Canadian retailers move one step further towards PET thermoform containers recycling

Grocery members of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) announced their support in June for the introduction of a new test protocol to determine the impact of labels and adhesives on PET thermoform package recycling.

Developed by the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), in conjunction with the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), this protocol was instigated by the grocery members of the RCC as part of their initiative to increase the availability of recyclable packaging in their stores.

The main issue is that the glue used to attach labels to thermoform containers is often so strong that the label cannot be removed from the plastic and prevents it from being properly recycled. This new protocol will help identify an adhesive which satisfies both the need for labels to adhere, and the need for them to be removed prior to recycling.

"This protocol will play a pivotal role in allowing PET thermoformed packaging to be recycled in the most efficient way possible," said Allen Langdon, VP of Sustainability for the Retail Council of Canada.

Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 43,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, specialty, discount, independent stores, and online merchants.