INTI and ECOPLAS launch the first certification in Argentina and South America to declare the recycled plastic content in products.
This is a voluntary certification for companies who use recycled plastic and want to declare its incorporation in the creation of products, thus contributing to the circular economy model for this value chain.
To encourage the use of recycled plastic in the industry and reduce its environmental impact as waste, the National Institute of Technology (INTI) and the civil association specialized in plastic and the environment, ECOPLAS, presented the first certification in Argentina and South America that allows companies to declare the recycled plastic content in their final products to promote a value chain that includes recyclers, converters, brand owners, and public and private organizations.
This collaborative initiative is focused on analyzing the traceability of recycled plastic (post-industry or post-consumption) used as an input and determining the content of this component in the total plastic matrix of a product, considering an evaluation of management systems, environmental requirements, and safety regulations.
The certification comes about in a context where Argentina is seeing a growing trend in plastic recycling. For example, in 2021, 307,000 tons of plastic was recovered, which reflects 11% more than in 2020, and 440% more than in 2003.
In relation to the INTI-ECOPLAS seal, this consists of a green “R” and the percentage of recycled plastic content in the product. It also includes an optional QR code that can be scanned for a video explaining the different aspects of circular economy.
The goal is to transform the linear economy paradigm -where plastic is produced, used, and discarded- into a circular economy, which implies the reincorporation of recycled materials within the economic circuit of use and, with this, the reduction of impact on the environment, focused on the valuation of waste and its effect on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The certification process requires a two-part audit, starting with document analysis and followed by an evaluation of the industrial plant’s production process. If the audit concludes satisfactorily, the company is granted the INTI-ECOPLAS Seal. Only products that have at least 15 percent recycled content in their total plastic matrix may apply.
This new certification is just one more step to validating the value chain of plastic, and joins the voluntary certification of plastic recycling industries, developed alongside the Argentinean Chamber of the Recycled Plastics Industry (CAIRPLAS).
This first certification helped establish traceability and quality criteria in material treatment, support companies dedicated to the reinsertion of plastic as a raw material, and strengthen the valuation of an input with a wide range of long-lasting applications.
