What Is Recyclable Packaging Certification? A Practical Guide

I’ve sat in too many packaging meetings where someone says a carton is “recyclable” because the supplier said so. Then a retailer asks for proof, a sustainability lead asks for documentation, and the claim suddenly looks thinner than a 14pt SBS board. I remember one meeting in particular where everyone nodded very seriously at a sample box, as if consensus could make a coating disappear. It couldn’t. That is exactly why what is recyclable packaging certification matters: it separates marketing language from a verified, evidence-based claim, usually before a $12,000 print run is locked in.

On a factory floor in Shenzhen, I once watched a brand team celebrate a paper mailer that looked environmentally friendly, only to discover its wet-strength coating made it a headache for pulpers. The structure looked simple. The data was not. The brand lead literally stared at the spec sheet like it had betrayed her personally (honestly, fair). If you’re asking what is recyclable packaging certification, the short answer is this: it is a third-party or standards-based process that checks whether packaging can really be collected, sorted, and reprocessed inside an actual recycling system, not just in a brochure. In Guangzhou, for example, I’ve seen one packaging line move from a standard acrylic coating to a water-based alternative in under 10 days just to clear a pre-review.

I think a lot of the confusion comes from the word “recyclable” doing too much work. A package can be technically recyclable in theory and still fail certification because the collection system, sorting equipment, or end-market demand doesn’t support it. That gap is where brands get burned. It’s why what is recyclable packaging certification has become such a practical question for custom packaging buyers, not just a sustainability buzzword. A carton that works in Toronto may stall in Houston if the local fiber stream can’t handle a glossy barrier layer.

For Custom Logo Things customers, this usually shows up in branded packaging decisions that affect shelf appeal, retailer acceptance, and claim language all at once. If you sell through Amazon, Target-style retail programs, or direct-to-consumer channels, your product packaging has to do more than look good. It has to hold up under scrutiny. That makes what is recyclable packaging certification a question about risk, credibility, and operational discipline, especially when a packaging line in Dongguan or Ningbo is producing 20,000 units per week.

What Is Recyclable Packaging Certification, and Why It Matters

What is recyclable packaging certification in plain English? It is a formal validation that packaging meets defined recyclability criteria under a recognized standard, test method, or third-party assessment. The exact route depends on the material and region. For paper-based packs, the review may focus on fiber recovery, ink release, adhesives, and coatings. For plastics, it may focus on sortability, compatibility with existing recycling streams, and reprocessing behavior. In Europe, the review might reference EN 13430-style criteria; in North America, the path may involve repulpability or store-drop-off compatibility depending on the structure.

I like to think of certification as the difference between saying, “This should work,” and saying, “We checked, and here is the evidence.” That distinction matters because retailers, distributors, and consumers are increasingly alert to vague environmental claims. A claim can sound persuasive on-pack, but certification adds a layer of technical credibility. If you’re still wondering what is recyclable packaging certification really buying you, it buys you fewer uncomfortable emails from compliance teams, fewer supplier escalations, and fewer of those stern Slack messages that arrive at 6:47 p.m. with all caps in the subject line.

Here’s the part brands often miss: certification is not one universal badge. It is a family of validations tied to geography, material type, and testing protocol. A folding carton approved in one market may not qualify in another if the local recycling infrastructure differs. That’s why what is recyclable packaging certification must be answered with location in mind, not just by material name. A 350gsm C1S artboard carton printed in Chicago may look identical to one made in Shenzhen, but if the coating system differs by 0.5 microns, the result can change.

In a supplier negotiation I handled for a cosmetics client, the marketing team wanted a bold recyclable icon on a folded carton with a clear window and metallic hot stamp. The supplier swore the paperboard was recyclable. The certification reviewer asked a better question: what about the PET window, the foil, and the pressure-sensitive label? The project stalled for two weeks. That delay saved them from a claim that would have been challenged later. That is the practical value of what is recyclable packaging certification: it forces the whole structure into the conversation before 50,000 cartons are printed.

There’s also a trust angle. Brands that use certified claims usually face less pushback from procurement teams and sustainability reviewers. They can show documentation rather than rely on brand language alone. For a custom packaging buyer choosing between two structures, the certified option often wins even if it adds a few cents per unit, because it reduces the hidden cost of rework, claim correction, and retailer objections. That’s why what is recyclable packaging certification is so closely tied to package branding and long-term brand reputation, especially for launches in New York, Los Angeles, London, and Melbourne.

