Manual
Please read this short introduction to the RecyClass analysis tool.
You can access this information at any time by using the 'Manual' button on the top as long as you are logged in.
This module of the RecyClass Online Tool assesses the recyclability of steel packaging and shows to what extent it is suitable for recycling, rating it with a class system from A to C. The analysis is based on the RecyClass Recyclability Methodology. The Aluminium and Steel modules of the RecyClass Tool have been developed in accordance with the Design for Recycling guidelines established by CIRCPACK (CIRCPACK's Design for Recycling Guidelines). The Design for Recycling Guidelines are living documents so any comment or contribution to improve them should be addressed to CIRCPACK who is maintaining the guidelines.
Assessment steps
The analysis is divided into 5 steps
- Step 1: Description
The first step aims to name and describe the packaging to be analysed. - Step 2: Suitability
This step ensures that the packaging falls under the scope of the RecyClass Methodology dedicated to packaging. - Step 3: Type of packaging
This step defines which is the type of packaging under analysis to attribute the corresponding Design for Recycling questions & answers. - Step 4: Design for Recycling
This step evaluates the compatibility of the packaging design with its recycling stream and is split into 3 sections explained below. - Step 5: Final results
The last step gathers all results of the analysis, highlighting the areas of improvement, and provides as well a mapping of the current waste management systems in Europe.
Design for Recycling (step 4)
The step is divided into 3 sets of questions
- Part 1: Recyclable content
This set is a mass balance calculation to determine the amount of recoverable and valuable material in your packaging. - Part 2: Design for Recycling Incompatibilities
In this set, the incompatibilities of your product that affect recycling efficiency and quality of the recyclate are verified. - Part 3: 'Easy to Empty' / 'Easy Access ' Index
These indications evaluate the proportion of product that remains in the packaging after it has been emptied.
Process
During the analysis, the packaging design is classified into a recyclability class. After each answer, the score is automatically adapted, and you are informed of the provisional result for your packaging thanks to the box on the right of your screen.
Classes
Categories range from A to C as defined by the RecyClass Recyclability Methodology.
Class A represents the best recyclability of a package, while class B and C represent increasingly lower recyclability.
- CLASS A:
The packaging does not pose any recyclability issues and the recycled material can potentially feed a closed-loop scheme to be used in the same quality application. - CLASS B:
The packaging has some minor recyclability issues that slightly affect the quality of the recycled material generated. However, majority of recycled content from this packaging can still potentially feed a closed loop. - CLASS C:
The packaging presents some recyclability issues that affect the quality of the recycled material or lead to material losses during recycling. In the first case the recycled material could be used in a cascade open-loop scheme, whereas in the latter case the material could potentially feed a closed loop scheme. - NOT RECYCLABLE:
The packaging has either significant design issues that highly affect its recyclability or imply large material losses or is lacking specific infrastructures for collection, sorting and recycling in EU27+3.
Final result
If you have answered all the questions, by clicking on the "Complete analysis" button the result of the analysis will be shown and can be downloaded as a PDF attachment.
Try it yourself!
At any time (as long as you have not clicked the "Finish Analysis" button), you can continue the experiment by giving answers in all question sets. Thus, you will be able to check how the recyclability of your packaging varies.