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What does ‘recyclable’ mean?

We believe that the circular economy makes a significant contribution to a more sustaina-ble world. An important part of the circular economy is recycling, i.e. reprocessing valuable materials to make something new. We want our products to be manufactured from sus-tainable resources and to be used as raw materials for other new products at the end of their useful life. In this way they can be perfectly integrated into the recycling loop.

Recycling as part of the circular economy 

Three factors are important in ensuring recycling is part of the circular economy: the advancement of recycling technologies, the ability to dispose of the materials in a way that is appropriate to their value and the recyclability of the materials used. As a producer, we have the most influence on the last of these.

Recyclable materials 

Whether a product is recyclable currently depends on the materials used to make it. The purer the material, the easier it is to recycle. This is the case with the aluminium we use in our aluminium foil, for example. With many plastics the situation is somewhat more complex. Plastics can roughly be divided into three groups.

Recycling of plastics 

The first group are plastics that are easy to sort and recycle. Such plastics are therefore the most widely used.

Theoretically, the plastics in the second group could be recycled, but as there are only small quantities of them they are not. Plastics which cannot be recycled because their chemical and physical properties do not currently allow it, form the third group. Therefore, we only classify the first group as recyclable.

Recycling at Toppits® 

An example of the first group of plastics is the material in our cling film. Some cling films consist of multilayer films that are difficult to recycle or they are made with non-recyclable plastics. Toppits® cling film is made of polyethylene, a highly recyclable plastic that requires only a few additives.

We are constantly working to increase the proportion of plastic products in our portfolio that are easy to sort and recycle. We also strive to reduce the proportion of plastics, and indeed all materials, that are difficult to recycle. In this way we want to encourage the circular economy and make a contribution to reducing the incineration or dumping of valuable raw materials.

Ways you can support our recycling processes 

You too can support our recycling efforts. Correct disposal of our products after use is just as important as using recyclable materials to make them. Throughout Europe, each country and region has different disposal systems and guidelines. Every country deals with recycling differently. Contact your local waste management company or district administration for information about local recycling recommendations and dispose of our products accordingly, so that as much as possible can be recycled!

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