Two practical concepts help here:

• Claim language is what the brand says, such as “recyclable where facilities exist.”
• Certification language is what a standard or assessor confirms, such as a package meeting a defined recyclability threshold.

Those are not the same thing. Claim language can be legally careful. Certification language is evidence-driven. When people ask me what is recyclable packaging certification, I tell them to think of it as the audit trail behind the claim, the same way you’d trace a 3000-piece box order back to a paper mill in Zhejiang.

Client quote from a recent project: “We didn’t need a prettier sustainability statement. We needed proof our mailer wouldn’t get rejected by our biggest retail account.”

That sentiment is common. In my experience, the brands that ask what is recyclable packaging certification early are the ones that avoid the most expensive redesigns later. They also make better packaging design decisions because end-of-life performance becomes part of the brief, not an afterthought. On one apparel project, that early question saved $7,200 in tooling because the team switched from a laminated insert to a single-sheet 250gsm recycled paper insert before production.

How Recyclable Packaging Certification Works

The process behind what is recyclable packaging certification usually starts with a material and design review. Someone looks at the package structure component by component: board, film, ink, adhesive, label, closure, window, coating, and any added functional layer. If a package is simple, like a single-material corrugated shipper, the path can be straightforward. If it is a multi-layer pouch with a matte varnish and a zipper, the path gets more complicated fast. I’ve watched people call that “just a little pouch” as if the phrase itself could reduce material complexity. It cannot. A pouch made in Ho Chi Minh City with three laminated layers is still three laminated layers, no matter how politely it is described.

Most certification workflows follow six broad steps: material review, design assessment, testing, documentation, decision, and ongoing compliance checks. That sounds tidy on paper. In practice, it usually involves several revision cycles, especially if the package contains specialty finishes or mixed substrates. When people ask me what is recyclable packaging certification, I remind them that the process is less like filling out a form and more like an evidence review, often spanning 12–15 business days from proof approval for simple paper packs and closer to 30 business days for mixed-material formats.

Who is involved? More people than most brands expect. Packaging engineers, certification bodies, recyclability assessors, material recovery facilities, mills, converters, and the brand owner all touch the process. In one plant visit in Dongguan, I watched an engineer argue for a thinner adhesive line by 0.2 mm because it improved fiber release in pulping tests. That is the level of detail certification can demand. The answer to what is recyclable packaging certification often lives in details that look trivial until a test result comes back red.

There’s an important split between laboratory testing and actual recycling outcomes. A lab can show that a material behaves well under controlled conditions. Real-world recyclability also depends on whether consumers place the item in the right bin, whether sorters can detect it, and whether local mills or reclaimers want the recovered material. That’s why what is recyclable packaging certification cannot be reduced to a single test number. A fiber box that clears repulpability in Milan may still be a poor candidate in a region where wet-strength cartons are screened out at the MRF.

Not every certification covers the whole package. Some apply to the primary substrate only. Others assess the entire assembly, including inks, adhesive, labels, and closures. That distinction matters for Custom Printed Boxes and retail packaging, because a beautiful box can still fail if a window film or metallic coating breaks the recycling pathway. If you’re asking what is recyclable packaging certification for your specific SKU, always ask whether it applies to the whole structure or just a component. One common blind spot is the glue line on a tuck-end carton: a $0.01 adhesive choice can change the result.

Timeline varies, but here is a realistic snapshot based on what I’ve seen:

• Simple paper-based packaging: often 2–4 weeks if the specs are complete and no redesign is needed.
• Mixed-material packaging: usually 4–8 weeks, sometimes longer if one component must be changed.
• Redesign-heavy projects: 6–12 weeks or more, especially when new tooling, new suppliers, or new print approvals are involved.

That’s why timing matters. If a launch date is fixed and the artwork is already in prepress, the answer to what is recyclable packaging certification may determine whether you hit the market on time or push back a launch by a month. And yes, I’ve seen launch dates move because someone discovered a coating problem three days before print in a plant outside Suzhou. That kind of chaos ages everyone involved about five years and usually costs at least one weekend.

