Design guidance

recommendations for
food contact grade
PET bottles

Developed by Supported by Funded by

Consultations: This report is a product of primary and secondary research, based on interactions with stakeholders across the plastics value chain. The India Plastics Pact is grateful to individual experts and specialists for valuable
inputs and insights during the preparation of this report. The support of India Plastics Pact Member and Supporter organisations is appreciated and acknowledged.

Funder: UKRI India

Date of publication: November, 2022

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 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Contents

Objective of 5 PET bottle design 9 Conclusions 26 Summary 27

the design guidance of guidance
guidance Bottle size and dimensions 10
Bottle colour and fillers 12
Barriers: coatings, blends, 14
and multi-layers
Additives 15
Caps and closures 16
Liners, seals and valves 18
Labels and sleeves 20
Label material 22
Adhesives 24
Printing inks 25
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

List of abbreviations
OPS oriented polystyrene film
AA acetaldehyde
PEN polyethylene naphthalate
BIS Bureau of Indian Standards
PE polyethylene
BOPP biaxially oriented PP film
PET polyethylene terephthalate
CSD carbonated soft drink

EPE expanded polyethylene PET-G PET, glycol-modified

EVA ethylene vinyl acetate PLA polylactic acid

EVOH ethylene vinyl alcohol PP polypropylene

FCM food contact material ppm parts per million

FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India PS polystyrene

HCl hydrochloric acid PSA pressure sensitive adhesive label

HDPE high density polyethylene PVC polyvinyl chloride
HMA hot melt adhesive ROPP roll over pilfer-proof aluminum cap
IV intrinsic viscosity rPET recycled PET
LDPE low density polyethylene SiOx silicon oxide (barrier coating)
MDPE medium density polyethylene
SS shrink/stretch sleeve labels
MRF material recovery facility
SSP solid state polycondensation
MXD6 nylon made from m-xylene diamine (MXDA) + adipic acid
UV ultraviolet
NIR near infrared
WA wraparound labels

4
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Objective of the design guidance

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most widely post-consumer PET bottles and a correspondingly high
used material globally for making rigid packaging rate of collection, 70% to 90%, and recycling.
containers for food and beverage packaging
applications. PET bottles are transparent, strong, Until recently, in India, the use of recycled plastics as
lightweight, chemically inert, durable, safe, and food contact material (FCM) was banned by the Bureau
recyclable. In India, about 0.9 million tonnes of PET of Indian Standards (BIS)3 and the Food Safety and
was used for rigid packaging in 2018-191 and 1.08 Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). As a consequence
million tonnes in 2021.2 of this ban, almost the entire output of rPET was
diverted to non-food, non-packaging applications4 such
Plastic packaging made from a single polymer resin is as making polyester fibre, in turn used to make clothing,
easier to recycle than materials composed of multiple carpets and other textile items. A small percentage of
resins in one layer (for instance blends of PET and rPET is made into sheets and strapping.
polyethylene naphthalate (PEN)) or different materials
in multiple layers (such as PET//nylon//PET). In India, In January 2022, the Food Safety and Standards
rigid containers for packaging liquid beverages are (Packaging) Regulations, 20185 were amended to state
most commonly made from PET. Polypropylene (PP) that recycled plastic can be, “used for storing, carrying,
and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are also used dispensing, or packaging ready to eat or drink food
for some applications, such as retort-sterilized stuff”. The lifting of this ban is expected to lead to a
flavoured milk and juice, but form a small share of the surge of interest in closed-loop bottle-to-bottle
market. PET is preferred for beverage packaging, recycling applications. Given PET’s widespread use and
especially that of carbonated soft drinks, because it excellent recyclability, it is vital to design PET bottles
offers more clarity than HDPE and PP, and has such that post-consumer PET of a high quality is
superior barrier properties. There is a large demand available for bottle-to-bottle FCM applications, that is,
for recycled PET (rPET) for use in fibre and textile their collection and recycling are maximized.
applications: this translates into a high value for

1
PlastIndia Foundation. (2019). Indian Plastics Industry Report 2019. https://www.plastindia.org/plastic-industry-status-report.php
2
Research and Markets. (2022). India PET Resin Market Analysis. https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5028726/india-pet-resin-market-analysis-plant-capacity
3
BIS. (1998). IS 14534 (1998): Guidelines for recycling of plastics. https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S11/is.14534.1998.pdf
4
NCL Innovations. (n.d.). PET Recycling in India Understanding PET recycling in India. http://www.petrecycling.in/pet-recycling-in-india/
5
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. (2022). File No: STD/SC/A – 40. https://fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2022/01/61e7acd01a850Direction_Recycled_Plastics_19_01_2022.pdf

5
Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

The objective of this document is to provide an overview of

technical and design-related aspects which, if put into
practice, will ensure that PET bottles intended for FCM
applications do not hinder the recycling process, recycler’s
yield, productivity and the quality of the final product.

Current Indian practices are referenced alongside to

provide context, and a comparison with global practice
mentioned wherever relevant. The characteristics of manual
collection, sorting and their impact on the quality of flakes
produced, have been identified and examined.

This guidance can be used by convertors, bottlers, bottle,

cap and label manufacturers, and fast-moving consumer
goods companies.

6
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

PET recycling in the Indian context

As per the Ellen McArthur Foundation’s New further sorted by colour, then segregated and baled Two steps, decontamination and solid-state
Plastics Economy Global Commitment6, a at MRFs. Baled PET bottles are transported to
polycondensation, are required to make the
packaging or packaging component is recycling plants, where another round of manual and
recyclable if its successful post-consumer automatic sorting takes place, after which they are flakes/pellets suitable for FCM application.
collection, sorting, and recycling is proven to cleaned, shredded, hot caustic-washed, dried and
work in practice7 and at scale.8 sold to manufacturers of polyester fibre, straps
and sheets.
In the decontamination process, volatile
Meeting all these requirements, contaminants from the rPET resin matrix
post-consumer PET beverage bottles are the Washed rPET flakes produced in this manner for are removed by heat, vacuum and/or
most commonly recovered and recycled type of use in fibre applications, do not require the
packaging in India. A PET recycling system is in decontamination and purity levels required for food nitrogen flushing.
place operating through a network of contact use; a small quantity (<0.5%) of non-PET and
waste-collectors, aggregators, traders, non-volatile material can be tolerated, as long as it
material recovery facilities (MRFs) and does not interfere with the extrusion and spinning
recyclers. Waste collectors collect mixed plastic into fibre. In solid state polycondensation (SSP), the
wastes from households, streets or commercial rPET flakes/pellets are heated to
establishments and sell to aggregators and When food contact grade rPET quality is to be approximately 210ºC (below the PET
traders, where the mixed wastes are manually achieved, flakes and/or pellets are further subjected
sorted into categories, based on resin-type and to a rigorous decontamination process to ensure that melting temperature of 280ºC) in the
format, and labels are manually removed there is no risk to consumer health, and that the absence of oxygen, to increase the intrinsic
(depending on agreements and value taste, odour and composition of the food/beverage
viscosity (IV) of the PET resin.
realization with recyclers). PET bottles are packed in rPET bottles are not adversely affected.

