ACG Packaging Materials has released RecycloPod PP Ultra, a polypropylene-based blister packaging system that offers recyclability and barrier protection
The artience Group, through its packaging solutions subsidiary Toyo Ink Co., Ltd., and DIC Corporation has announced the development of the industry’s first "common industry protocol" to standardize test procedures, evaluation criteria, and reporting formats for deinking and debonding when recycling flexible film packaging within the Japanese market.
This protocol sets out to establish a unified environment where stakeholders across the supply chain, including converters, brand owners, and recyclers, can evaluate and compare recyclability based on shared, domestic standards. By creating this common foundation, both companies aim to accelerate the circular use of flexible packaging and contribute to the realization of a circular economy.
Background
In recent years, the importance of repurposing used plastics as resources has intensified due to fluctuating resource prices and rising geopolitical risks, with the Japanese government positioning the circular economy as a key growth strategy. Within the packaging sector, there is a mounting demand for product designs that facilitate easier recycling and for the expanded use of high-quality recycled plastics.
Flexible packaging offers benefits around weight and functionality, but as it is made up of multiple materials, such as films, printing inks, and laminating adhesives, the processes of deinking and debonding are critical for high-quality material recycling. Previously, these evaluations in Japan were conducted using proprietary test conditions and criteria, making it difficult to compare results across different companies or materials. This lack of standardization hindered recyclability assessment during the design phase and complicated information sharing across the local supply chain.
Overview The protocol is described as breaking down competitive boundaries to address Japan's unique recycling infrastructure needs. By pooling expertise in printing inks, laminating adhesives, and recycling technologies, the companies have established a standard consisting of three core elements:
Test procedures: Clarifies equipment, test conditions, material handling, and operational steps to enhance reproducibility within Japanese testing environments.
Evaluation criteria: Sets objective standards for assessing deinking/debonding efficiency and the resulting quality of recycled plastic.
Reporting format: Standardizes test conditions and results into a unified format, facilitating smooth information exchange among domestic stakeholders.
The adoption of this protocol is set to offer significant benefits to the Japanese supply chain: For converters, it streamlines the selection of printing/processing conditions and materials that prioritize recyclability. Brand owners get the opportunity to select highly recyclable packaging materials based on objective, reliable data. Finally recyclers can set appropriate processing conditions based on material characteristics, leading to improved recycled plastic quality.
The two firms will showcase the new Protocol at their respective booths during TOKYO PACK 2026, held at the Tokyo Big Sight (Japan) from October 14 to 16, 2026.
If you are at Tokyo Pack, make sure to join our own Tim Sykes at the Global Packaging Symposium on October 15, where he will discuss EU Packaging regulation, innovation shaping circular outcomes and the relationship between packaging and food waste together with the International Press Organisation’s Lindy Hughson and Nerida Kelton.
ACG Packaging Materials has released RecycloPod PP Ultra, a polypropylene-based blister packaging system that offers recyclability and barrier protection
