The Industrial Plastics and Composites Technical Centre (IPC) and the National Laboratory of Metrology and Testing (LNE) are jointly creating a certification scheme for industrial users of recycled plastics. This certification will attest to the overall volumes of recycled plastic integrated at the factory level, but also the specific quantities contained in a product.
The use of recycled raw materials (MPR) is one of the pillars of the circular economy of plastics. It allows a massive decarbonisation of industrial activity as well as the avoidance of the use of non-renewable natural resources. French plastic surgeons have committed to integrating increasing amounts of MPR to reach the 20% threshold by 2025.
Objectively attesting to the quantities of MPR used by an industrialist, whether on the whole production or in specific products, has become indispensable. That's why the LNE and IPC have decided to partner to work together to develop a certification repository. This repository will enable objective and independent evaluations of production sites to be carried out through audits carried out by the LNE.
The LNE, a certification body accredited to ISO/IEC 17021 and ISO/IEC 17065 under the tutelage of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, has extensive expertise on the subject of plastics. In particular, it issues certifications of PE tubes for the distribution of gas or drinking water, PVC profiles for rolling shutters or bags for waste collection. In addition, he carries out numerous tests on plastics, such as physical-chemical characterization, the qualification of mechanical behavior or gas permeability.
IPC, which shares the same tutelage as the LNE, has initiated this approach in order to respond quickly to the needs of the industrialists of the profession. "It is thanks to the agility of our CTI and its network of 2,000 nationals that we can act quickly and create this essential tool to support companies subject to new regulations,"says Luc Uytterhaeghe, IPC's Managing Director.
This initiative is part of PolyCert Europe, a pan-European integration certification system for MPR, carried out by the European Professional Union of Plastic Processors (EuPC). Belgium, Italy, Spain and Germany have already joined this programme.
This repository is a first step in a collaboration between two complementary organizations that will pool their expertise in the various areas of certification in the field of plastics.
"The creation of this repository is fully in line with two of the major missions entrusted to us by the Ministry of Economy and Finance: supporting industry and preserving the environment,"says Thomas Grenon, Director General of the LNE.
"It is essential that France also acquires a certification to ensure the integration of MPR in plastic products regardless of their origin. This will significantly increase the competitiveness of the industrialists in our sector,"stresses Jean Martin, general manager of Polyvia, the French trade union for plastics and composites.
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www.lne.fr
