And, the packaging manufacturer has also announced that its range of Berry Superfos Beverage Systems vending cups are to be made solely from polypropylene (PP), meaning “the cups can now be more easily recycled after use.”
RecyClass is a European cross-industry initiative that tests the recyclability of plastic packaging and aims to ensure traceability and transparency for recycled plastic content.
The RecyClass recycled content certification covers all Berry’s clear, coloured and black refuse sacks in a range of widths and thicknesses, the packaging manufacturer says.
Products containing recycled material were assessed in line with the EN 15343:2007 standard, Berry says, to ensure procedures were in place to maintain traceability.
Jagan Mohanraj, innovation director for recycled products at Berry Global, said: “This is an important achievement which helps to give customers complete assurance as to the authenticity of recycled plastic used in our refuse sacks.
“This is especially important given the requirements of the UK Plastics Packaging Tax.”
Heanor
Berry says the RecyClass certification follows the Heanor factory achieving the European Certificate for Plastics Recycling (EUCertPlast) for all the mechanically recycled plastic grades produced onsite.
This is an important achievement which helps to give customers complete assurance
– Jagan Mohanraj, Berry Global
Mr Mohanraj said: “RecyClass recycled content certification provides a further link in this chain of custody.
“Because these accreditations apply both to the authenticity of the recycled material and its quality, consistency and traceability, they give customers the assurance that the products not only meet legislative requirements but continue to deliver the highest levels of performance.”
Berry’s Heanor facility is capable of recycling 20,000 tonnes of used plastic packaging every year.
The packaging manufacturer claims Heanor is the “first” wash line and recycling facility in the UK that can recycle both flexible and rigid plastics from household and industrial waste.
The recyclate produced by the plant is used in a variety of industrial and consumer rigid and flexible applications, such as storage boxes, refuse sacks, and collation shrink films.
In February, Tesco announced that Berry was to turn the film plastics collected from customers at the supermarket chain’s stored into bin liners at the Heanor facility (see letsrecycle.com story).
Vending cups
Meanwhile, Berry says “ongoing innovation” in its manufacturing processes has enabled the company to manufacture the mono-material vending cups.
The PP cups can be used for hot and cold drinks and are designed to fit any vending machine model.
Commenting on the switch to PP, Nigel Cannon, UK sales manager at Berry Superfos Beverage Systems, said: “This is a huge step forward from the former polystyrene cups, a material that is not considered commonly recyclable due to a lack of recycling collection and infrastructure.
“In addition, the new PP cups are top quality and are produced with a minimum amount of material to ensure their low weight.”
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