Design Check

CEFLEX Designing for a Circular Economy Guidelines Assessment Tool

An easy to use and free online tool for CEFLEX stakeholders and the wider value chain to check if packaging designs and specifications adhere to the ‘Designing for a Circular Economy’ (D4ACE) guidelines.

CEFLEX and Recyda have teamed up to provide a self-assessment tool allowing suppliers, partners and customers to boost collaboration and innovation in sustainable packaging design.

The check against D4ACE guidelines assesses whether a specification or design is Compatible – Limited compatibility – Not compatible for polyethene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or mixed polyolefin (PO) mechanical recycling processes.

By entering information about the materials and elements used in a flexible packaging structure – such as the polymer type, amount of ink and adhesives, and barrier layers – users can quickly establish whether the design adheres to the CEFLEX guidelines.

Designing for a Circular Economy In Action

Screenshots from the self-assessment tool designed by CEFLEX and Recyda

The confidential online tool is applicable to:

  • Flexible packaging structures and flexible films
  • Packaging at R&D stage or on the market

And can be used to check packaging designs or specifications:

  • At different points in the design process – conception of ideas, collaboration with partners, suppliers, customers and pre-recyclability testing
  • Identify if any areas need to be changed or optimised
  • Provide information to customers

Users should note that the tool is not a packaging recyclability assessment, it does not involve any practical testing or act as a packaging certification. Results do not consider the collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure or EPR systems in any specific country.

Liz Morrish, CEFLEX Design Lead

“Designing and innovating to meet CEFLEX’s flexible packaging guidelines delivers significant improvements to what materials enter the market and expanding the range and quality of applications able to use the materials when they are recycled.

The accompanying online tool has been developed to assist and accelerate this process. Helping designers, partners, suppliers and customers check designs and specifications against them”

Liz Morrish, Design Lead, CEFLEX