PolyCert Europe Launches A New Certification Scheme for Recycled Plastics in Food Contact

PolyCert launches audited certification for recycled plastics used with food. The scheme translates EU requirements into site-specific third-party assessments. © PolyCert

PolyCert Europe is proud to announce the launch of PolyCert Food, a new third-party certification scheme for recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The scheme provides industry with an independent, harmonised route to demonstrate that recycled food-contact plastics are produced and handled in line with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2022/1616.

Since its establishment in 2020, PolyCert Europe has worked to harmonise certification of recycled content and enhance transparency in claims made by converters of polymeric materials. With PolyCert Food, the consortium extends that mission into one of the most demanding areas of the value chain: the safe use of recycled plastics in food packaging and other food-contact applications.

PolyCert Food is owned and operated by PolyCert Europe and built on the internationally recognised frameworks ISO/IEC 17065.

Certification is issued by independent, accredited certification bodies with proven technical competence in the plastics sector, ensuring that assessments are impartial, rigorous and consistent across markets.

The scheme is audit-based and follows a three-year certification cycle, beginning with an on-site audit and supported by ongoing surveillance.

Companies are assessed against the PolyCert Food Requirements, which cover good manufacturing practices, critical control point management, quality assurance and full traceability of each batch back to the first point of sorting of collected plastic waste. Recycled content is calculated in accordance with EN 15343. Certified companies are published on the PolyCert Food public register (available here), giving customers, brand owners and authorities a transparent and verifiable record of certification status.

By translating the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 into clear, auditable criteria;

PolyCert Food helps the actors in the value chain to demonstrate regulatory compliance, strengthen consumer confidence in recycled food-contact materials, and contribute to a more circular and resilient plastics economy in Europe.

“The launch of PolyCert Food marks an important step in giving the industry a trusted, harmonised way to verify that recycled plastics are safe for food contact. It reflects PolyCert Europe ‘ s continued commitment to transparency, quality and compliance across the polymer value chain.” – Jan Laperre, PolyCert Europe’s President.

Get Certified

Scheme documents, approved certification bodies and the public register are all available online. Consult the documentation and connect with an approved body to get started.