December 11, 2025 11:08

RecyClass, the European scheme for certifying recyclability and recycled plastic content in products, has released an updated version of its Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for Labels & Adhesives applied on PET bottles

The revised protocol introduces new criteria, focusing on the effective separation of labels from PET bottles, ensuring that adhesive residues remain predominantly on the label, and verifying that PET flakes do not degrade after the oven test.

Testing was carried out in four RecyClass-recognized testing facilities and resulted in the approval of more than seven adhesive technologies.

The update is the result of several months of work led by the RecyClass PET Technical Committee, involving experts from across the packaging value chain, including label and adhesive manufacturers, recyclers and converters.

RecyClass invites all companies producing labels and adhesives for PET bottles to test their technologies in accordance with the revised protocol.

“We believe that understanding how each packaging component behaves during the recycling process is key to increasing the quality of recycled plastics and their consequent uptake in new products,” said Paolo Glerean, chairman of RecyClass. “The enhancements made to this protocol enable a more precise and consistent evaluation of how labels and adhesives perform throughout the recycling process.”

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