6
Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2020). New Plastics Economy Global Commitment: Commitments, Vision and Definitions. https://emf.thirdlight.com/link/pq2algvgnv1n-uitck8/@/preview/1?o
7
‘In practice’ means that within each of these regions, the recycling system (end-to-end system from consumer to recycled material) effectively recycles a significant share of all packaging of that type put on the market. In other words, in that area a significant recycling
rate is achieved for that type of packaging
8
‘At scale’ means that the proof needs to be more than a lab test, a pilot, or a single small region. It means that recycling of a certain packaging type needs to be proven to work in practice in multiple regions, collectively representing a significant geographical area in
terms of population size, ideally across different country and city archetypes. This to indicate that the recycling in practice is replicable, and that the design of the packaging is not the barrier to realise recycling in practice in other countries.

7
Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Figure 1: PET recycling: process flow

Step I: Wash line Step II: Extrusion and decontamination

Bales Sink-float tank Dryer Washed Flakes Storage +

Transport

De-Baler Rinse Flakes Dryer Food Grade

Material Sorter Pellets

Pre-Wash Main Wash Washed Flakes Extrusion + Solid State

(non-Food Grade) Filtration Polycondensation

Bottle Sorters Grinder Storage Pelletization Crystallization

8
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

PET bottle design guidance

Figure 2: Components of a PET bottle The following aspects of a PET bottle Design aspects that will facilitate the production of high-quality food
and its components have implications contact grade rPET are described below with recommendations suited
on the ease of their recycling and to the Indian context. The recommendations have been categorized into
Cap Liner/seal should be addressed when they are
being designed:
Recycling- Conditional Problematic
Bottle size and dimensions friendly
These have minimal These present These pose
Bottle colour (including fillers) or no negative effect known technical significant
on the productivity challenges to adverse technical
Barriers of recycling the MRFs and impact on the
operation or final recyclers’ yield, MRFs and
Glue/adhesive
Additives product quality. productivity or recyclers’ yield,
Label Packaging with final product productivity or
these features are quality but are final product
Caps and closures
likely to pass tolerated by quality. The
through the most MRFs and majority of MRFs
Liners, seals and valves recycling process recyclers. and recyclers
into the most cannot remove
Additives
Body resin Labels and sleeves appropriate these features to
material stream the degree
Adhesives with the potential of required to get a
Barrier/coatings
Colourants
producing high quality end
quality material. product.
Printing ink

9
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Bottle size and dimensions

Figure 3: Trommel drum screen PET bottles are produced in different At a recycling plant, after
dimensions, sizes, and, filling capacities, debaling, bottles are put through
a series of manual,
ranging from as low as 20 ml up to 20 L. semi-automatic and automatic
The size and shape of PET bottles sorting and cleaning processes.
determines the ease and likelihood of A trommel drum screen slot is
collection, sorting, and segregation. used to remove loose non-PET
items such dirt, stones and
Small size bottles (150 to 250 ml), loose caps. 150 ml-bottles
typically used for single-serve drinks, (diameter <50 mm and length
are less likely to be collected by waste <100 mm) may drop through the
pickers because of their low weight and trommel drum screen slots,
along with other waste.
value realization.9 Sorting at
trader-level or in a material recovery
facility is also affected by bottle size,
with smaller bottles requiring more
effort per kilo of bottles, to inspect and
sort. Sorting and separation are typically
by size first, and then by material.
Smaller bottles are, therefore, less
Source: Amstar Machinery Co., https://www.plasticrecyclingmachine.net/trommel/
likely to be collected but may also be
lost in automated sorting equipment.

9
Small size bottles are easy to collect from point sources of waste generation (such as restaurants or banquet halls), but collection is not viable when they are littered.

10
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Bottle size and dimensions

Figure 4: Large size PET cans After the trommel, bottles pass through a magnet which step carried out at large (greater than 10,000 ton per
removes metal parts such as rings and caps. They then month capacity) recycling facilities.
enter a manual sorting bay, where any other remaining
plastic/metal parts, coloured bottles and labels are Large size PET cans/jars of capacity 5 L to 20 L are used
removed. The next step is automated sorting of material for edible oil and packaged drinking water for home or
using laser or other kind of detection, where bottles multi-serve use. At material recovery facilities, these are
with a small surface area can escape detection and cut into pieces before baling to prevent jamming conveyor
get ejected. streams in the recycling process. Also, during the
automated sorting process, their separation by air jets is
In the Indian context, most of the initial sorting is difficult owing to their bulk size and weight.
manual at street level, and automated sorting is a final

The table below provides the detailed container dimensions and capacities commonly used in the Indian beverage industry.

