Dow has announced that it has earned multiple Critical Guidance Recognitions for recyclability from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) in three product categories. ROBOND adhesives, OPULUX optical finishes and SURLYN ionomers were each recognized by APR for solving packaging design challenges.

APR’s Critical Guidance Recognition is one of the most widely accepted measures for assessing recyclability in plastics packaging design worldwide and is presented to companies whose products solve well-established challenges in sustainable package design. The products are evaluated by a third-party, independent review committee and must meet the strict requirements of the Critical Guidance test protocol FPE-CG-01 under the APR Design Recognition Program.

The specific Dow products receiving the Critical Guidance Recognition for meeting or exceeding the strict requirements outlined for PE Film and Flexible Packaging include:

• ROBOND L-90M Adhesive on PE films, a water-based, VOC-free adhesive used for laminating flexible substrates. It is most commonly used in food and medical packaging.
• OPULUX MC 5004 Coating on PE films, a water-based, low-gloss soft-touch coating that provides a matte appearance, excellent rub resistance and heat resistance when applied to a variety of substrates including polyester, nylon, BOPP film and paper.
• SURLYN Ionomers with 20% loading in multilayer polyethylene film substrates. SURLYN Ionomers are used in a wide variety of food and non-food packaging, as well as pharma and medical packaging applications. They deliver uniform deformation during thermoforming, and their combination of high shrink rate and low shrink force can create a tight draw around a package while maintaining the original shape of even the most delicate products.

“The Critical Guidance Protocol, FPE-CG-01, is the product of multi-industry consensus of key issues related to the recycling of postconsumer polyethylene films,” comments Stephen Alexander, president and CEO of APR. “The protocol is intended to improve the quality of recycled PE films by helping innovators to make informed decisions. Meeting the Critical Guidance Protocol guidelines is a truly significant step in demonstrating the overall recyclability of [a company’s] products.”

In addition to the three products recognized recently by APR, another Dow product – RETAIN Polymer Modifier for multi-layer barrier films – was recognized for meeting APR’s Responsible Innovation requirements in 2016. RETAIN Polymer Modifier helps plastic packages break down evenly across layers and enables the original package to be recycled and recreated into new materials. RETAIN Polymer Modifier was the first PE film product to be recognized by APR.

“It’s commendable whenever an organization has even a single product recognized by the APR, but to have three products recognized in a single year is truly an outstanding achievement,” says Mike White, senior market manager, adhesives, Dow North America Packaging and Specialty Plastics. “At Dow, we are committed to making plastic packaging more sustainable, and that means we are designing innovations like ROBOND Adhesives, OPULUX Optical Finishes and SURLYN Ionomers with recycling in mind. With these new APR recognitions, brand owners and converters can feel even more confident in their choices to use these products.”