US – RecyClass has certified a recyclable valve developed by Aptar Food + Beverage, a subsidiary of US-based pharmaceutical packaging AptarGroup, as fully recyclable in plastic recycling streams.
The SimpliCycle TPE-S valve is said to be made from a low-density polymer. It can be separated easily from the PET flakes and recycled directly alongside the polyolefin streams if it is used as a closure on a PET bottle and is collected with the bottle in the PET recycling stream.
Aptar said when used as a closure on a PP bottle, the closure enters directly into the PP recycling stream and is totally compliant as RecyClass has now authorized.
According to Aptar Food + Beverage, the SimpliCycle valve offers a totally recyclable and high-performance option for use with either PET, HDPE, or PP containers when integrated into an Aptar closure.
Following RecyClass’s approval, Aptar closures with SimpliCycle valves are considered to offer more hygienic and controlled product dispensing for consumers, as well as improve sustainability for food and beverage brands.
Aptar elastomeric flow control business General Manager Shyam Kotak said: “In addition to Critical Guidance Recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) in North America, we now have those same approvals from the leading European organization for evaluating plastic recyclability.
“The Design for Recyclability Guidelines for these two important organizations have been increasingly adopted around the globe.”
Kotak added: “These approvals are evidence of Aptar’s continued dedication to bringing more sustainable products to market in collaboration with our customers to enable them to meet their sustainability goals.
“This is good news for brands, fillers, recyclers and consumers, all of whom are looking for plastic packaging to be more in line with a circular economy.”
Aptar’s SimpliCycle valve previously secured European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) Endorsement for complete compatibility with RecyClass Guidelines for PET recycling streams.
When assembled into an Aptar closure, the SimpliCycle valve is claimed to offer a fully recyclable, high-performance solution for PET, PP or HDPE containers.
Based in Belgium, RecyClass is a non-profit, cross-industry initiative facilitating the transition toward a circular plastic economy.
The organization published Design for Recycling Guidelines and conducts evaluations of a variety of products in partnership with independent laboratories to assess the product’s ability to be recycled.
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