Table 1 : Commonly used bottle sizes in the Indian beverage industry

Products Bottle diameter (mm) Bottle length (mm) Typical capacities

Dairy/juice 50 to 120 150 to 350 180 ml to 3 L

Carbonated soft drinks 50 to 120 150 to 350 200 ml to 3 L

Water 50 to 300 150 to 500 200 ml to 20 L

Table 2: Design guidance for bottle size

Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for recycling

Diameter >50 mm and/or Diameter 40 to 50 mm and/or Diameter <30 mm and/or
length >100 mm, <400 mm length <100 mm length >400 mm

11
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Bottle colour and fillers

While the majority of PET bottles used are clear, green and amber Fillers, such as calcium carbonate, are
bottles are also used commonly for some applications and by used to lower the cost of bottles for some
applications (dairy and shampoo
brands to differentiate their products. In India, clear PET bottles are packaging) while white masterbatches,
largely used for water, carbonated soft drinks (CSD), juices, and containing titanium dioxide, are used to
dairy beverages. Light green/yellow bottles are used for certain impart opacity (for instance in milk
categories of lemon-flavoured, pale yellow liquids. Typically, 83% packaging). Coloured masterbatches with
various pigments are used to impart
to 88% of PET bottles placed on market are clear, 10% to 15% are colours to PET bottles.
green, and 2% to 3% are amber/brown, blue or other colours.
Coloured PET bottles are problematic
Sometimes the colouration, amber/brown for example, is important to increase because of the extra time and labour
the shelf-life (amber/brown coloured bottles reduce exposure to sunlight) and needed to separate them from transparent
such bottles are used in wellness and pharmaceutical applications. White opaque bottles by traders, at material recovery
PET bottles are used in some long-life dairy product packaging applications. facilities and by recyclers. If they are not
sorted, the resultant flakes would be
multi-coloured, not suitable for use in the
textile or bottle-to-bottle applications and
would need to be tinted black or grey;
neither of which is in high demand.

Waste-pickers sell all bottles – clear,

opaque or coloured – to traders. Traders
are required to arrange for their
separation and storage until there are
enough of one colour to sell to a recycler.

12
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Bottle colour and fillers

This additional requirement to sort, segregate and store The Bureau of Indian Standards10 and an FSSAI 2005
PET by colour leads to higher operational costs regulation had restricted the use of opaque and dark
(manpower and storage) for traders and MRFs. Coloured coloured PET for packaging water, but recently, in
bottles are sold at a different price point in the market January 202211, the FSSAI issued a notification amending
and each colour has its own demand-supply dynamics, this standard, and lifting the restriction. While large
but typically sold at lower prices than clear bottles. For companies are unlikely to change their practices as a
these reasons, colours should be avoided, or minimised result of this amendment, smaller companies might
as they tend to contaminate the recycled PET stream and begin using coloured PET as a convenient way to
impact the clarity of rPET resin. distinguish their brands from others’. Due to this there is
a chance of increased number of coloured PET bottles in
Fillers such as calcium carbonate, hamper the the market. This might lead to higher operational costs
recyclability of PET bottles by reducing the transparency at MRFs for sorting and might increase the likelihood of
of flakes obtained after melting. coloured PET bottles remaining uncollected.

Table 3: Design guidance for bottle colour and fillers

Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for recycling

Clear/natural • Light blue, green tints12 • Opaque, strong colourants
• Amber/brown colour in light • Fillers
sensitive applications only
• Dark green, blue, black, if
near infrared (NIR) detectable

10
BIS. (2005). Manual for Packaged Drinking Water (Doc No.: SM/IS14543/01). Available at: https://bis.gov.in/qazwsx/cmd/water_manual.pdf
11
FSSAI. (2022). Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) First Amendment Regulations, 2022 (F.No. Std/SP-08/A-1.2019/N-01). https://fssai.gov.in/upload/notifications/2022/01/61f2431e10029Gazette_Notification_Water_27_01_2022.pdf
12
In the Indian market, there is a large proportion of PET bottles with green tint. This should not be a challenge if these are collected, sorted and recycled separately. Please note, green color is a challenge, but green tints are not.

13
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Barriers: coatings, blends, and multi-layers

For most beverage packaging Major technologies that are used to enhance gas barrier properties of PET are:
applications, monolayer PET offers a 1. Coating materials such as silicon 2. Multilayer PET bottles, in which one 3. Blends with
good enough barrier for the intended oxide (SiOx) or carbon less than 0.1 layer of the material with materials such
shelf life. However, certain light- and micron thick inside PET bottles, that barrier-enhancing properties, for as PEN, are
oxygen-sensitive products, such as increase the shelf life of a example, nylon-MXD6 or ethylene vinyl added to PET
single-serve packaging (<500 ml) alcohol (EVOH), is placed between two resin before the
orange juice, milk, beer and tomato almost three-fold, to more than 25 PET layers. Although these are not injection process.
juice/ketchup, have higher barrier weeks. These coatings are used in the Indian context, acceptable However, these
requirements that cannot be met by PET-recycling friendly13 and are the ranges for their use, with respect to are not
monolayer PET. For such applications, most used barriers in India, primarily recycling, are presented in the table commonly used
in carbonated soft drink packaging. below to cover the possibility of future in India.
the use of multi-layered structures or shifts in the market towards
Such coatings are generally not used
barrier coatings is necessary to in bottles of large sizes due to cost packaging oxygen-sensitive liquids in
protect the packaged product from considerations. PET bottles.
light and prevent oxygen and gas loss.

Figure 5: Schematic showing the difference between coatings, multilayer and blended barriers
Source: Nakaya, M., Uedono, A., & Hotta, A. (2015). Recent Progress in Gas Barrier Thin Film Coatings on PET
Bottles in Food and Beverage Applications. Coatings, 5(4), 987-1001. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings5040987)

Table 4: Design guidance for use of barriers

Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for recycling

• SiOx coating • Nylon-MXD6 in a multilayer structure • Nylon-MXD6 in a multilayer structure
• Carbon plasma-coating with <5% nylon-MXD6 and no tie layers with >5% nylon-MXD6
• EVOH multilayer with <3% EVOH and • EVOH multilayer with >3% EVOH or with
no tie layers tie layers
• PET/PEN blends

13
Resource Recycling, Inc. (2019). Company unveils RPET bottle with recycling-friendly barrier coating. Plastics Recycling Update. Resource-recycling.com rPET bottle with recycling friendly barrier coating

14
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Additives
PET resins contain chemical However, the use of special functional types of make PET material degradable (via the action of
compounds or additives to improve additives, such as ultraviolet (UV) stabilisers, ultraviolet radiation or heat to reduce molecular
acetaldehyde (AA) blockers and oxygen scavengers mass). These additives hamper recycling15 by
the processing performance, must be evaluated to ensure that they do not impact breaking down PET molecular chains during
functionality and ageing properties of the colour and odour of rPET or produce off-taste in extrusion, reducing the internal viscosity of rPET
the polymer.14 The most commonly the contents. and thereby its quality. Bottles with and without
used additives are antioxidants, light oxo-degradable additives are identical in
Degradation-promoting additives (termed appearance: they cannot be distinguished by
and heat stabilizers, toners for pro-oxidant additives) are sometimes added to manual sorters or automatic sorting methods.16
controlling yellowing, and fast reheat
additives: these are used in very low
quantities (0.001% (10 ppm) to 0.1% Table 5: Design guidance for use of additives
(1,000 ppm)) and do not affect the
quality of rPET. Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for recycling
Antioxidants, thermal stabilizers Optical brighteners, AA blockers, Bio/oxo/photo degradable additives
UV stabilisers, O2 scavengers

