Designing for a Circular Future: FBCA Unveils RECY:CHECK Certification and Updated Design for Recycling Guidelines
July 23, 2025
Brussels, Belgium
23 July 2025
The Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA) today announced the official launch of RECY:CHECK, a robust recyclability certification protocol for fibre-based composite packaging (FBCP), alongside the release of the 2025 edition of the Design for Recycling (DfR) Guidelines for liquid packaging cartons (LPCs).
Together, these initiatives mark a major step forward in FBCA’s mission to promote safe, circular, and sustainable packaging solutions across global food and beverage systems.
“RECY:CHECK and the updated Liquid Packaging Cartons: Design for Recycling Guidelines are more than technical tools - they are strategic enablers for a circular economy,” said Sebastian Bartels, Director General of FBCA. “They help our industry speak with one voice on recyclability, align with evolving EU regulations and global aspirations, and empower every actor in the value chain, from designers and producers to recyclers and policymakers, to make informed, future-proof decisions.”
What is RECY:CHECK?: RECY:CHECK is a science-based certification methodology that evaluates the recyclability of fibre-based composite packaging across four key stages: collection, sorting, reprocessing, and application. It is designed to support compliance with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) but has application beyond Europe.
Updated 2025 DfR Guidelines: The newly updated Design for Recycling Guidelines for liquid packaging cartons (LPCs) provide detailed technical recommendations for designing LPCs that are compatible with specialized recycling mills and PolyAl reprocessing. Developed by FBCA’s Centre of Expertise and its DfR Working Group, the guidelines reflect the latest science-backed developments, regulatory updates, and material innovations.
They are intended for:
- Packaging designers and brand owners seeking to improve recyclability
- Recyclers and reprocessors evaluating material compatibility
- Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) and policymakers shaping infrastructure and legislation
Learn more:
Download the DfR Guidelines
Visit RECY:CHECK
Download the Press Release in PDF
About FBCA and the Centre of Expertise
The Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA) is a global platform uniting food and beverage carton manufacturers and their paperboard suppliers. Formed from the merger of ACE and EXTR:ACT, FBCA advocates for food and beverage cartons as safe, circular, and sustainable packaging solutions that contribute to resilient food systems and low-carbon, circular economies. FBCA’s members include Billerud, Elopak, Lamipak, SIG, Stora Enso and Tetra Pak.
The FBCA Centre of Expertise plays a central role in developing technical standards, coordinating certification, and driving innovation across the value chain.
Media and further inquiries:
Andrew Gelston
Senior Communications Manager
+32 477 83 09 84
