You dream of packaging your products in a way that feels really good. Good for the environment, good for your customers, good for your corporate image. You want packaging that is not only practical, but also demonstrably sustainable. Because you know that sustainability is more than just a buzzword, it’s a necessity and a desire of your customers.
But then comes reality. Everywhere you see claims about “green” and “sustainable,” and you wonder: how do you really know if a package is actually sustainable? Isn’t it all a bit greenwashing? It can be quite frustrating to slog through all the different materials, terms and labels to understand what exactly is the deciding factor. You may feel a slight fear of making the wrong choice, one that later fails to deliver what was promised. And you may have the assumption that it must be enormously complex to fathom.
At MultiTray, we recognize that challenge. As a family business with a no-nonsense approach, we find transparency and clarity just as important as innovation and sustainability. That is why we are happy to dive into the world of certifications and standards for sustainable packaging with you, with extra attention to materials such as rPET and PP, which we work with a lot. Because knowing what to look out for gives you the certainty you need to make the right choices.
Legal requirements for packaging in the Netherlands
Before looking at the specific labels, it is good to know that there are already legal requirements for packaging in the Netherlands. These stem from European directives and are laid down in the Packaging Management Decree. The Environmental and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) oversees this.
In essence, the requirements boil down to the following:
- You need to minimize the weight and volume of packaging.
- There should be no hazardous materials in packages.
- Packaging should be designed to be suitable for reuse, energy recovery or recycling.
To demonstrate compliance with these “essential requirements,” a company must maintain a packaging file. This file contains evidence that your packaging meets the standards.
Standards as building blocks: NEN-EN 13427 to 13432
Okay, legal requirements may sound a bit formal. So how do you show that your packaging is recyclable or meets these other requirements? There are European standards for that, collected in the NEN-EN 13427 to 13432 series. These standards describe how to demonstrate that your packaging meets the essential requirements. For example:
- NEN-EN 13428 is about minimizing packaging.
- NEN-EN 13430 focuses on the requirements for packaging suitable for recycling.
- NEN-EN 13432 describes the requirements for packaging that is industrially compostable (relevant for certain biobased plastics, less so for rPET/PP).
If a supplier indicates that its packaging complies with NEN-EN 13430, for example, this indicates that the product was designed with recycling in mind and has been tested in accordance with the standard.
Your proof of durability, especially for rPET & PP
The NEN standards lay the groundwork, but specific labels go a step further. They often provide details about the origin of materials, such as the percentage of recycled content or the sustainability of the source. Especially for recycled plastics such as rPET and PP, certain labels are crucial. These are the labels that help you verify claims about recycled or circular materials and avoid greenwashing. Let’s take a look at the most important ones:
1. ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification).
This is a very important seal of approval, especially if you work with recycled or biobased plastics produced via chemical recycling or the “mass balance” principle.
- What it certifies: Sustainable raw materials (recycled, bio-based) and renewable materials, as well as their traceability throughout the chain.
- How it works: ISCC PLUS allows recycled materials (including via chemical recycling) or biobased materials to be allocated to finished products, even if they are physically mixed with fossil materials (the mass balance principle). The amount of sustainable input into the system is then certified.
- Relevance to rPET and PP: The certificate confirms that a certain percentage of the rPET or PP used comes from certified recycled (often post-consumer) or biobased sources and that the chain is traceable. This is essential for crediting chemically recycled material.
- Why it is important: It provides a robust way to substantiate sustainability claims and ensure traceability, even in complex production processes. It is an increasingly important label for circular plastics.
2. GRS (Global Recycled Standard).
This is a broader label that doesn’t just look at recycled materials.
- What it certifies: The percentage of recycled content (both pre- and post-consumer) in a product, as well as social, environmental and chemical requirements in the production line.
- Relevance to rPET and PP: If your rPET or PP packaging is GRS-certified, you can be sure that the claimed percentage of recycled material is true and that production was carried out with attention to environmental and social conditions.
- Why it is important: It provides a broader guarantee than just the percentage of recycled material. It shows that the entire chain, from the collection of the waste material to the final product, meets certain sustainability criteria.
3. RCS (Recycled Claim Standard).
This is the simpler variant of GRS.
- What it certifies: Purely the verification of the percentage of recycled content in a product (pre- or post-consumer).
- Relevance to rPET and PP: An RCS certificate confirms that the claimed percentage of recycled rPET or PP is actually in the packaging.
- How it compares to GRS: RCS only focuses on the percentage of recycled material, while GRS also includes social and environmental aspects. If you primarily want to demonstrate the percentage of recycled material, RCS is sufficient. If you want to make a broader sustainability claim, GRS is more appropriate.
(For completeness, for paper and cardboard packaging, FSC and PEFC are the main labels that guarantee that the wood comes from responsibly managed forests. Although we at MultiTray work a lot with plastics, this is an important standard in the packaging world).
Why are these certifications important as selection criteria?
Now you understand what the most important certifications entail. But why are they so crucial for you as a company when choosing a packaging supplier?
- Compliance with laws and regulations: Certified materials and processes help you comply with legal requirements, for example by demonstrating that you work with materials suitable for recycling.
- Credibility and transparency: Certificates are independent proof of sustainability claims. They show that you are not just shouting something, but that your claims have been verified by an external party. This creates trust with your customers and partners and helps prevent greenwashing. With certified packaging, you demonstrate that your CSR policy goes beyond mere intentions.
- Making informed choices: In a market with many suppliers and claims, certificates help you compare objectively. You can ask suppliers for their certificates and specifications to be sure of the origin and composition of the materials, especially for rPET and PP where quality and origin can vary widely.
- Really contribute to circularity: Hallmarks such as ISCC PLUS and GRS encourage the use of recycled and renewable materials. By choosing certified packaging, you demonstrably contribute to the circular economy and reduce dependence on new fossil resources.
- Meeting market demand: More and more consumers and companies are asking for sustainable packaging and expect these claims to be substantiated. With certified packaging, you meet this growing demand and differentiate yourself in the market.
Certifications in practice at MultiTray
At MultiTray, we are fully committed to sustainable packaging solutions, especially in recycled PET (rPET) and PP. We continuously develop innovative solutions for various sectors such as fresh produce and confectionery, always with sustainability in mind. We understand that as a customer you want certainty about the sustainability of the materials you use.
When you talk to us about rPET or PP packaging, we are happy to tell you about where the materials come from and how certifications play a role. We work with suppliers certified to standards appropriate to the materials we process. We are transparent about the composition of our products and strive to give you all the information you need to make an informed choice. Our family-driven approach means we value honesty and open communication.
More Than Just a Certificate
While certificates are essential for transparency and proof, true sustainability is of course more than just a label on a product. It is also about minimizing material use, optimizing the product-packaging combination, efficient logistics and encouraging reuse wherever possible. This is a continuous process of development and innovation that we are working on every day.
Conclusion
The landscape of sustainable packaging can seem complex, but the right certifications and standards provide the clarity and confidence you need. They are not unnecessary bureaucracy, but essential tools to demonstrate that packaging is truly sustainable and meets today’s and tomorrow’s requirements. Especially if you work with materials like rPET and PP, labels like ISCC PLUS, GRS and RCS are your guarantee of recycled content and traceability.
By choosing a supplier that is transparent about certifications and works to recognized standards, you are not only making a sustainable choice for your products, but also building trust with your customers.
Have questions about specific certifications, our materials or how we can help you with demonstrably sustainable packaging solutions? We’d be happy to talk further with you. You can request a quote directly or, of course, contact us anytime. At MultiTray, we’re ready to help you navigate the world of sustainable packaging.