14
Hahladakis, J., Velis, C., Weber, R., Iacovidou, E., & Purnell, P. (2018). An overview of chemical additives present in plastics: Migration, release, fate and environmental impact during their use, disposal and recycling. Journal Of Hazardous Materials, 344, 179-199.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.10.014
15
New Plastics Economy. (n.d.). Oxo-degradable plastic packaging statement. https://ecostandard.org/wp-content/uploads/oxo-statement.pdf
16
Same as above

15
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Caps and closures

Caps and closures (both terms mean During the recycling process, plastic closures are PET bottles used to package still
the same and are used shredded together with PET bottles. Since polyolefins (non-carbonated) beverages such as water,
are less dense (density=0.90 g/cm3 to 0.96 g/cm3) than juices, dairy products and tea, generally use
interchangeably in the packaging water (1 g/cm3), shredded closures float on the single-piece HDPE closures, while those used to
industry) for PET bottles are usually surface and are separated from the more dense PET package carbonated soft drinks, soda and
made of non-PET resin (typically flakes (1.35 g/cm3), which settle at the bottom of the sparkling beverages, have two-piece PP closures
polyolefins) or metal. These should be sink-float tank. with OVC/PE liners.
made of recyclable material and The floating polyolefin flakes are collected separately PET bottles used to package edible oil use LDPE
designed so as to not interfere with and sent into an ancillary recycling stream for use in closures; roll-on pilfer-proof (ROPP) aluminium
the PET recycling process. After other applications (plastic dustbins, plant pots, traffic caps are used with pharmaceutical and liquor
collecting PET bottles, caps and barriers/cones, etc.) products, while non-food personal care products
(shampoo, body wash, hand wash, sanitizer) are
closures are generally left on the Closures are usually coloured and made of polyolefin typically packaged in bottles with PP closures.
bottle to increase the weight and resins (PP, HDPE or low density polyethylene (LDPE))
purchase value. Also, their removal by which melt at a lower temperature (180°C to 280°C) Closures should be separable from the main
hand at material recovery facilities or than PET resin (260°C to 290°C) in the recycling container so that they do not hamper recycling of
process. If not removed, they will contaminate the PET, and can be collected for processing. If they
by waste collectors would take up too
PET stream and discolour rPET flakes (black spots). are separable, then the likelihood that they will
much time and even then would not be end up as litter in the environment is also higher.
generated in sufficient quantities to Figure 6: Sink-float water tank
sell separately. To minimise the separation of closures from
bottles, the European Union (EU) has mandated
the use of tethered caps for all beverage bottles
from 2024. Tethered closures remain firmly
attached to the bottle during use and after use,
discouraging separation of cap from container by
the consumer and preventing or minimizing litter.

At this point tethered closures are not required in

India but such practices in foreign markets are
usually adopted in India fairly quickly.

16
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Caps and closures As the rim of the aluminium lid is seamed The use of aluminium metal (density
to the PET body, the metal ring remains 2.7 g/cm3) should be avoided, as these
with the PET container body when such settle under water along with PET flakes,
Figure 7: Typical examples of two-piece, single-piece and tethered caps lids are opened by the consumer and do separated in sink-float tanks, and are
not make for recycle-friendly closures. carried though the entire recycling
Waste-pickers and material recovery process, leaving metal residues in the final
facilities try to increase the weight of rPET product. They may also damage the
material sold to traders/recyclers and shredder blades, and block the extruder
collect these containers together with PET filter mesh/screen.
beverage bottles.

Table 6: Caps and closure types commonly used in Indian FMCG industry
Roll-on pilfer-proof (ROPP) aluminium caps when opened, leave
behind a metal band around the bottle neck and do not make PET Products Primary choice
bottles easy to recycle. Dairy/juices Single-piece HDPE closures

ROPP caps are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry; Carbonated soft drinks Single-piece HDPE (liner less) are preferable
Two-piece PP closures with polyethylene (PE)/
while packaging has largely shifted to PET bottles from glass
ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) liners
without requiring changes in the bottle filling lines, aluminium
capping machines continue to be used. Also, aluminium caps are Water Single-piece HDPE closures
easier to print on which make them the preferred choice.
Pharmaceutical ROPP aluminium cap with expanded polyethylene (EPE) liner

Figure 8: Typical examples of metal caps and closures Liquor ROPP aluminium cap with EPE liner
PET can for liquid Aluminium can lids

PET can for solids Aluminium easy open lids

Home and personal care PP closures

Aluminium can lids are used on PET can packaging of sparkling

flavoured water and juice drinks, and easy-open aluminium lids
are used on wide mouth PET can packaging of snacks and nuts.
They are applied to the container by seaming an aluminium lid to
the PET body.

17
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Liners, seals and valves

Liners are used in some food and beverage Liners used in two-piece closures for with the shredded cap pieces in the sink-float
containers to provide additional protection carbonated soft drink (CSD) and sparkling tank. PVC liners sink together with PET flakes
beverage packaging provide a good seal and are not separated in sink-float tanks.
against product leakage, gas leakage, between the cap and bottle neck, preventing
moisture entering from outside or to gas leakage and retain the desired Recent improvements in the gas retaining
provide tamper-evident seals. Heat-seal carbonation level. These liners are made of performance of one-piece caps have
liners stay attached to the bottle neck while soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with density eliminated the need for two-piece caps and
around 1.31 g/cm3 or PE/EVA resin with a thus the use of liner material. Single-piece
non-heat-sealed type (as found in density lower than 1 g/cm³ and the cap PP/PE plastic closures, without liners, are the
pharmaceutical applications) stay attached body/shell is made of PP. PE/EVA liners are preferred option, and most commonly used
to the cap. Liners can be made of plastics, retained within the closure so that they float for some food and cosmetics applications.
aluminium foil or a combination.
Figure 9: Typical closure liner

18
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Liners, seals and valves

Flow control valves are used inside flip top caps on bottles of Aluminium foil seals are mostly used as tamper-evident and/or
sauces and honey. These valves should be made of elastomeric moisture-proof seals and are always sealed to the container
materials such as EVA (density <1 g/cm³). Currently, EVA is not neck. When peeled off the container, they may leave behind
commonly used, because silicone rubber is cheaper. Silicone piece(s) of foil and/or adhesives on the neck, and hence are not
rubber with a density >1 g/cm³ should be avoided, since the a recycling-friendly choice.
silicone gets separated from the closure during shredding and
sinks along with the PET flakes. Natural-coloured silicone,
owing to the similarity in colour, is particularly difficult to Figure 11: Aluminium foil seal
separate from rPET flakes.

