Plastic
Tags
Flexible Packaging (plastic)
Flexible packaging, for example made of plastic or aluminum foil, is characterized by its application: it is not rigid and can partially adapt to applied loads. The range of applications is broad, fro ...
Additives
Plastics can be provided with additives: auxiliary substances that are added to optimize the properties of the material. This may relate to production, processing, or the properties of the plastic its ...
Washable or alkali-soluble adhesive (for use with plastic packaging)
Adhesive that is washable in water or dissolves in an alkaline bath. Labels with this adhesive can be removed in a washing process. There are cold- and warm-washable variants. Wash water is usually do ...
Bio-PE
PE that is chemically identical to conventional PE and is entirely made from raw materials derived from renewable resources (drop-in).
Bio-PET
PET that is chemically identical to conventional PET, in which 30% of the PET molecule (the MEG component) is made from raw materials derived from renewable resources (drop-in).
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical substance that can be present in plastic products, such as building materials, electronics, plastic bottles, and toys. It is also used in packaging materials, such as h ...
Carbon black
commonly used black pigment for plastics. Carbon black absorbs NIR radiation. See also the term ‘Near Infrared (NIR)’. Plastics colored with carbon black are therefore not yet detected in sorting faci ...
Cellophane
Cellophane is optimally transparent, relatively stiff, and has been available for many years, though in limited quantities. It can be produced in bright colors and is widely recognized as a candy wrap ...
Chemical recycling
Chemical recycling involves converting plastic back into its original building blocks through a chemical process, allowing new plastic to be produced from these materials. There are several methods of ...
Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)
A polymer used as an oxygen barrier layer, applied between other plastics.
Flakes
Flakes, shreds, pieces. In the context of plastic recycling, this term is used for coarsely ground plastic.
Fossil-based
Raw materials or packaging materials can be referred to as fossil-based if they are derived from fossil oils. Fossil oils are considered a finite resource.
In-Mould Label (IML)
A label that is applied in the mold and fuses with the packaging, usually used in injection molding, blow molding, or thermoforming of packaging.
Mixed stream (plastics recycling)
A sorted stream of mixed plastic packaging, offered by sorters to recyclers for recycling. Products made from this mixed stream include park benches, marker posts, crates, and pallets.
Mono stream (plastics recycling)
A sorted stream consisting of a single material type, offered by sorters to recyclers according to sorting specifications.
Oxo-degradable
Oxo-degradable (also known as oxo-biodegradable) plastics contain additives that cause them to break down into small plastic fragments (microplastics) under the influence of ultraviolet light and oxyg ...
PE (polyethylene)
Polyethylene, a polyolefin consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.
PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
Polyethylene terephthalate, a plastic belonging to the polyester group. In addition to carbon and hydrogen, PET also contains oxygen. It is widely used in rigid packaging applications, such as bottles ...
PLA (polylactic acid)
Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a polymer made from lactic acid, which is produced by fermenting sugars or starches. These sugars are typically sourced from corn or sugar beets, making PLA a renewable materi ...
PMD (Plastic, Metal, Drink cartons)
A Dutch household collection stream for Plastic, Metal and Drink cartons. Other names include PBD, PD or “Plastic+”.
PP (polypropylene)
Polypropylene, a polyolefin consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.
EPP (Expanded polypropylene)
Expanded PP (EPP), used among other things as cushioning or insulation material.
Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a material made from the styrene monomer. It is a very clear, brittle material that is easy to thermoform.Common variants include:High-impact polystyrene (HIPS)Acrylonitrile butadiene s ...
Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
Also known as foam or Styrofoam. Used for many purposes, including cushioning and insulation (e.g., fish on ice in EPS boxes, or transporting organs in liquid nitrogen in shipping containers).
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
A polymer based on carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine.
PVdC (polyvinylidene chloride)
A polymer composed of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine.
Silicone gel
A phase into which silicones or acrylates can transition under heat; may occur during recycling of regranulate.
