PREP helps businesses understand how packaging will perform in real-world recycling systems before it reaches the market — providing the evidence to make better packaging decisions.
Created in 2007 by engineer and sustainability specialist Anthony Peyton, PREP was developed to answer a deceptively simple question: is this packaging actually recyclable?
PREP goes beyond identifying what a package is made from. It assesses the complete packaging format — including its size, shape, weight, inks, adhesives and material combinations — against real-world collection, sorting and reprocessing conditions.
The result is an evidence-based assessment that helps businesses make better packaging decisions and determine the right disposal instructions to communicate to consumers.
PREP provides the evidence base used to determine Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) classifications for packaging sold in Australia and New Zealand.
Small packaging details can make a big difference to whether an item can actually be recycled.
PREP brings packaging specifications and real-world recycling conditions together in one assessment, helping businesses:
PREP is evolving beyond individual packaging assessments.
New data services and integrations are making it easier to bring packaging information into PREP, assess it and put the results to work across your business and supply chain.
Explore some of the latest ways businesses can use PREP.
Packaging data captured in Phantm can be assessed through PREP, with recyclability results, recommendations and ARL returned to the platform at SKU level. PREP enables Phantm’s customers to draw back historical data to support the building of your packaging data asset.
Assess packaging at scale by uploading multiple packaging specifications rather than entering each item individually.
Share verified project data between suppliers and customers with PREP accounts, helping reduce repeated data entry across the supply chain.
Access packaging assessment data to support reporting, analysis and audit requirements.
PREP's reach now extends beyond Australia and New Zealand to the UK and European markets.
UK and European PREP tools include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) functionality designed to help businesses understand financial packaging liabilities across the UK and EU. PREP is also evolving in response to changing international packaging regulation, including the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
Find out more about Global PREPHave a question about PREP functionality, a technical assessment or an idea for improving the platform?
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