Why have we developed this label?
Packaging often only accompanies us for a short time in our everyday lives. It serves as protection for our products and facilitates the transport and storage of consumer goods. At the same time, finite resources are consumed in its production. In view of the recyclable materials contained in the packaging, its recyclability is becoming increasingly important. To enable consumers to recognise whether packaging is recyclable, we have developed the "Recyclingfähig/Recyclable" label, which is preceded by a strict test procedure for the packaging in question by the independent and internationally renowned cyclos-HTP institute.
The receipt and use of the "Recyclingfähig/Recyclable" label on packaging requires a valid cyclos-HTP certificate confirming that the overall packaging submitted is at least 90% recyclable.
The scope of validity of the cyclos-HTP certificates extends to the countries of the European Union, the United Kingdom (UK), Norway and Switzerland. The fee-based certification is carried out using the CHIRA tool to determine the following points:
- Can and may the packaging be collected in the existing infrastructure?
- Is it identified in state-of-the-art sorting facilities and allocated to a fraction?
- Can it be recycled in a recycling plant on an industrial scale to produce a high-quality post-consumer recyclate such as Systalen®?
- How high is the reusable material content of the packaging available for recycling?
- Does the packaging contain recycling incompatibilities?
The underlying assessment criteria for the certification correspond to the current minimum standard for the assessment of recyclability for packaging subject to system participation pursuant to Section 21 (3) VerpackG of the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR). The examination for testing recyclability refers to the packaging as a whole (including labels, lids, sealing films, etc., but without contents).
What happens next?
If the submitted packaging fulfils the requirements described above and receives a country-specific valid certificate, we will provide you with our "Recyclingfähig/Recyclable" label in German and/or English, free of charge, to affix to the packaging. This applies regardless of whether you are a customer of Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland GmbH or not.
Please note: The symbol may only be used in the countries specified in the certificate, each of which has achieved a result of at least 90% recyclability for the entire packaging. Once the right to use the mark has been granted, the onus is on the user to provide evidence of authorised use in the event of enquiries from third parties. The use of the label is tied to the validity of the respective certificate.
We will be happy to assist you during the certification process. If you are interested in this or have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
The use of the label itself requires the signing of the "Terms of use for the "Recyclingfähig/Recyclable" label of Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland GmbH".
About our partner cyclos-HTP Institute (CHI):
The cyclos-HTP Institute, the partner of Der Grüne Punkt, was founded in May 2014 by the shareholders of cyclos GmbH and Ingenieursgesellschaft HTP GmbH & Co. KG, based in Aachen/Germany, as a company for the classification, assessment and testing of the recyclability of packaging and goods, as well as research and development in this field.
If you are interested in packaging certification and label utilization, please contact:
Martina Lützeler-Pauli | Andrea Preil | Antje Kauffmann