Operational Sorting Tests
How can you be sure that your packaging is sorted correctly for recycling? And what are the potential challenges for sorting?
We test your packaging in operational sorting facilities in different countries and give you the operational truth.
Trusted by global brand owners
Sorting: the essential key to Recycling!
Real life sorting - Operational sorting tests are used to assess the real-life sorting potential of your packaging. We help you understand how your packaging is sorted and what challenges it faces. Typical challenges we see are related to size, rolling behavior, us of dark colours, high glossiness and highly reflective printing.
RFID supports our findings -To ensure the most accurate report, we have installed RFID readers in on of our sorting facilities in Germany. With RFID technology we are able to give you very precise answers to any sorting related question you might have. We will be able to give you direct advice on your packaging design to enhance sortability. And yes, designing your packaging for sorting is critical to ensure it is recyclable.
Testing in many different countries - At CIRCPACK, we have the capacity to test your packaging in other countries as well. Most commonly we test in our German facilities. Germany has a selective collection in place i.e. no glass and hardly any paper in the stream. We are also able to test in the UK - with a commingled collection system in place i.e. glass and paper in the stream or in France - which has also a commingled collection system in place but excluding glass. This covers all different collection systems your packaging can end up after its disposal. Due to the Veolia netwerk, we are also able tyo support sorting tests in other countries.
An operational sorting test is often used as a first step to obtain a recyclability certification.
Glass sorting test - Glass sorting tests are performed differently to the operational sorting tests in a MRF. For the glass sorting tests, your packaging will be tested through an optical sorter, that is used in an operational sorting facility for glass packaging. This technology allows the separation of packaging glass from contaminants (ceramics, crystal, borosilicate…) and the test will provide quantified data on the sortability of your product. It will also assess whether your packaging is transparent enough to be sorted.
Our process:
1. Quotation process
Reach out to us, once we understand your packaging and your needs we will be able to share a dedicated proposal with you.
2. Signature & shipment of samples
When you are ok with our proposal, you send us your samples. We most commonly work with 125 samples per tested packaging format (MRF testing). For a glass sorting teste we only require 10 samples. The delivery addresses can be found in the proposal.
Shipping on a pallet? Please let us know in advance! In this case we will inform you on a different delivery address.
3. Testing Phase
Once we receive your packaging it takes us around 3-4 weeks to prepare your samples and test them.
4. Reporting & final call
After 3-4 weeks we will send you our detailed report. The report contain a descriptions of equipment used, pictures and description of your samples and the results and interpretation of the results. Once we share the report with you, we will schedule a summary call to align on the results and potential questions you might have.
What are glass sorting tests?
Glass sorting tests are performed differently to the operational sorting tests in an MRF. For the glass sorting tests, your packaging will be tested through an optical sorter, that is used in an operational sorting facility for glass packaging. This technology allows the separation of packaging glass from contaminants (ceramics, crystal, borosilicate…) and the test will provide quantified data on the sortability of your product. It will also assess whether your packaging is transparent enough to be sorted.
Ready to test your packaging?
Send us a packaging spec and we'll come back within 48 hours with a scoped quote, the right methodology, and a timeline.