A new Europe-wide certification and audit scheme has been launched that implements the existing CEN standard 15343 on post-consumer plastics recycling.
It follows two years of work by plastics converters, recyclers and collectors to develop the EuCertPlast scheme.
The aim behind the development of the programme is that it will allow purchasers of recycled plastic to have confidence that they are buying from certified recyclers at the agreed CEN standard 15343.
This CEN standard 15343 is designed to ensure the recycling process for plastics leads to a product being produced for the intended application, as well as for working out recycled content in a product.
EuPR and EPRO have conducted the project in collaboration with EuPC, EuPET, Recovinyl, cyclos GMBH and also some plastics recycling companies.
European plastics converters body EuPC managing director Alexandre Dangis said: “I strongly advise purchasers of post-consumer plastics recyclates to request this EuCertPlast certificate from their suppliers in order to guarantee good quality products.
“Converters are ready to use more post-consumer plastics recyclates and this European certification scheme will contribute to more potential for higher plastics recycling targets in Europe.”
European plastics recycling organisation EuPR president Tom Emans added: “A suitable harmonised auditing scheme for Europe was needed due to the difficulty in gaining access to plastics waste from the different and often complex national systems. Now with EuCertPlast a level playing field has been created and plastics recyclers can work with all national collections schemes to get access to raw materials for further treatment in Europe.
“This is a major step forward for our young industry and we are keen to develop more plastics recycling activities and create more employment. The quality of EuCertPlast is based on existing European standards and audited according to the best available German auditor scheme.”
