Recyclability Evaluation Service (RES)
Test and improve the recyclability of your packaging with a CEPI-aligned score and expert guidance.
What happens to my fibre?
You send us a sample of any fibre-based product - from anywhere across Europe - and we test it in our own laboratories. The tests evaluate the sample’s recyclability to determine how recyclable it could be in standard paper mills across Europe.
Our approach is grounded in state-of-the-art methodologies, including the CEPI Harmonised Test Methodology and the 4evergreen Recyclability Evaluation Protocol. Together, these frameworks guide our evaluation of your packaging's recyclability and its compatibility with standard paper mill recycling processes.* After testing is complete, customers will receive a report and recyclability score ranging from -100 to +100.
*A standard paper mill is defined by the typical paper grades used as feedstock for production of new paper. For standard paper mills, these are EN643 grades 1-4, which represents the majority of paper and cardboard packaging placed on the market.
Where is the laboratory?
At the heart of the service is our state-of-the-art Repulpability Laboratory, located within the Kemsley Paper Mill in the UK. The laboratory, which opened in 2021, is used for researching technologies that enhance the performance and sustainability qualities of fibre-based packaging, including coatings and barrier technology, wet-end chemistries, surface chemistries, repulpability, and recyclability.
Here, our team conducts thorough testing of your fibre-based packaging to assess its recyclability. You will receive a detailed report summarising the findings, along with a recyclability score that highlights areas for improvement.
Why Should I Evaluate the Recyclability of my Material?
Under Extended Producer Responsibility legislations, difficult to recycle packaging will be charged increasingly higher fees. A recyclability evaluation can be used to evidence a packaging's recyclability and decrease unnecessary fees.
PPWR regulation mandates that all packaging placed onto the EU market must be recyclable from 2030 and recycled at-scale by 2035. RES services can provide evidence of a packaging’s recyclability.
Substantiate your green claims with scientific, evidence-backed data and avoid any greenwashing accusations.
Access expert advice backed by large-scale, in-practice recycling experience. DS Smith are well-placed to advise on design choices and considerations to ensure compatibility with the realities of recycling.