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4evergreen

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As a cross-industry alliance, 4evergreen fosters synergies among companies promoting low-carbon and circular fibre-based packaging.  By bringing together the entire value chain, 4evergreen enables cooperation with a comprehensive outlook on fibre-based packaging’s life cycle.

The aim of the alliance is to raise the overall recycling rate of fibre-based packaging to 90% by 2030. To reach this goal, 4evergreen has identified four intermediary targets to be met by 2025:

  • Industry recognises 4evergreen’s recyclability evaluation protocol and its circularity by design guidelines for fibre-based packaging
  • Separate collection streams are available for all fibre-based packaging types, including for those used in household, out-of-home and on-the-go consumption
  • All Paper for Recycling (PfR) is sorted according to the different paper and board categories specified in the EN643 standard
  • All collected fibre-based packaging, specifically from household, out-of-home and on-the-go consumption, is recycled

4evergreen is driven by the insights and initiatives of its members via four technical workstreams (WS) that focus on different aspects of fibre-based packaging, as well as an information workstream and a Steering Group.

More information is available on the 4evergreen website.

4evergreen Member List

Please click the image below to access the 4evergreen (Members Only) page

Publications:

Recyclability Evaluation Protocol

The Recyclability Evaluation Protocol is a harmonised industry tool for assessing how efficiently fibre-based packaging materials can be recycled into usable raw material, taking into account the different recycling technologies in place across the EU. It aims to be accepted and used by the fibre-based packaging value chain as the go-to assessment tool for recyclability in Europe.

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Recyclability: Towards 2030 and Beyond

Fibre material has one of the highest recycling rates in Europe. In fact, there is a whole network of mills across the continent equipped to recycle fibre-based packaging!

At 4evergreen, we are determined to perfect the recyclability of fibre-based packaging solutions by 2030. Towards that goal, our alliance is creating a toolbox – including the recently released beta version of the Recyclability Evaluation Protocol.

Composite fibre-based packaging is already successfully recycled across the EU. However, the 4evergreen protocol will decisively help the industry assess if a specific type of fibre-based packaging is compatible with standard mills or will need an enhanced process.  Check out the Infographic to learn more

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Guidance on the Improved Collection and Sorting of Fibre-based Packaging for Recycling (2024)

First released in 2022, the current guidance (October 2024) has been subject to external consultation to incorporate the latest industry findings and reinforce the recommendations for effective collection and sorting practices across Europe.

The Guidance focuses on household collection, and recommends collection and sorting in two co-existing streams for paper & board (PB) and lightweight packaging (LWP).

It therefore empowers consumers to recycle effectively by using two separate streams:

-The ‘blue bin’ for paper, board, and fibre-based packaging for standard and deinking paper mills.

-The ‘yellow bin’ for specific packaging types, like used beverage cartons and fibre-based composite packaging, requiring specialised paper mills.

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Circularity by Design Guideline (2024)

The Circularity by Design Guideline provides recommendations for the design of fibre-based packaging and is recommended for all packaging designers along the entire value chain, from manufacturers to retailers. It addresses all types of fibre-based packaging, but particular emphasis is placed on household and on-the-go consumer packaging.

This document also includes a decision tree to help designers determine the appropriate recycling process for their packaging. Additionally, it highlights the importance of different recycling processes for various fibre-based packaging solutions to ensure optimal material recovery.

The current Circularity by Design Guideline (October 2024) provides design recommendations for fibre-based packaging products likely to be recycled in standard mills (Part I), and for used beverage cartons (UBC) and other complex packaging of similar composition that require recycling in specialised mills (Part III). The latest update includes recommendations on the suitability of packaging materials in flotation-deinking and additional specialised recycling processes

The guideline includes a decision tree, showing users the relevant type of recycling mill in which the assessed packaging should be recycled.

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