Figure 10: Flow control valve on bottle of honey

Table 7: Design guidance for caps, closures, liners, seals and valves

Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for recycling

Caps and HDPE/LDPE/PP - Metal/polystyrene (PS)/PVC caps with
closures materials density >1 g/cm³

Liners, seals PE/EVA/PP foamed PE/PET liner Paper/silicone swimming Neck foils metal/PVC/silicone with
and valves valves with density <1g/cm3 density >1 g/cm3

19
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Labels and sleeves

Labels and sleeves are used for product The most common types of labels used in There are two different sleeve labelling systems
branding and to provide legal, regulatory beverage packaging are: used:
and nutritional information to consumers. 1. Wraparound (WA) labels: These are applied to a. Shrink sleeves, in which heat is used in the
flat surfaces on containers by roll-feed reel or application process to shrink the label so
Labels should be designed for compatibility
cut and stack, pre-cut labels. WA labels that it takes the shape of the container.
with the recycling process. Consumers in extend around the whole circumference of Hot-filled juice/tea bottles, contour-shaped
some developed markets are used to bottle and usually have an overlap, meaning dairy bottles, manually labelled packaged
removing bottle labels and discarding the that one end of the label will be stuck over the drinking water bottles use shrink sleeve
label and container in separate bins: this other end. They are usually long and thin, and labels.
are commonly used on bottles for water and b. Stretch sleeves, in which the label is
reduces the operational costs of recycling. CSD beverages. stretched like a rubber-band and then
applied to the bottle. Large size (2 L and
In India, this is not practiced by the consumer and 2. Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) labels: above) dairy and food containers, non-food
traders and material recovery facilities would rather These are similar to stickers. The and bottles used to pack floor cleaning
not employ additional workers to remove labels. self-adhesive feature of these labels means chemicals use stretch sleeves.
Labels are thus typically removed at the recycling that pressure only is required to stick the
plant: small recyclers remove labels before loading label to the bottle. PSA labels are easily 4. Direct printing/decorations: Direct printing
the bottles onto conveyors while larger units strip removed by peeling them off the container can be used to provide branding and consumer
labels off using machines, with any remaining labels otherwise they remain firmly stuck. PSA information; in India, direct printing is used
being removed in an additional manual step. labels are commonly used on bottles for mostly to print batch codes, not for branding
premium water, juices and dairy beverages. or decoration, owing to the high cost of ink and
printing equipment. Only a few brands use
3. Shrink/stretch sleeve (SS) labels: Such labels direct printing on bottles of face wash and
offer more coverage than the above two types shampoo. Direct printing inks hamper
of label, do not require any straight labelling recycling and their use should be minimized
panel on the container, can be applied to because they wash off in the caustic bath and
bottles of any shape and can cover the body contaminate the water. This increases water
completely, or partially. Shrink sleeves can consumption (due to the need for changing the
also be used as safety/tamper-evident water) and discolours PET flakes.
material and do not require an adhesive
for fixing.

20
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Labels and sleeves

Figure 12: Wraparound labels, PSA labels, sleeve systems and direct printed bottles

Full Body Tamper

Full Body Partial Body
Over the Evident
Sleeve Sleeve
Cap Sleeve Band

The following factors about labels should also be considered from the To enhance recyclability, labels/sleeves should be easily detachable from the
perspective of recycling PET bottles: bottle and separable from PET flakes by specific gravity (density) separation
in flotation tanks or air separators. They should not leave adhesive and ink
Label material residue on the bottles. Under Indian conditions, workers at all levels avoid
the tedious work of removing labels, so they remain attached to the bottle,
Adhesive right up to the recycler, who has to pay extra for their removal. However, the
practice varies and roughly 50% of the time, labels will be removed by hand
Printing ink before bottles reach the recycler.

21
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Label material

1. Wraparound labels are generally made 2. Shrink sleeve labels are generally made of PVC, c. PLA material is similar to PET and is difficult
of biaxially-oriented polypropylene polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G), for manual sorters to differentiate at MRFs
(BOPP) films. BOPP WA labels cover only polylactic acid (PLA) and oriented polystyrene and recyclers. NIR sorting technology, used by
a part of the PET bottle, exposing a (OPS) film. These films have a density greater than large-volume recyclers, and making up about
significant portion which allows that of water and hence sink in water along with 50% of recycling in India, can detect and
automatic sorting cameras to sense the PET bottle flakes, making it difficult to separate separate PLA from PET. PLA has a density of
bottle surface. PET bottles used for the two. In addition, all these film materials have a 1.24 g/cm3, and sinks with PET flakes in the
packaging water or carbonated soft negative impact on PET recycling, because their sink-float tank.18 PLA has a low melting point,
drinks use BOPP WA labels with a film melting points are lower than those of PET flakes 170°C and starts to soften at 60°C. Thus, when
density in the range of 0.55 to 0.90 g/cm³. and carry printing inks, which discolours the rPET. PET flakes are dried, any PLA material
These labels float in the sink-float tank, Foamed PET labels are also available in small contaminants will degrade and lead to
and do not impact the PET recycling quantities, Which have density less than that of yellowing of rPET. PLA fragments become
processes. For these reasons WA labels water and hence can be separated in the sticky, resulting in an agglomeration of flakes
are the most acceptable and sink-float tanks. and can affect the extrusion process.
recycling-friendly label materials. a. PVC small concentrations of PVC (50 ppm =
Metallised BOPP films are sometimes 0.005%, that is, 0.05 kg of PVC in 1,000 kg of 3. Stretch labels use PE based films, with a density
used as label material but they may get PET flakes), have a negative impact on PET below 1 g/cm3. Once shredded, they can be readily
rejected and hence should be avoided. bottle recycling17. The melt temperature of PVC removed during the sink-float density separation
is much lower than that of PET. This means that stage and are therefore PET recycling-friendly.
at the temperatures applied during drying,
extrusion and SSP of rPET, PVC contamination 4. PSA labels use PE, PP, PET or paper-based
degrades and releases hydrochloric acid (HCl) substrates (film) with either water-based acrylic
and chemically breaks down the PET polymer or solvent-based rubber adhesives. With regard
chains. The decomposed PVC creates yellow or to PSA labels, it is highly desirable to use films
brown discolourations and black spots in the that float in water and that can be separated
final rPET, which result in an unacceptable and from PET (sinks in water). The use of PSA paper
inferior rPET material. labels is not desirable, as any remaining paper
fibres can lead to surface defects and very small,
b. PET-G films do not release HCl, but PET-G has sometimes microscopic holes, known as
the same density as PET flakes and hence sinks pinholes, during the blow-moulding of bottles
and mixes with PET flakes in sink-float tank. using rPET resin.

