Nowadays, over half of American households have access to curbside recycling, while recycling rates in the European Union continue to progress. Consumers worldwide are paying more and more attention to brands’ sustainability credentials, meaning it makes sense to prioritise recyclable materials from both an environmental and a business standpoint. 

But opting for recyclable base materials isn’t quite enough. According to recent research, consumers are more likely to buy products with clear recycling instructions, while a UK survey found that 38% of respondents didn’t recycle because they didn’t understand the instructions provided. Mixed messaging around the recyclability of some packaging materials, such as those containing plastics or foils, possibly contributes to the issue. While composite packaging is often technically recyclable, it can cause significant challenges at recycling facilities and paper mills. 

It’s therefore important, when designing your packaging labels, to provide clear, simple instructions on how it can be recycled. For some materials, such as plain cardboard, this will be very simple as cartonboard is one of the most easily recycled materials around. And despite its glossy appearance, our metallized paper contains no plastics and can therefore be recycled alongside other plain paper products - be sure to let your customers know about it!