Europe to launch new certification and audit scheme EuCertPlast on post-consumer plastics recycling

After working for two years, plastics converters, recyclers and collectors have agreed to launch a new European wide certification and audit scheme named EuCertPlast which implements existing CEN standard 15343 on post-consumer plastics recycling, according to the European Plastics Recyclers (EuPR).

The project was conducted by EuPR and the European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organizations (EPRO) in collaboration with the European Plastics Converters (EuPC), the European Association unoriented Polyester Films (EuPET), Recovinyl, cyclos GmbH and a few plastics recycling companies to perform the first pilot audits at factory level.

Alexandre Dangis, Managing Director of EuPC, said, "I am very happy with the outcome of this project in which we have been able to demonstrate that good practices on post-consumer plastics recycling should be rewarded with a European Certificate and this will boost the use of recyclates in Europe by plastics converters. 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. Additionally, the Blue Angel scheme will implement EuCertPlast as from 2013. Thus, consumer will have the assurance of buying eco-friendly products." He added.

"A suitable harmonized 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 collection 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." Ton Emans, President of EuPR commented. "The quality of EuCertPlast is based on existing European Standards and audited according to the best available 'German' auditor scheme. I would like to thank in particular Cyclos GmbH for having accepted to work with us in this project. The procedure to accredit new auditors has now started and will enable to have a good and standardized pool of EuCertPlast auditors."

"EPRO is pleased to have taken a key role in the development of this European wide auditing scheme. It will enable our members, which include some of the largest plastics recovery organizations in Europe, to have confidence that recyclers holding this certification will process their plastics to the highest possible operational and environmental standards. Corepla, the Italian plastics recovery organization, has already announced that it intends to base the regulatory compliance of its recyclers on the EuCertPlast standard and I am confident that other schemes will also take this approach. Our members look forward to working in partnership with EuCertPlast certified recyclers to increase the levels of plastics recovery and recycling in Europe still further." Francis Huysman, Co-Chairman of EPRO noted.

Eric Criel, General Manager of Recovinyl, added, "EuCertPlast will enable Recovinyl to precisely assess the quantity and tractability of the material recycled within the VinylPlus voluntary agreement. Furthermore, we'll also get the guarantee that the recycling phase occurred in an environmental sound manner."