Testing for Recyclability: The Science Behind Yangi’s Recyclable Claim
Recycling isn’t just a badge—it’s a battle. And most packaging is losing.
The question isn’t just Can we recycle packaging?—it’s How well does it fit into real-world recycling systems?
The curb is the real test. Can your packaging make it past the bin?
With shifting legislation, rising sustainability demands, and increasing consumer awareness, it’s time to rethink what we consider recyclable and, more importantly, how we design packaging from the very start, ensuring recyclability early on.
PPWR and the Rise of Verified Recyclability
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is a major game-changer. Under this regulation, all packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable by 2030, and packaging producers will be required to prove recyclability based on standardized criteria.
Additionally, the proposed Green Claims Directive makes it illegal to market a product as "recyclable" without verified, scientific backing. This means brands and manufacturers will need to certify their products through independent testing methods, or risk regulatory consequences.
What Truly Makes Packaging Recyclable?
Designing for recyclability means more than just using recyclable materials. True recyclability is defined by how well a product moves through existing recycling systems—without contamination, without requiring special separation, and without degrading the recycling stream.
Key criteria include:
Mono-material composition (or easy separation of layers)
Compatibility with curbside collection and mainstream recycling plants
Low contamination risk
Proven performance through recognized testing methods
Clear consumer guidance through proper labeling
That last point is becoming increasingly important across many regions, with standardized recycling symbols now required by law. Misleading or vague claims are no longer acceptable.
Yangi: Packaging Designed for the Recycling Loop
This is where Yangi’s dry-formed fiber packaging offers a new way forward. Designed to be recyclable from the start, Yangi materials are:
Curbside recyclable
Compatible with existing paper and board recycling streams
Free from plastic layers or mixed materials, and when plastic-laminated components are used, they can be easily separated for recycling.
Label-ready with embossing or paper labeling to meet region-specific recycling symbol requirements
Yangi’s mono-material construction, paired with water-based barrier solutions, ensures that the entire product can enter the recycling stream without separation or special handling.
Testing for Recyclability: The Science Behind the Claim
To ensure that recyclability claims are substantiated by data and aligned with industry expectations, Yangi collaborates with independent testing laboratories, certification bodies, and recycling industry stakeholders.
Packaging is evaluated against established protocols to simulate real-world conditions in paper recycling mills. Two of the most widely accepted methods are the PTS and CEPI recyclability test protocols.
PTS Method (Papiertechnische Stiftung)
The PTS RH:021/97 method assesses repulpability, or the material’s ability to disintegrate in water and be processed by standard paper mill equipment. The test mimics the hydropulping phase of recycling, where water and mechanical agitation are used to break down packaging materials.
<20% reject: Material is considered recyclable, as the majority of fibers are recoverable.
<50% reject: Classified as conditionally recyclable, but design improvements are needed to reduce non-fiber components or coatings.
>50% reject: Material is not recyclable, as excessive residuals may disrupt mill operations or reduce fiber yield.
CEPI Recyclability Test Method (Somerville Sieve Test)
Developed by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), this method evaluates packaging using a comprehensive scoring system based on the Somerville screening process. The method assesses:
The amount of coarse reject (non-disintegrated material ≥0.15 mm),
Repulping time and temperature (e.g., 30 minutes at 55°C),
Potential interference with recycling operations (e.g., adhesives, coatings), and
Visual and operational impact on recycled paper quality.
Yangi Recyclability Test Results
Yangi’s dry-formed packaging has achieved a “Best-In-Class” rating according to CEPI standard. This rating confirms:
Full compatibility with standard European paper recycling processes
Excellent repulpability, with no significant residues or screen-blocking materials
Minimal impact on visual and mechanical properties of the recycled pulp
No issues with adhesives, coatings, or fiber separation
These results validate Yangi’s packaging as truly recyclable and aligned with circular economy principles, offering a sustainable alternative to multi-material or plastic-coated formats.
Yangi helps partners connect with trusted institutes to perform these tests and achieve certifications by product, per region or country. This is vital for compliance under both PPWR and the Green Claims Regulation.
A Smarter, Simpler Recycling Future
The shift toward truly circular packaging isn’t just about swapping one material for another.
It’s about creating systems—and products—that work with the real world.
That means:
Designing with recycling infrastructure in mind.
Testing and proving recyclability.
Supporting transparent, verifiable claims.
With fiber-based, mono-material packaging engineered for performance and recyclability, Yangi offers a blueprint for packaging that doesn’t just look sustainable—it functions sustainably.
Recyclable Claims aren’t Enough: If your Packaging can’t Survive the System, it’s Part of the Problem.
Ready to make the switch to proven recyclable packaging – let’s talk!