traceability of recycled plastic material from the source, as well as the specific recycled content of each product. Given that it provides transparent information on the source of the recycled material (pre-consumer or post-consumer), it will increase consumer trust in the product’s environmental sustainability.
AIMPLAS researcher Enrique Moliner, the only Spanish auditor participating in the development of a new certification system for products with recycled plastics launched by Recyclass, said: “This certification will make it possible to guarantee the content of recycled plastic in products, as well as the source of the recycled material. It is a highly essential tool to increase customer trust in recycled plastic materials and products. It may also be key with regard to the public authorities, which have already started to require the use of recycled plastic in new products.”
The advantage over similar certifications is that no minimum recycled content is required in this case because the percentage of recycled material in the product is determined precisely (thus increasing the range of products that can be certified). In addition, it can handle material from both pre-consumer and post-consumer sources.
This certification is complementary to EuCertPlast certification, given that traceability in the recycling process is now included in follow-up until transformation into the finished product, in accordance with the same traceability criteria.
The pilot audits carried out to help optimize the certification scheme were performed by only four auditors across Europe. In Spain, an AIMPLAS expert in recycling and sustainability was responsible for conducting audits at the companies Armando Álvarez and Klöckner Pentaplast.
This certification, which was also prepared in collaboration with auditors from Denmark, Belgium and Italy, will be fully operational by the third quarter of the year.