17
Alaerts, L., Augustinus, M., & Van Acker, K. (2018). Impact of Bio-Based Plastics on Current Recycling of Plastics. Sustainability, 10(5), 1487. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051487
18
Same as above

22
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Label material

In India, all high-volume (sales) Paper labels can be readily removed from PET bottles by may necessitate more water changes during the sink-float
packaged drinking water brands wetting the label in water in the label stripper unit of process.
use BOPP wrap-around labels with recycling plants. However, the removal efficiency
hot melt glue only on the lap joint. depends on the type of adhesive used, with water-based Paper labels are not commonly used in India and if they are
Regional brands, with low-speed adhesives easy to wash off, therefore allowing full labels to be used at all, they should be made of high wet strength
filling lines and manual labelling, to be removed without tearing. Paper labels with paper, to reduce tear off and thus the obstruction to
use PVC shrink sleeve labelling rubber-based adhesives or hot melt adhesives (HMA) recycling.
material. are unsuitable because they may tear into small pieces
and any paper remaining stuck to the PET flakes will PET bottles of premium water brands and non-food brands
Most juice and dairy brands use burn during drying and extrusion, contaminating rPET often use PSA labels of PET, PP, PVC, PE and paper
shrink sleeve labels, irrespective of flakes/pellets with black specks. Use of paper labels material.
the filling line speed while
high-volume brands have moved
from PVC shrink sleeve material to Table 8: Design guidance for labels
PET-G material. Local brands still
prefer PVC film, because it is Label type Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for recycling
cheaper than PET-G film.
Wraparound HDPE/medium density polyethylene Paper labels, metallic foils Pressure sensitive labels,
Paper can be used for a variety of labels (MDPE)/LDPE/LLDPE/PP/OPP label PVC/PS/paper/metallised labels
label styles for beverage bottles: with density <1 g/cm3 with density >1 g/cm2
single-piece wraparound labels,
two-piece front and back labels, Shrink Material density <1 g/cm3 with Materials with density PVC/PS/PLA/PET-G, other material with
and some pressure sensitive sleeve labels perforations and revealing >30% <1 g/cm3 without density >1 g/cm3. Difficult to remove and/or
adhesive labels. Paper labels are of bottle surface area perforations and revealing NIR sort with heavy ink coverage
used mostly for food containers <30% of PET bottle
packaging products such as
mayonnaise, sauces, pickles,
edible oil, and alcoholic beverages, Stretch Sleeves of PE/foamed PET with Sleeves of PE/foamed PET
all of which are collected in the sleeve labels density <1 g/cm3 and revealing (density <1 g/cm3) <30%
PET bottle stream. >30% of bottle surface area of bottle

23
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Adhesives

Wrap-around BOPP labels use Although only a very small amount of adhesive is operations. Adhesives classified as ‘good’ have
HMAs while pressure-sensitive required on a label, removing it adds a significant amount removal rates greater than 90%19.
adhesive (PSA) labels use to the cost of recycling. Adhesives that wash off cleanly
water-based acrylic emulsions, from PET and remain adhered to the label substrate are The Association of Post-Consumer Plastic
solvent-based rubber solutions, or preferred as are adhesives that wash off easily in the hot Recyclers (APR) and the European PET Bottle
HMA. Paper labels (pre-cut or caustic wash at temperatures below 80°C (and preferably Platform (EPBP) have developed testing protocols
wrap-around) use water-based below 65°C), without leaving any residue on the PET for adhesive manufacturers and packaging
acrylic emulsion or starch flake. The separated label pieces should not become producers to evaluate the impact of adhesive
adhesives. tacky/sticky after they are removed from the washing products in PET recycling systems20,21,22. All label
bath otherwise they may adhere to washed PET flakes adhesives should be evaluated using these testing
contaminating and discolouring them. methods since all adhesives are imported except
for some water-based emulsions, which are
Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) has issued a list of made in India.
hot-melt adhesives acceptable for mechanical recycling

Table 9: Design guidance for use of adhesives

Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for recycling

• Water soluble below 80°C Permanent adhesives with paper labels Water insoluble (even at elevated
• Minimal glue strip temperatures and pH levels)
• Comply with PRE guidelines23

19
EuPR. (2001). Positive Glue list. www.epbp.org/download/297/eupr-positive-glue-list
20
http://www.plasticsrecycling.org/technical_resources/testing/pet_flake_contamination_test.asp
21
EPBP. (n.d.) Downloads. https://www.epbp.org/page/8/layout-link-5-downloads
22
APR. (n.d.). Labels, Inks, Adhesives. https://plasticsrecycling.org/labels-inks-adhesives
23
Packshop. (n.d.). Shrink Sleeves. https://www.packshop.in/shrink-sleeves.php
24
European PET Bottle Platform. (2017). Quick Test QT 507 - Bleeding label. https://www.epbp.org/download/318/qt-507-label-bleeding

