4 ALDI Recyclability Guideline HOW DOES ALDI DEFINE RECYCLABILITY? In the ALDI Guideline ”recyclability” means conformity of the packaging design with the requirements of existing recycling processes . This is an environmentally relevant property which can only be claimed under competition law if recycling structures (including the necessary collection systems) are in place. The packaging can be diverted from the waste stream through available processes by collection, processing and returning to use in an industrial scale in the form of high quality raw materials (recyclates). This Guideline focuses on recycling processes that generate secondary raw materials , which can replace the corresponding primary raw material, for example the recyclate application replaces material-identical virgin material . The components of packaging that are suitable for this are identified using a clear and easy to understand colour coding (green-amber-red) system. Therefore for each type of packaging “ recyclable components ” (green) are classified in a separate category and differentiated from other characteristics, which are only grouped under the aspect of compatibility (amber). The Guideline only considers mechanical recycling processes. Other processes, such as chemical recycling and new developments accompanying it, are closely monitored by ALDI. OXO-AND BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS The “Single-use Plastics Directive (EU Directive)” came into force on 3 July 2021 (two years after the adoption of the Directive in 2019) and prohibits certain single-use plastics as well as all products made of oxo-degradables. The EU member states had to transpose the EU directive into national law by July 2021. As part of South Australia’s “Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020” oxo- degradable plastic products will be banned from early 2022 as well. In 2017, the “Sustainable Packaging Coalition” in the USA proposed a global ban on oxo-degradable plastic packaging, which was supported by over 150 organisations worldwide. Oxo-degradation should not be confused with biodegradability! Oxo-degradable plastics are plastics with the required property of fragmenting quickly after use. This is achieved by adding metal ions (such as cobalt, iron, etc.) to conventional polymers such as polyethylene. In the presence of UV light or heat as well as oxygen, oxidation and chain degradation, the fragmentation process, are triggered. These small fragments cannot be further decomposed by micro-organisms and lead to the formation of micro-plastics. In contrast, biodegradable plastics can be converted by micro-organisms into carbon dioxide, water oxygenation into carbon dioxide, water, mineral salts and biomass or without oxygenation into carbon dioxide, methane, mineral salts and biomass. In order to proof that biodegradable plastics decompose in certain time frames under certain environmental conditions within composting plants, several standards certify the compostability . This is the theory at least. In fact, due to shorter treatment times in today’s composting plants, bags have not completely decomposed despite being degradable/compostable. In addition, the technology used in composting and fermentation plants cannot distinguish between degradable/compostable and conventional plastic bags. Thus, degradable bags are for the most part already separated in the waste processing (e.g. sieving) together with other interfering materials and must be disposed of as residual waste.
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