For brands purchasing Custom Packaging Products, this workflow should be part of the sourcing conversation, not an afterthought after the box is already built. A supplier in Shenzhen can often quote a basic recycled carton at $0.15 per unit for 5000 pieces, but the certification-ready version with a compliant coating and documented ink system may land closer to $0.22 per unit.

Packaging type	Typical review complexity	Common bottleneck	Approximate review window
Corrugated shipper	Low	Ink coverage or wet-strength additives	2–4 weeks
Folding carton	Medium	Coatings, foils, labels	3–6 weeks
Flexible pouch	High	Multi-layer film structure	4–8+ weeks
Mailer with inserts	Medium	Mixed inserts or adhesives	3–7 weeks

Certification is not static. If a supplier changes the coating formula, the paper source, or the adhesive system, the approval may need to be revisited. That is why what is recyclable packaging certification is also a maintenance question, not just a launch question. Packaging has a habit of changing the minute nobody’s looking, especially when a converter in Jiangsu substitutes a second-source varnish without flagging it.

Key Factors That Influence Certification Approval

The biggest driver is material composition. Mono-material structures usually have a cleaner path than mixed-material laminates. A 350gsm paperboard carton with water-based inks and a recyclable coating will generally be easier to evaluate than a carton with a metalized layer and plastic window. That is the practical core of what is recyclable packaging certification: the simpler the material story, the easier the proof. A clean fiber structure from a mill in Guangdong is often easier to document than a mixed-substrate build assembled across three countries.

Inks, adhesives, and coatings are where many good-looking packages get tripped up. I’ve seen brands spend $0.24/unit on a gorgeous matte soft-touch finish, then discover the coating made fiber recovery harder in testing. Was the finish worth it? Sometimes yes, if the brand lives or dies by premium shelf appeal. But the question should be answered with data, not instinct. If you ask what is recyclable packaging certification during design, these finishing choices become quantified trade-offs. A water-based matte varnish applied in Shenzhen can behave very differently from a UV layer applied in Osaka.

Format matters too. Folding cartons, mailers, wraps, pouches, and corrugated boxes are often assessed under different criteria because their end-of-life pathways differ. A mailer that performs well in curbside paper recycling might not translate to a coated folded carton used for beauty products. That is why what is recyclable packaging certification cannot be copied from one format to another like a template. A 120gsm kraft mailer with a tear strip and a release liner is not the same as a 450gsm luxury carton, even if both are brown and both are “paper” on a sales sheet.

Regional recycling infrastructure is a quiet but decisive factor. A package approved in one market may not qualify elsewhere if collection and sorting capabilities differ. For example, access to optical sorting equipment, bale quality requirements, or fiber mill capacity can change the outcome. I’ve seen multinational brands learn this the hard way when a package approved for one territory had to be relabeled for another. If you only remember one thing about what is recyclable packaging certification, remember that the recycling system outside the package matters as much as the package itself, from Berlin’s paper stream to Dallas’s mixed recovery system.

Cost is another reality check. Certification-related testing, redesign, documentation, and sample production add expense. A simple evaluation might cost a few hundred dollars in internal labor plus outside fees, while a redesign-heavy project can run much higher because of tool changes, new proofs, and revised inventory. I’ve seen a brand spend $4,800 on testing and documentation only to avoid a $38,000 reprint after a retailer questioned the claim. That is why what is recyclable packaging certification is often cheaper than failure. For a 10,000-unit run, the incremental cost can be smaller than the freight bill on a single avoided rework shipment.

There is also alignment with sustainability claims. The package needs to match what the brand says on-pack, in ecommerce listings, and in sales decks. If the box says recyclable but the certification only applies to the paperboard, the discrepancy creates risk. The same is true for branded packaging claims that are repeated by distributors and marketplace sellers. A claim inconsistency can spread quickly, and then you’re not just explaining what is recyclable packaging certification; you’re cleaning up a messaging problem across Amazon listings, wholesale sell sheets, and in-store POS materials.

