Certified as Recyclable: Now Including Fibre-Based Packaging

With sustainability claims under increasing scrutiny, packaging specifiers and procurers are under pressure to separate fact from greenwash. Many packaging designs are promoted as “recyclable,” but how do you know if those claims stand up to real-world testing?

At OPRL, we’re committed to giving brands, retailers and manufacturers the clarity they need. That’s why we’ve extended our Certified as Recyclable scheme to include recyclability testing for fibre-based packaging, developed exclusively for OPRL members.

What makes OPRL’s certification unique?

Our Certified as Recyclable scheme is a certification programme that evaluates UK recyclability across design, materials and pack features, providing a robust level of analysis.

Working with our expert partners:

RECOUP – testing rigid plastic packaging
DS Smith – testing fibre-based packaging

Together, we ensure packaging is tested against the reality of UK recycling infrastructure.

What the testing assesses

Sample packaging is evaluated to confirm:

For Rigid Plastic Packaging:

If the pack type and material is collected in the UK
If the design, size and material combinations can be sorted and recycled at typical UK Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Plastics Recovery Facilities (PRFs)
If viable end markets exist for the recycled material

For Fibre-based Packaging:

Suitability for repulping in UK and European paper mills, evidenced by robust testing version 3 of CEPI’s methodology and 4Evergreen protocol.
The correct OPRL label for the pack format, based on local authority collections and testing results.

Why Certified as Recyclable matters

This testing gives your business confidence to back up recyclability claims with independent, verifiable evidence. It also strengthens consumer trust by aligning packaging design with UK recycling capabilities.