December 1, 2025 14:37

RecyClass, the European certification scheme for recyclability and recycled plastic content in products, has approved a new generation of nitrocellulose (NC)-free inks for both surface and reverse printing, compatible with the recycling streams of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) flexible packaging.

Recyclability approval was granted following a series of tests conducted with leading ink suppliers, involving four new-generation polyurethane (PU)-based formulations and one acrylic-based formulation.

According to RecyClass, the results showed positive recyclability performance, with no adverse effects on the quality of the resulting pellets or films.

Unlike nitrocellulose-based inks—currently the most widely used in flexible packaging—the new PU- and acrylic-based inks evaluated by the RecyClass PO Films Technical Committee showed no signs of degradation in color stability or volatile emissions during processing.

A sample based on a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) binder was also tested, yielding comparable results. Based on this evidence, both PU- and PVB-based inks have been declared fully compatible with PE and PP flexible packaging recycling streams.

The RecyClass Design for Recycling Guidelines will be updated to reflect these innovations. The organization therefore encourages industry stakeholders to adopt these new ink technologies, while also recommending limiting ink usage to below 5% of the total packaging weight, as stated in the guidelines.

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