Page 35 - Plastic News November 2023

FEATURE

Around the world, recycling labels are difficult for brands selling prod- • What materials make up the con-
gaining traction, with many countries ucts internationally, especially stituent parts of the packaging?
mandating compulsory end-of-life la- where legislation and guidance • How to prepare an item for re-
belling requirements: are prone to change. While there cycling, with tips on separating
is work going on within the Eu-
• France – Packaging must include packaging, whether to clean the
the ‘Tri-man logo’, which shows ropean Union to design a harmo- product, and if specific items
how to dispose of each part of a nised labelling system for waste (such as caps and pumps) need to
product’s packaging. across the EU, this is a significant be removed or left in place.
undertaking, and expected to be
• UK – Producers must label all a long journey. Tailored local information via ge-
packaging types except flexibles olocation, or postal code, to al-
with ‘recycle’ or ‘don’t recycle’ • A potential solution could be to low consumers to:
by March 2026, with flexibles fol- include recycling information • Check local recommendations.
lowing in 2027. within a scannable QR code. In-
deed, the new French labelling • Link to the closest recycling facil-
• Italy – Packaging intended for laws already mandate that QR ity.
end consumers must indicate the codes be added to specific pack-
material of the packaging and be aging types to give consumers ac- Additional consumer interaction,
clearly labelled with appropriate cess to recycling information at such as:
instructions for disposal. the scan of a smartphone. • Incentives for recycling.
The list is not exhaustive, with • The move by global standards • Tips for reusing packs where
many other countries, includ- agency GS1 to see 2D barcodes products can’t be recycled.
ing Spain, Portugal, Poland, and at the point of sale by 2027 also
Germany, expected to introduce opens the door for the GS1 Digi- • Feedback and surveys.
compulsory regional labelling re- tal Link – a phone-scannable QR The key advantages of using a GS1
quirements in the coming years. code to be used at the point of Digital Link-enabled QR code lie in

In other regions, organisations sale, which can also take con- the geolocation functionality, allow-
have emerged to provide volun- sumers to a brand-specific web- ing brands to provide different in-
tary on-pack recycling labels for page for more information about formation, and different language
brands: the product. GS1 suggests that formats, for different locations with-
QR codes powered by the GS1 out a change to pack design, and it is
• North American How2Recycle Digital Link standard could offer updateable over time, meaning that
scheme businesses an efficient and cost- brands can add or adjust information
• Australasian Recycling Label effective solution for providing as legislation requires. By adding a
recycling information to consum- GS1 Digital Link on product packag-
ers while future-proofing their ing today, brands can meet current
A future-proof solution packaging in preparation for new consumer and business demands and
legislative requirements. tackle any future requirements as and
• There is clearly merit in add-
ing on-pack recycling advice for With a GS1 Digital Link QR code, when needed through a single, flex-
consumers, but having multiple brand owners can link to any number ible, and cost-effective solution.
regional labelling requirements of information sources all from one
can prove confusing and make it symbol, including:

PLASTICS NEWS 3535
November 2023 PLASTICS NEWS