Sun Chemical earns APR Design for Recyclability Recognition

Sun Chemical has announced that its SunCure EcoPlast direct print ink technology attained APR Design for Recyclability Recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), marking a milestone for inks designed for direct printing on rigid polypropylene (PP) packaging articles.

The APR confirmed that SunCure EcoPlast “meets or exceeds the voluntary requirements for APR Design for Recyclability Recognition” following evaluation against industry-recognized criteria for plastics recycling compatibility. The technology was tested on PP articles at realistic decoration conditions for direct-printed applications. An independent APR Review Committee concluded that the submission data were “correctly obtained and were completely presented to show the product submitted meets or exceeds the strictest guidance criteria of the Critical Guidance Recognition pathway.”

This recognition represents an important advancement in enabling recyclability for rigid PP packaging, including applications such as direct-printed foodservice cups, where inks are integral to the package and must be considered within the overall design-for-recycling framework.

“Recognition under APR’s most stringent Critical Guidance criteria demonstrates that exceptional application performance and compatibility with downstream recycling processes can be accomplished in parallel,” says Nikola Juhasz, Global Technical Director, Sustainability at Sun Chemical. “The innovative EcoPlast technology integrates these requirements at the design stage, enabling the transition toward simplified, mono-material packaging systems in rigid PP.”

SunCure EcoPlast is a press-ready UV dry offset ink system developed specifically for direct printing on plastic substrates. The technology combines high adhesion and abrasion resistance, fast cure performance, and low-migration characteristics, with formulations designed to be removed cleanly (washed, de-inked) as filterable particles during post-consumer mechanical recycling processes. By decorating directly on the package, the technology simplifies packaging structures and unlocks an additional recycling-compliant design option alongside existing labels and sleeves.

The early development of the EcoPlast technology was requested by the global technology, marketing and sourcing company tms, which needed a direct print decoration solution compatible with recycling for beverage cups for one of its global foodservice clients. tms worked with Sun Chemical throughout the development and testing process, leveraging its suppliers to ensure both the printability of the ink system and the compatibility with recycling processes would meet the need.

“Congratulations to our partner Sun Chemical on the SunCure EcoPlast APR Recyclability Recognition! We approached them with a challenge to develop an ink which performs to our use and decoration standards while being removable during the washing stage of a recycling process, and they delivered,” says Neil Darin, senior director of Supply Chain Strategy for tms. “This important achievement has enabled us to design great foodservice plastic packaging solutions that are more compatible with the recycling infrastructure without impacting the consumer experience. This achievement not only benefits the consumer product and foodservice industries, but the recycling industry by enabling a higher yield of superior-quality recycled polymers.”

“We are especially grateful to tms for their outstanding partnership throughout our development process,” says Bob O’Boyle, senior key account manager at Sun Chemical. “Their team went above and beyond—coordinating critical test work, supplying the samples and materials needed to complete the evaluation, and providing valuable regulatory guidance along the way. Their knowledge and support were instrumental in helping bring this recognition to life, and they have been true champions of innovation and recyclability from start to finish.”

Sun Chemical views this achievement as a meaningful step in advancing circularity for plastic packaging and as part of its broader commitment to developing solutions that enable recyclability across a range of materials, applications, and end-use environments. Designing components that are technically compatible with recycling processes is a critical element in increasing the availability and quality of post-consumer recycled materials and supporting long-term sustainability goals.