24
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Printing inks

In PET bottle packaging, inks are

used to print on labels, on sleeves Although this method is not used in India, direct printing The European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA) have
and closures for batch coding and decoration on PET bottles should be avoided. published guidelines on inks that do not introduce
marking, and in some cases, direct If it is being considered, only colours and inks that are hazardous substances into recycled materials and
printing is done on the bottle removable under hot wash conditions <80°C should be developed test protocols for testing label ink bleeding.24
instead of labelling. In all these used. PET flakes with any ink that remains on the surface These are also relevant in the Indian context.
instances, the inks used should not are difficult to sort, as these PET flakes may not be
bleed into the water and caustic separated and ejected and, therefore, end up discolouring
hot-wash at 80°C. Ink bleeding can the recycled PET resin during extrusion.
discolour rPET and increase the
quantity of water required for Table 10: Design guidance for use of printing inks
washing. If ink separates from the
label film in the wash step, it should
be readily filtered from the PET Printing type Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for recycling
flake as well as the wash water, and
Direct printing Laser marked production Inkjet inks for direct • Any other direct printing
if the label floats, the ink should or expiry date inks printed production or • Inks that bleed, are toxic, are
remain on the floating label: ink expiry date hazardous or react with PET
density should not cause a floating
label to sink.
Printing on • Label inks are non-toxic - Label inks that bleed or peel off from
labels • Follow EuPIA Guidelines label surface

24
European PET Bottle Platform. (2017). Quick Test QT 507 - Bleeding label. https://www.epbp.org/download/318/qt-507-label-bleeding

25
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Conclusions
Brand owners base the PET plastics recycling has great market potential
selection of closures, material for recyclers, but its success depends completely
on the decisions of packaging designers, brand
colours, and label materials for owners and packaging converters. All these
bottles on a number of factors, stakeholders must look beyond the bottle itself and
but perhaps the most consider the impact of components such as labels,
influential of these is consumer inks and closures on the recycling stream. PET
recycling value and efficiency can be maximized by
appeal which makes the brands promoting the use of components that are
lean towards highly decorative compatible with the existing PET recycling stream.
packaging. These are popular
choices based on aesthetics. This guideline covers the most likely components
associated with post-consumer PET bottles. Using
Recyclability has not been a this guideline as a tool to aid the review of current
high priority for brands in the packaging and the development of new packaging,
past even though these choices packaging designers, sales and marketing staff can
can add significant cost and prevent the use of materials or combinations of
materials that might create problems in collecting,
reduce yield and line efficiency
sorting or recycling PET bottles.
for PET recycling streams.
The use of the guideline will also drive a change, as
more bottles get into highly recyclable categories, it
will improve the overall quality of recycled PET and
increase the quantity of high quality of rPET
available for reuse back into bottles. This change
will allow more widespread use of rPET and reduce
the amount of material that is currently being
downgraded due to impurities or poor colour.

26
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Summary of guidance
Designing for an improved Recycling-friendly features have minimal or no Conditional features present known technical challenges to the
recyclability Guidelines give negative effect on the productivity of the MRFs and recyclers’ yield, productivity or final product quality
operation or final product quality. Packages with but are tolerated by most MRFs and recyclers.
practical support and advice on these features are likely to pass through the
circular economy design recycling process into the most appropriate Problematic features pose significant adverse technical impact
principles. These guidelines material stream with the potential of producing on the MRFs and recyclers’ yield, productivity or final product
classify features that are high quality material. quality. The majority of MRFs and recyclers cannot remove these
features to the degree required to get a quality end product.
readily acceptable, tolerable
and problematic to MRFs and Table 11: PET bottle design guidance summary
recyclers.
Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for
recycling
Materials and aspects that are Materials and aspects that might pose a Materials and aspects that pose a
known to be acceptable in PET low risk of interfering with PET recycling high risk of interfering with PET
recycling and can be used. and should be avoided when possible. recycling and should not be used

Bottle size Diameter >50 mm and/or length Diameter 40 to 50 mm and/or Diameter <30 mm and/or
>100 mm, <400 mm length <100 mm length >400 mm

Colourants Clear/natural • Light blue, green tints25 • Opaque, strong colourants

and fillers • Amber/brown colour in light • Fillers
sensitive applications only
• Dark green, blue, black, if
near infrared (NIR) detectable

Barrier coatings, blends • SiOx coating • Nylon-MXD6 in a multilayer • Nylon-MXD6 in a multilayer

and multi-layers • Carbon plasma-coating structure with <5% nylon-MXD6 structure with >5% nylon-MXD6
and no tie layers • EVOH multilayer with >3% EVOH
• EVOH multilayer with <3% EVOH or with tie layers
and no tie layers • PET/PEN blends

25
In the Indian market, there is a large proportion of PET bottles with green tint. This should not be a challenge if these are collected, sorted and recycled separately. Please note, green color is a challenge, but green tints are not.

27
Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

Recycling-friendly Conditional Problematic for

recycling
Additives Antioxidants, thermal stabilizers Optical brighteners, AA blockers, Bio/oxo/photo degradable additives
UV stabilisers, O2 scavengers

Caps and closures HDPE/LDPE/PP - Metal/polystyrene (PS)/PVC caps

with materials density >1 g/cm³

Liners, seals PE/EVA/PP foamed PE/PET liner Paper/silicone swimming valves Neck foils metal/PVC/silicone
and valves with density <1g/cm3 with density >1 g/cm3

Wraparound HDPE/medium density polyethylene Paper labels, metallic foils Pressure sensitive labels,
labels (MDPE)/LDPE/ LLDPE/PP/OPP label PVC/PS/paper/metallised labels
with density <1 g/cm3 with density >1 g/cm2

Labels Shrink sleeve Material density <1 g/cm3 with Materials with density <1 g/cm3 PVC/PS/PLA/PET-G, other
labels perforations and revealing >30% without perforations and material with density >1 g/cm3.
of bottle surface area revealing <30% of PET bottle Difficult to remove and/or NIR
sort with heavy ink coverage

Stretch sleeve Sleeves of PE/foamed PET with Sleeves of PE/foamed PET -

labels density <1 g/cm3 and revealing (density <1 g/cm3) <30% of
>30% of bottle surface area bottle

Adhesives • Water soluble below 80°C Permanent adhesives with Water insoluble (even at elevated
• Minimal glue strip paper labels temperatures and pH levels)
• Comply with PRE guidelines

