The Journey From Plastic Waste to Certified Material

In this explainer, Jose Vicente Zaragoza, Technical Manager at Kiwa – IVAC Instituto de Certificación SL in Spain, guides us through the journey that plastic waste takes to become certified as recycled plastic.

The journey from waste to certified recycled plastic

1. Consumer use and disposal

“Plastic products reach end-of-life after use by consumers or industries, and at this stage, correct disposal is crucial,” explains Jose. “Efficient and proper plastic waste collection largely depends on the correct separation and disposal carried out by end-users.”

2. Collection systems

“Local authorities and private companies handle waste collection, but gaps remain in coverage, infrastructure, and logistics needed to channel materials to recyclers efficiently.”

3. Sorting and cleaning

“Advances in sorting technologies, such as AI-driven optical sorters and near-infrared sensors, are improving the separation of plastic types and colours, while enhanced washing and decontamination processes reduce impurities, allowing recycled plastics to be used in higher-value applications,” furthers Jose.

4. Mechanical or chemical recycling

Jose tells us that at this stage, plastics undergo one of two processes:

• Mechanical recycling: Shredded and melted into pellets for reuse. Additives help blend different polymers. Developing compatibilizers and additives enables the blending of different plastic types without compromising material properties.
  
  
• Chemical recycling: Chemical recycling breaks down complex plastics into base chemicals using pyrolysis, depolymerisation, or solvolysis. These technologies are gaining traction for handling mixed or contaminated plastics and producing virgin-quality polymers. Ongoing research aims to scale them sustainably as a complement to mechanical recycling.
  

5. Certification and traceability

“After that,” Jose explains, “Kiwa verifies recycled content, traceability, and circularity through the following certification schemes to ensure quality:

• Kiplas-C – Recycled content certification
• Kiplas-T – Traceability of recycled materials
• Zero Waste to Landfill – Circular waste management
• RecyClass – EU-recognised recyclability certification for both recyclers and converters.

We are also developing new certification schemes for chemical recycling. Additionally, we promote circular economy practices through a packaging reuse scheme.”

Note: In line with this, Spain’s Royal Decree 1055/2022 and Law 7/2022 encourage reusable packaging with eco-design. One recognised method to prove packaging is reusable is by meeting the UNE-EN 13429:2005 standard. It sets out three main principles: packaging must be conceived for reuse, designed so its components serve the same purpose again, and backed by a functioning reuse system — whether closed, open, or hybrid. While not mandatory for all packaging, it is required for reusable cups at public events starting from July 2023.

6. Manufacturing with recycled plastic

The final step is when certified recycled material is used to create new products and packaging. 

“Spain, for instance, has introduced taxes on virgin plastics to stimulate recycled plastic uptake. This has been introduced to encourage the use of recycled plastic in manufacturing packaging and products. And this is where the magic happens. On a European level, initiatives like the Circular Plastics Alliance have committed to using 10 million tons of recycled plastic annually by 2025.”