Yerecic Label secures How2Recycle pre-qualification for key PET label materials

USA – US-based Yerecic Label has achieved pre-qualification status for four of its label constructions under the How2Recycle program. 

This step aims to streamline the recycling-label application process for brands that rely on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging.

The pre-qualification applies to the company’s SustainLabel! Preferred and SustainLabel! BOPP materials. 

With this approval in place, customers can now include the corresponding pre-qualification letters alongside their final packaging designs when submitting to How2Recycle. 

Assessors can then skip re-evaluating these label components, which have already undergone review, speeding up the overall certification timeline.

Yerecic Label officials emphasized that displaying the How2Recycle label on a package does not mean the full item is recyclable. 

The label serves to guide consumers on proper disposal, such as directing them to the right collection stream or noting when recycling is not an option. This clarification helps avoid confusion at the consumer level.

The pre-qualification covers only Yerecic Label’s own constructions. Brand owners and retailers must continue submitting their entire packaging systems for a comprehensive How2Recycle evaluation before applying the label. 

This ensures that factors like compatibility between labels and other package elements receive full scrutiny.

Looking ahead to the 2026 rollout of the How2Recycle Pro Label system, Yerecic Label has started adding a stop sign notice to all customer proofs that include the How2Recycle icon. 

The notice reminds brands to verify their artwork against the new Pro Label design requirements. 

For projects outside the pre-qualified scope, the company provides detailed label specifications to assist with How2Recycle pre-qualification requests.

In a related development, Sonoco’s EnviroCan Metal Bottom rigid paper container earned pre-qualification for the How2Recycle Check Locally label earlier in 2025. 

The container’s body consists of 100% recycled fiber, including 90% from post-consumer sources, while the metal bottom uses recycled steel. This design combines material efficiency with product safety standards.

Maureen O’Brien, director of sustainability at Yerecic Label, stated, “Our pre-qualification makes it easier for partners to meet recycling guidelines without starting from scratch on labels.” 

She added that the company remains committed to supporting full system assessments.

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