The European Commission has published an updated version of the Union register concerning technologies, recyclers, recycling processes, recycling schemes and decontamination installations. Established in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2022/1616, this document serves as the official record for validated “Novel Technologies” intended to produce recycled plastic materials for food contact. As the packaging industry faces increasing pressure to meet sustainability targets and comply with the upcoming PPWR, List 5 of this register provides the specific “Novel Technology Numbers” (NTN) necessary for legal compliance and transparency.
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The Regulatory Framework of Regulation (EU) 2022/1616
The register is a critical component of the Union’s safety infrastructure for food contact materials, acting as the mandatory point of verification for any novel technology seeking European market access. It contains all presently validated novel technologies notified in accordance with Article 10(2) of the Regulation, ensuring that only processes vetted by Member States and Commission services are utilized. Developers must submit comprehensive dossiers to be included in the public lists, which are drawn up based on registration data received since October 2022. This validation process is designed to protect consumer health by verifying that decontamination methods effectively remove contaminants from post-consumer plastic waste before it is reused in food-grade applications.
Transparency Requirements and Public Access
A significant feature of this register is the mandate for industry transparency through digital access. To ensure that stakeholders can verify the safety of these processes, every entry must include a functional and publicly accessible URL. These links allow access to the Novel Technology reports published in accordance with Article 10(4) and Article 13(4) of the Regulation. This system ensures that technical data regarding decontamination and safety is available to manufacturers, brand owners and compliance officers throughout the supply chain.
Key Innovations and Validated Developers
The register identifies several major developers who have successfully validated their novel decontamination and recycling processes, categorized by their location to provide a clear view of the global landscape.
- EU-Based Technologies (List 5a): Austria features prominently with EREMA Engineering Recycling, which validated the Intarema ReFresher technology and specialized processes for rigid post-consumer HDPE container recycling. STARLINGER & CO also registered multiple viscoZERO super-clean processes for HDPE, Polystyrene (PS) and Polypropylene (PP). In Belgium, PETCORE Europe validated technologies focusing on functional barriers and PET depolymerization to BHET.
- International Technologies (List 5b): Outside the European Union, Meltem Kimya in Turkey validated rPET production via chemical de-polymerization. In the United Kingdom, several projects achieved validation, including NEXTLOOPP LTD for the NEXTLOOPP technology and NEXTEK LTD for the COtooCLEAN process.
These developers represent only a fraction of the broader Register. List 5 continues to scale reflecting the continuous expansion of the European food-grade recycling infrastructure.
Conclusion
The release of version 1.1 of the Union Register provides the packaging industry with the clarity needed to navigate the complex landscape of food-grade recycled plastics. By identifying validated developers and their specific Novel Technology Numbers, the Commission ensures that only safe, decontaminated materials enter the food supply chain. For recyclers and manufacturers, this list is an essential reference for verifying the regulatory status of their suppliers.
