A Historical Milestone in European Waste Management: Sweden’s Returpack Receives the First RecyClass Certification Among Deposit Return Systems

For the first time in Europe, Sweden’s Returpack deposit return system has earned the independent RecyClass certification for its PET bottle sorting process. Based on strict European Union legislation, the certification officially guarantees that the collected plastic is traceable throughout the entire supply chain and can be safely used without contamination in the production of new packaging intended for food and beverage contact. This step further strengthens Sweden’s leading role in global recycling.

Strict EU Regulations and Food Safety

The newly acquired certification is closely linked to European Regulation 2022/1616/EU. This EU legislation sets prominent and strict requirements for the collection, pre-treatment, and traceability of plastic waste. The goal is to ensure that recycled plastic (rPET) can be returned to the cycle without any health or contamination risks, specifically in the field of beverage and food packaging.

By becoming the first in Europe to fulfill these complex criteria within the deposit return systems (Swedish term: pantsystem) market, Returpack has once again proven that it is at the forefront of the continent in terms of technology and quality assurance. The certification provides official documentation verifying that the recycled PET originating from the Swedish system fully complies with European safety standards for food contact materials.

Full Traceability from Barcode to Processor

One of the greatest advantages of classic deposit return systems is that they create an excellent foundation for clean, contamination-free material flows. The process begins at the reverse vending machines, where packaging is identified at a unique barcode level. This is followed by precise automated sorting, and finally, the delivery of the cleaned raw material to the recycling facilities.

Sara Wester Bergendorff, Sustainability and Quality Manager at Returpack, emphasized the importance of transparency regarding the announcement:

“This certification is highly valuable to both us and our material recycling partners. Essentially, it confirms that we have proper control and traceability throughout the entire process, from collection and sorting to delivery. At the same time, it is tangible proof that our current working methods and technological processes already meet the highest quality and safety expectations today.”

Trust Towards Consumers and Market Partners

According to the company’s management, immediately conducting the independent, third-party audit required by the legislation was unquestionable. The quality manager highlighted that credibility is essential towards both business partners and end-users:

“For us, it was a matter of course to quickly carry out the third-party audit required by law for collection and sorting. This is of utmost importance for our credibility towards our customers who buy the raw materials, the beverage manufacturers, and ultimately, the Swedish consumers,” added Sara Wester Bergendorff.

Obtaining the certification is thus an integral part of the ongoing work to continuously develop the Swedish deposit return system.

3 Billion Bottles Annually: The Background of Returpack

The residential deposit return system operating under the Pantamera brand is managed by Returpack AB. The privately owned company’s primary mission is to increase the recycling rate of aluminum cans and PET bottles, which directly reduces carbon dioxide emissions through material and energy recycling. The company operates based on a mandate from its owners and the Swedish government. The ownership structure is divided among three industry players: 50% of the company is owned by the Swedish Brewers Association (Sveriges Bryggerier AB), 25% by the Swedish Grocery Trade Federation (Svensk Dagligvaruhandel), and another 25% by the grocery retailers (Livsmedelshandlarna).

The efficiency of the network is well demonstrated by the fact that Returpack receives more than 3 billion beverage cans and PET bottles annually. This magnitude, along with the newly awarded RecyClass certification, continues to position Sweden as a role model in building a circular economy.

References and Sources:

• Original press release: Returpacks insamling och sortering Recyclass-certifieras

• State/authority background information on the Swedish plastic and metal waste return system (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency / Naturvårdsverket): Retursystem för plastflaskor och metallburkar