Silicones
Polymer based on silicone. It is used, among other things, as a flexible seal in packaging, for example a valve in the cap of a squeeze bottle.Silicones are also used to apply flexible seals, for exam ...
Single-Use Plastics (SUP)
Plastic disposables such as cutlery, cups, stirrers, cotton swabs, balloons and balloon sticks, etc.
Sleeve (full-body sleeve)
Printed tubu film that is applied around a rigid packaging, either by stretching or shrinking. In the latter case, the film shrinks when heated and then takes the shape of the rigid packaging. The sle ...
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
See definition PS (polystyrene).
Bio-Polypropylene (Bio-PP)
PP that is chemically identical to conventional PP and is entirely made from raw materials derived from renewable resources (drop-in).
Biaxially oriented Polypropylene (BOPP)
Biaxially oriented (stretched in two directions) PP, especially for films.
Co-extrusion
Co-extrusion is a process in which multiple layers of material are produced simultaneously and combined into a single material during the extrusion process, in which the film takes the shape of a flat ...
DKR standard
Plastic packaging waste is sorted according to the DKR standards. These standards vary by type of plastic. For each type of plastic, one or more product specifications have been established. The mater ...
Good recyclable packaging
Packaging that has been assessed using the Recycle Check, and where all details of the packaging are optimally suited for recycling. This makes it "good recyclable" according to the definition of recy ...
High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
High-density PE, especially for dimensionally stable applications.
High-impact polystyrene (HIPS)
See definition PS (polystyrene).
Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)
Linear low-density PE, especially for films.
Maleic Anhydride
Maleic Anhydride is a chemical compound that is often used as a compatibilizer in polymer blends. It acts as a bridge between two incompatible polymers and improves their miscibility and interfacial a ...
OPP
Oriented PP, especially for films.
Polyethylene furanoate (PEF)
PEF is a polyester that can be produced through a polycondensation reaction between FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) and MEG (monoethylene glycol). The combination of FDCA and plant-based MEG results ...
Polyolefins (PO)
A group of polymers composed of simple hydrocarbon compounds, such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP).
Shredding
Chopping or grinding plastic into smaller pieces of material suitable for recycling.
Thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO)
TPO (thermoplastic polyolefins) is a blend of a polyolefin-based plastic (usually polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE)) and a non-crosslinked elastomer such as EPDM. It is a specific type of TPE (t ...
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE)
TPE (thermoplastic elastomers) are a group of plastics that combine the properties of rubber with the processability of thermoplastics. They are elastic at room temperature and become soft when heated ...
Sink-float technique
Sorting technique that uses the difference in density of materials relative to the density of a liquid to separate them. Materials with a higher density than the liquid sink, while materials with a lo ...
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Low-density PE is primarily used for films.
Target material
The target material is the material that ultimately needs to be recycled into a new raw material. In most cases, this is the most prevalent material in the disposal unit, often the material of the mai ...
Polymer
Polymer is a large molecule, synthetic or natural, characterized by the sequence of one or more types of monomer units which are covalently bound to each other. The specific composition of the monomer ...
Recyclability
Definition of recyclability (before August 12 2026)Recyclability concerns the extent to which packaging or a disposable unit can be processed by the current system of collecting, sorting, and rec ...
Rigid packaging (plastic)
A rigid packaging is a stiff packaging that is not easily deformed or cannot be crumpled into a ball (even when empty). Characteristics: The material of a PE or PP main component is usually thicker th ...
Secondary material
Materials that are not the target material form the secondary stream. These can affect the processability of the target material, but can also be recycled themselves if they are properly matched (desi ...
Material layer
A material layer is a separate layer within a plastic package consisting of a single primary material or polymer. This layer:Usually has a thickness of more than 1 micrometer (1µm = 10⁻⁶ m).Is applied ...
Plastic [PPWR definition]
Plastic is a material consisting of a polymer (a long chain of molecules). Additional substances, such as colorants or additives, may be added to this polymer. The material can be an important structu ...