Direct printing Laser marked production Inkjet inks for direct printed • Any other direct printing
or expiry date inks production or expiry date • Inks that bleed, are toxic, are
hazardous or react with PET
Printing
inks
Printing on • Label inks are non-toxic - Label inks that bleed or peel off
labels • Follow EuPIA Guidelines from label surface

28
 Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

List of figures List of tables

Figure 1: PET recycling: process flow 8 Table 1: Commonly used bottle sizes in the Indian 11
beverage industry
Figure 2: Components of a PET bottle 9
Table 2: Design guidance for bottle size 11
Figure 3: Trommel drum screen 10
Table 3: Design guidance for bottle colour and fillers 13
Figure 4: Large size PET cans 11
Table 4: Design guidance for use of barriers 14
Figure 5: Schematic showing the difference between coatings, 14
multilayer and blended barriers Table 5: Design guidance for use of additives 15

Figure 6: Sink-float water tank 16 Table 6: Caps and closure types commonly used in 17
Indian FMCG industry
Figure 7: Typical examples of two-piece, single-piece and 17
tethered caps Table 7: Design guidance for caps, closures, liners, 19
seals and valves
Figure 8: Typical examples of metal caps and closures 17
Table 8: Design guidance for labels 23
Figure 9: Typical closure liner 18
Table 9: Design guidance for use of adhesives 24
Figure 10: Flow control valve on bottle of honey 19
Table 10: Design guidance for use of printing inks 25
Figure 11: Aluminium foil seal 19
Table 11: Design guidance summary 27
Figure 12: Wraparound labels, PSA labels, sleeve systems 21
and direct printed bottles

29
Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

About the India Plastics Pact About Confederation of Indian Industry About WWF India

The India Plastics Pact is a collaboration The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) WWF India is committed to creating and
between the Confederation of Indian Industry works to create and sustain an environment demonstrating practical solutions that help
(CII) and WWF India that unites businesses, conducive to the development of India, conserve India's ecosystems and rich
governments, NGOs and citizens to create a partnering Industry, Government, and civil biodiversity. With more than 50 years of
circular plastics economy in India. The CII-ITC society, through advisory and consultative conservation journey in the country, WWF
Centre of Excellence for Sustainable processes. For more than 125 years, CII has India works towards finding science-based
Development (CESD) anchors the India been engaged in shaping India’s development and sustainable solutions to address
Plastics Pact, within CII. The initiative is journey and works proactively on challenges at the interface of development
supported by WRAP, a global NGO based in transforming Indian Industry’s engagement in and conservation. WWF India is part of the
the UK. national development. CII engages closely WWF network, with offices in over 100
with Government on policy issues and countries across the world. WWF India works
Launched in September 2021, the India interfaces with thought leaders to enhance in many states of India, through our state and
Plastics Pact is the first Plastics Pact in Asia. efficiency, competitiveness and business field offices. The organisation works in
As of June 2022, there are 13 Plastics Pacts opportunities for Industry through a wide different geographical regions and across
spread across the globe. 33 organizations are portfolio of specialized services and strategic thematic areas, including the conservation of
currently part of the India Plastics Pact, global linkages. key wildlife species and their habitats,
including brand owners, recyclers, waste management of rivers, wetlands and their
management organisations, packaging India's premier business association has ecosystems. On the sustainability side, the
producers, resin producers and NGOs. The around 9,000 members, from the private as focus areas are climate change adaptation,
Pact works on all plastic resins at all stages well as public sectors, and an indirect driving sustainable solutions for business and
of the plastics value chain. membership of over 300,000 enterprises from agriculture and empowering local
around 286 national and regional sectoral communities as stewards of conservation.
industry bodies. With 62 offices, including 10 WWF India also works in combatting illegal
www.indiaplasticspact.org Centres of Excellence in India, and 8 overseas wildlife trade and in bringing environment
offices in Australia, Egypt, Germany, education to students through outreach and
Indonesia, Singapore, UAE, UK, and USA, as awareness campaigns.
well as institutional partnerships with 350
counterpart organizations in 133 countries, CII
serves as a reference point for Indian Industry
and the international business community.

30
Objective Guidance Conclusions Summary of guidance

About WRAP About UKRI UKRI India

WRAP is a climate action NGO working Launched in April 2018, UKRI is a UKRI India plays a key role in enhancing the
around the globe to tackle the causes of the non-departmental public body sponsored by research and innovation collaboration
climate crisis and give the planet a the Department for Business, Energy and between the UK and India. Since 2008, the UK
sustainable future. Our vision is a thriving Industrial Strategy (BEIS). and Indian governments, and third parties,
world in which climate change is no longer a have together invested over £330 million in
problem. We believe that our natural Our organisation brings together the seven co-funded research and innovation
resources should not be wasted and that disciplinary research councils, Research programmes.
everything we use should be re-used and England, which is responsible for supporting
recycled. We bring together and work with research and knowledge exchange at higher This investment has brought about more than
governments, businesses and individuals to education institutions in England, and the 258 individual projects. The projects were
ensure that the world’s natural resources are UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. funded by over 15 funding agencies, bringing
used more sustainably. Our core purpose is to together more than 220 lead institutions from
Our nine councils work together in innovative the UK and India. These research projects
help tackle climate change and protect our
ways to deliver an ambitious agenda, drawing have generated more than £450 million in
planet by changing the way things are
on our great depth and breadth of expertise further funding, mainly from public bodies
produced, consumed and disposed of. We
and the enormous diversity of our portfolio. but also from non-profit organisations and
support partner NGOs around the world to
deliver real change through collaboration and Through our councils we maintain and commercial entities, attesting the relevance
progress from over 300 of the world’s largest champion the creativity and vibrancy of of these projects.
businesses. Initiatives we support include: disciplines and sector-specific priorities and
Plastics Pacts in Chile, Kenya and India; food communities. Our councils shape and deliver
waste agreements in Mexico, South Africa both sectoral and domain-specific support.
and Indonesia; and food waste citizen
campaigns through our Love Food Hate Waste Whether through research council grants,
brand in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. quality related block grants from Research
England, or grants and wider support for
innovative businesses from Innovate UK, we
work with our stakeholders to understand the
opportunities and requirements of all the
different parts of the research and innovation
landscape, maintaining the health, breadth
and depth of the system.

31
 Developed by

Supported by

This report is funded by