EuPR, the Brussels-based organization representing European plastics recyclers, has developed eco-design guidelines for HDPE (high-density polyethylene) bottles designed to boost recycling levels.

Christian-Yves Crépet, chairman of EuPR's HDPE Working Group, says, "HDPE is a very good and easily recyclable material." However, he says currently only 300,000 metric tons of HDPE bottles are being recycled annually in Europe, which represents 10 to 15 percent of the HDPE material generated in Europe. Crépet adds that this situation can be rectified by addressing various aspects, such as "an i...