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Improving packaging recyclability from a waste treatment perspective - The development of an interactive tool on design for recycling

Meijerink, M.J. (2023) Improving packaging recyclability from a waste treatment perspective - The development of an interactive tool on design for recycling.

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Abstract:This research has shown that communicating the waste treatment perspective is an important factor in improving the recyclability of packaging. The transition towards a circular economy is necessary to create more sustainable packaging solutions, but this transition is troubled by different perspectives on sustainability and recyclability, which causes confusion as to what is a well-recyclable packaging. Current guidelines on design for recycling inform the packaging industry about what packaging is recyclable, but these guidelines fall short in explaining why certain packaging is recyclable, creating an information gap. The sorting and recycling processes lay at the root of the guidelines and could help the packaging industry understand the importance of design for recycling. An interactive tool was created that educates the packaging industry about the link between the sorting and recycling processes and packaging design. An absolute answer on what is the most sustainable packaging does not exist but an improved understanding of the underlying reasons for the existing D4R rules helps the packaging industry to navigate their sustainability choices and ultimately increase the implementation of design for recycling methods, bringing us one step closer to a CE.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:ET: Engineering Technology
Subject:43 environmental science, 50 technical science in general
Programme:Industrial Design Engineering MSc (66955)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/94741
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