DIC and 東洋インキ have developed a common protocol to standardize industry-wide evaluation of flexible packaging recycling. The protocol establishes unified criteria for evaluating the deinking of printing inks and the delamination of films from one another, enabling comparisons across the entire domestic supply chain.
DIC Corporation and 東洋インキ株式会社 announced that they have developed an industry-wide evaluation method to facilitate the material recycling of film packaging. The protocol is intended to standardize procedures for evaluating deinking and delamination, thereby helping ensure the quality of recycled plastic.
The proposed common protocol consists of 3 elements: testing procedures, evaluation criteria, and reporting format. It emphasizes testing equipment conditions, material handling, and improving the reproducibility of procedures. The evaluation criteria establish standards for assessing the condition of deinking and delamination and the quality of the recycled plastic obtained, while the reporting format organizes test conditions and results in a standardized format.
In Europe, design guidelines developed by RecyClass and CEFLEX are already in place. The companies indicated that they intend to develop common standards in Japan while comparing and examining them against European initiatives. They explained that using the protocol will make it easier for companies involved in packaging printing and converting, brand owners, and recycling operators to evaluate and select recyclability options and set processing conditions from their respective positions.