WRAP issues guidance on food-grade plastic recycling

Polyolefins – which include polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) – account for more than half of all plastic packaging placed on the UK market.

However, difficulties with contamination have been a barrier to wider use of recycled PP and PE in food-contact applications.

Backed by funding from Innovate UK, WRAP has led a three-year research programme to develop a “challenge test” methodology for polyolefins, designed to show that recycling processes can reliably remove contaminants.

Polyolefin Challenge Test report

The resulting Polyolefin Challenge Test Report reviewed existing regulatory frameworks in the UK, EU and US, and examines the types and sources of contamination typically found in post-consumer plastics.

The research identified more than 400 chemical substances present in polyolefin packaging from non-food sources, with around one in five classed as hazardous.

Through a seven-phase programme of trials, WRAP and partners developed a detailed testing protocol covering.

The report concludes that the project has successfully created a scientifically robust and practical method for assessing decontamination efficiency.

Decontamination guidance

Alongside the research report, WRAP has also released the Polyolefin Challenge Test Guidance, aimed at recyclers seeking to demonstrate the safety of their processes.

The guidance provides practical advice on surrogate selection, batch preparation, decontamination performance, and analytical methods.

WRAP said the standardised test protocol and supporting guidance will provide a clear and practical route for the development of food-grade polyolefin recycling in the UK.

The environmental NGO’s UK Plastic Pact includes a target of 30% recycled content across all plastic packaging by 2030. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has also set requirements for recycled content in plastic packaging.

The report stated: “Ultimately, this work is a vital step towards achieving the UK Plastics Pact targets and building a circular economy for plastics, where more packaging is recycled back into high-value uses, including food contact applications, with full consumer confidence in its safety.”