Magnomer, a startup that creates magnetizable coatings for packaging to improve separation in existing recycling systems, has announced that its coatings can now be officially considered a tool for addressing “unnecessary and problematic materials,” as defined by the US Plastics Pact under new wording of the list released last week.

The US Plastics Pact brings together brands, non-profits, government agencies, and research institutions, working together to hit ambitious targets to build a circular economy for plastics in the United States. As part of this work, the US Plastics Pact publishes a list of problematic and unnecessary materials, the use of which can hinder a circular economy.

The list is meant to be an evolving document and items may be added or removed from the list over time as technologies change. Whereas the previous version of the list identified specific label substrates that were always considered problematic, the newly released version now defers to the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR). If a label construction has APR recognition, meaning that its design is compatible with the North American recycling system, it is not considered part of the unnecessary and problematic materials list.

Magnomer’s Magmark SS coatings have APR recognition for use on PETG, and therefore, when PETG is paired with Magmark SS coatings, it is not considered problematic, according to the new wording.

Uncoated PETG shrink film is detrimental to recycling since its lower melting temperature relative to PET flake creates “clumping” challenges at the point of extrusion. It is this reason why uncoated PETG shrink has been part of the Unnecessary and Problematic Materials List. Magmark SS coated PETG, however, is magnetized, and is thus able to be removed from the PET flake stream by magnets already present in recycling operations. Captured label flake can be recycled as part of fiber grade PET.

“We want to acknowledge the ongoing innovations occurring in recycling and the circular economy,” states Jonathan Quinn, CEO of the US Plastics Pact. “We aim to celebrate new innovations that help us achieve our goals, particularly when they make strides to push boundaries while still aligning with standard manufacturing processes.”

According to Ravish Majithia, Magnomer founder and CEO, “PETG is a common label substrate chosen because of its superior shrink properties, branding appeal, and its ability to sync with common manufacturing processes. We are pleased to offer a solution that allows brands to meet critical recyclability goals, and which allows them to do so in a way that fits with their current processes.”