PCR UN-approved packaging

This week, NET has certified two packages for liquid with a PCR (Post-consumer resin) material. It is a well-known fact that today people are dependent on increasing the recycling of plastic. If the UN Sustainability Goal 12.5 is to be achieved, which states that by 2030 the amount of waste will be significantly reduced through prevention, reduction, material recycling and reuse, it is important that the regulations do not stand in the way of PCR use where possible in a responsible manner. It is therefore gratifying that this week Muovi-Heljanko OY's jerricans were the first manufacturer in the Nordic region to meet the stricter requirements in NET ITM010 and these packages will be the first in NET's program to ensure safe production in accordance with the requirements in ADR 6.1.4.8.8. ADR defines recycled plastic as plastic that has only been used industrially, it therefore does not allow for PCR to be used as UN packaging. The certification of this packaging is therefore based on PCR being used as a building block between HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) materials on both sides of the PCR material. This requires that the packaging is produced with a multilayer technology and it is in this way possible to ensure that the regulations are followed as it is written today.

(Picure shows jerricans after droptest)

We congratulate Muovi-Heljanko OY as the first company in the Nordic region to do this, hoping that they thereby focus on the fact that it is possible to implement even according to current regulations. NET is in "ISO / TC122 / SC3 / WG8" which has as its main goal to change these regulations in the long run, but until that is done, this is a good way to solve an ever-growing problem. When certifying this type of packaging, it is necessary to follow up the packaging regularly and this is something NET ensures using the guidelines in ITM010. In practice, this means that the customer sends samples from each production of the packaging to ensure that the PCR material delivers a quality that is safe even in further production.