Avery Dennison has become the first company to receive both RecyClass Technology Approval in Europe and Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) recognition in North America for an RFID labeling solution compatible with mechanical PET recycling.

The approval covers the company’s AD CleanFlake RFID technology, allowing multinational brands to use a single RFID label construction for PET packaging across both European and North American markets while supporting recycling objectives and regulatory compliance.

Dual Certification Simplifies Global Packaging

The latest RecyClass approval follows Avery Dennison’s earlier recognition by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), making AD CleanFlake RFID the first RFID label solution validated by both major recycling organizations.

The dual certification enables brand owners to standardize RFID labels across multiple markets instead of developing separate solutions for different recycling systems.

Designed for PET Recycling

The AD CleanFlake RFID solution combines Avery Dennison’s proprietary CleanFlake adhesive technology with a patent-pending RFID inlay and label construction.

During the mechanical recycling process, the label and RFID components are designed to separate cleanly from rigid PET packaging, helping to:

• Reduce adhesive contamination
• Minimize metal residue
• Preserve recycled PET flake quality
• Support high-quality PET recycling streams

The company says the technology enables wider adoption of RFID while maintaining compatibility with existing recycling processes.

Supporting PPWR and Circular Packaging

The approval also supports packaging companies preparing for the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which places increasing emphasis on packaging recyclability and circular design.

According to Pascale Wautelet, Vice President of Global R&D and Sustainability at Avery Dennison Materials Group, the recognition demonstrates that RFID technology and PET recyclability can successfully coexist.

Paolo Glerean, Chairman of RecyClass, added that the approval confirms recycling-compatible RFID technologies are now commercially available and can help companies meet emerging circular economy requirements.

Brand Owners Still Responsible for Complete Packaging Design

Avery Dennison noted that the RecyClass and APR approvals apply specifically to the AD CleanFlake RFID label construction and adhesive under defined testing conditions.

The company emphasized that brand owners remain responsible for assessing the recyclability of their complete packaging systems, including all materials and components used in the final package.

As RFID adoption continues to expand across retail, logistics and packaging applications, the approval provides packaging designers with a recycling-compatible option that supports both digital product identification and circular economy objectives.

Last Updated on 28/07/2026 by Jota Machinery