Audits on the traceability of recycled material

While the plastics industry has committed itself to the circular economy, legal requirements and obligations for manufacturing companies are increasing, and targets set at the EU level demand more products with an ever-higher proportion of recycled material. But who can guarantee that recycled materials are actually used in the prescribed quantities? For a truly circular future in plastics, the industry has to move toward verifiable and reliable claims. This transparent verification can be achieved through independent third-party certifications. Greiner Packaging and its plants also undergo such external audits.

The first four plants were being audited this year, and the long-term plan is to assess all production sites. As part of the audit, both the origin of the recycled material and the proportion of the mixture in the production plant must be verified. This ensures that the waste has been processed into recycled material based on the required standards and that the product contains the required materials. Audits are carried out in accordance with the EN 15343 standard, and several independent companies currently issue certificates and licenses based on this