A new horizon for fibre-based packaging recyclability. Paper Technology International 2025 4 Evergreen Alliance

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Additionally, the protocol can inform infrastructure
investment decisions. Recyclers and technology developers can
use the insights from the protocol to assess which packaging types
are compatible with existing equipment and where advancements
may be needed. This can drive more strategic alignment between
packaging development and recycling system capacity.
The protocol may also serve as a bridge between policy
and practice. Regulators need tools that reflect operational realities,
and this industry-developed framework provides an example of how
voluntary, evidence-based initiatives can complement regulatory
ambition. It allows for better alignment on expectations and
outcomes, encouraging progress without compromising recyclability
performance.
By fostering a more accurate understanding of how different
materials behave during recycling, the protocol encourages
alignment between what packaging is designed to do and
what recycling systems are capable of handling. This mutual
understanding is essential for achieving truly circular outcomes—
ones that are economically viable, environmentally responsible, and
technologically feasible.
Continuous Development and Real-World Application
Far from being a static document, the protocol is designed to
evolve. As feedback is gathered from industry users and regulatory
bodies, further refinements will be made. There are plans to develop
additional scorecards for other recycling systems, and to explore
potential links with broader environmental impact metrics, such as
life cycle assessments (LCAs).
Member companies are
now beginning to test the protocol
against their own packaging
portfolios, helping to build a shared
understanding of recyclability across
product categories. Looking ahead,
the protocol is expected to inform
future iterations of industry guidelines,
contribute to alignment with EU policy
frameworks, and serve as a reference
point in international sustainability
dialogues.
The future vision includes
integration with digital tools and
data platforms that could automate
parts of the assessment, making
recyclability checks a seamless part of the
design and production workflow. Combined
with developments in artificial intelligence and
big data analytics, this could enable a fresh
approach to smart packaging design, where
recyclability is engineered in from the very
beginning.
A Collective Achievement
The success of the Recyclability
Evaluation Protocol is, at its heart, a story of
collaboration. It shows what is possible when
diverse sectors come together with a common
purpose. Instead of working in silos, participants
shared data, expertise, and challenges,
resulting in a tool that beneifts the entire fibrebased packaging ecosystem.
It is also a model for how other sectors
might approach the complexity of sustainability transitions. By
combining technical rigour with open dialogue and shared goals,
the protocol process helped overcome one of the major barriers to
progress: the lack of mutual understanding across the value chain.
Most importantly, the protocol brings us closer to a vision of
a circular economy—one in which materials are designed from the
outset to be recovered and reused, and where all actors play a role
in ensuring the success of that system.
Conclusion
The launch of the Fibre-Based Packaging Recyclability
Evaluation Protocol marks a significant milestone for the fibrebased packaging industry. It provides not only a practical tool for
improving recyclability assessments, but also a symbol of what can
be achieved through true cross-sector collaboration.
By creating a shared foundation for evaluating packaging
recyclability, the protocol helps bring clarity to a complex issue. It
supports smarter design decisions, informs policy alignment, and
enables progress across the recycling landscape through improved
collaboration and practical solutions. Most of all, it exemplifies the
power of collective action in solving shared challenges.
For the paper and packaging technology community, this
protocol is more than a framework—it is a call to work together,
continuously improve, and design with circularity in mind from the
start.
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