Aptar Food + Beverage, a global leader in consumer product dispensing and active material science solutions, today reported that it has received approval for its SimpliCycle TPE-S valve from RecyClass as fully compatible with polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PET), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) recycling streams. RecyClass is a non-profit, cross-industry initiative facilitating the transition toward a circular plastic economy. The organization published Design for Recycling Guidelines and conducts evaluations of a variety of products in partnership with independent laboratories to assess the product’s ability to be recycled. Aptar’s SimpliCycle valve previously received a European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) Endorsement for full compatibility with RecyClass Guidelines for PET stream and now has also received full compatibility approval for recyclability in PP and HDPE streams. This achievement validates food and beverage brands that Aptar closures featuring SimpliCycle valves not only offer more hygienic and controlled product dispensing for consumers but also contribute toward their sustainability commitments by enabling full packaging recyclability. Aptar’s SimpliCycle valves will be commercially available globally at the end of 2022.

“In addition to Critical Guidance Recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) in North America,” said Shyam Kotak, general manager, Aptar’s Elastomeric Flow Control business, “We now have those same approvals from the leading European organization for evaluating plastic recyclability. The Design for Recyclability Guidelines for these two important organizations has been increasingly adopted around the globe. These approvals are evidence of Aptar’s continued dedication to bringing more sustainable products to market in collaboration with our customers to enable them to meet their sustainability goals. This is good news for brands, fillers, recyclers, and consumers, looking for plastic packaging to be more in line with a circular economy.” Aptar is a member of RecyClass and is active in its technical committees.

SimpliCycle Recyclable Valve – Sustainability and High-Performance

Aptar has been the industry leader in providing flow control dispensing solutions for over 25 years. Its award-winning SimpliCycle recyclable valve is driving sustainability to the forefront of packaging innovation. Made from a low-density material, if used in a closure on a PET bottle, when collected with the bottle in the PET recycling stream, the valve floats in the recycling tanks allowing it to separate from the PET flakes and then recycled right along with the polyolefin’s streams. If used in a closure on a PP bottle, when collected with the bottle, the closure goes directly into the PP recycling stream and is fully compatible, as now approved by RecyClass.

 When assembled into an Aptar closure, the SimpliCycle valve provides a fully recyclable, high-performance solution for use with PET, PP, or HDPE containers. SimpliCycle was recently honored to be awarded the best CSR/Sustainability initiative in 2021 by World Food Innovation Awards and in 2022 received the prestigious 2022 WorldStar Global Packaging Award for packaging innovation as well as the 2022 AmeriStar Award in the Sustainable Packaging category.

“Aptar will be at PackExpo in Chicago October 23-26 to showcase our newest closures designed for recycling, such as our tethered beverage sports closures and lightweight and linerless food closures featuring our SimpliCycle valve. We are also showcasing food-grade rPP provided by PureCycle,” said Kotak.