For comparison, here is how three common paths tend to look in practice:

Path	Best for	Typical cost pressure	Risk level	Comment
Paper-based certification	Cartons, mailers, corrugated	Moderate	Lower	Usually the easiest route if coatings and adhesives are simple
Flexible packaging review	Pouches, wraps, sachets	Higher	Medium to high	Material combinations often trigger redesigns
Component-level approval	Labels, closures, liners	Moderate	Medium	Useful when the base package is fine but one component needs proof

So if someone asks you what is recyclable packaging certification, the honest answer is that it’s partly technical, partly geographic, and partly strategic. It is never just a checkbox. It is closer to a controlled specification review, often involving supplier samples from two or three cities before the final version is signed off.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Recyclable Packaging Certification

Start with a full audit. I mean full. Pull apart the package and list every visible and hidden component: substrate, ink system, adhesive, lamination, coating, label, liner, closure, insert, and any additive or barrier layer. If you ask what is recyclable packaging certification can be done without this audit, the answer is usually no. The details are the project, and in many cases the details determine whether a carton made in Ningbo passes or fails.

Step 1: Audit the current package. In one client meeting, I watched a brand team realize their “paper” mailer had a thin plastic tear strip and a glossy barrier patch on the bottom seam. Neither was mentioned in the first spec sheet. That kind of omission is common. Certification reviewers will find it, and they will ask for it. A proper audit prevents that awkward pause and usually takes one to two working days if the supplier has complete drawings.

Step 2: Choose the Right pathway. The right certification depends on geography, packaging format, and material type. A UK retail program may require a different evidence trail than a North American ecommerce mailer. That’s why what is recyclable packaging certification must be matched to the market, not guessed from a supplier’s generic statement. A carton destined for London may need different claim language than the same SKU sold in Sydney.

Step 3: Request pre-assessment feedback. This is one of the smartest moves a brand can make. A pre-check often reveals obvious trouble spots before you spend money on formal testing. I’ve seen suppliers quote $1,200 for testing that would have led to a rejection because the ink coverage exceeded the acceptable threshold. Pre-assessment saves time and credibility. It can also prevent the waste of 1,000 printed samples if a foil area needs to be removed.

Step 4: Redesign if needed. If the review flags a problem, redesign with the recycler in mind. That may mean swapping a foil hot stamp for a printed metallic ink, replacing a plastic window with a die-cut opening, or moving from a multi-layer pouch to a mono-material option. This is where what is recyclable packaging certification becomes a design tool. Good packaging design gets simpler, not busier, and the smarter teams often cut one or two nonessential finishes right away.

Step 5: Collect documentation. Gather technical data sheets, supplier declarations, manufacturing specs, and sample builds. If a supplier cannot provide consistent documentation, expect delays. In my experience, the projects that move fastest are the ones with clean paper trails from day one. Certification reviewers like evidence. They do not like guesswork. They especially do not like “we think it’s 100gsm, maybe 120gsm” coming from a factory office in Foshan.

Step 6: Submit samples and track revisions. Be ready for iterative feedback. Few packages sail through unchanged if they include specialty finishes or custom structures. You may need updated artwork, revised claims, or a new construction drawing. That is not failure. It is part of what what is recyclable packaging certification actually involves. A standard revision cycle can add 3–5 business days, which sounds minor until your print slot is on Wednesday.

Step 7: Finalize claim language. Once approved, the claim on the pack, the ecommerce listing, and the sales sheet should all say the same thing. If the certification allows “widely recyclable” but the marketplace copy says “100% recyclable everywhere,” you have created a future problem. Certification only works when the language is consistent. If needed, write one master claim and adapt it by region, not by department.

Step 8: Plan for change control. This is the piece many teams skip. If the printer changes, the ink vendor changes, or the paper mill changes, you may need to revalidate. I’ve seen a brand lose six weeks because a substitute adhesive was used on a reprint run and nobody updated the file. That is why what is recyclable packaging certification should be built into your change-control checklist. A change made in one production week can invalidate a decision made three months earlier.

Timelines depend on complexity, but here is a practical view:

1. Simple paper-based pack with complete specs: 2–4 weeks.
2. Custom printed boxes with one tricky finish: 4–6 weeks.
3. Multi-component retail packaging with redesigns: 6–12 weeks.

My advice? Build the schedule backward from the launch date, then add a buffer of at least 10 business days. People hate hearing that. They hate delays more. If you are serious about what is recyclable packaging certification, then timing has to be treated as a real production variable, right alongside substrate thickness and unit cost. On a 25,000-piece run, one extra approval cycle can cost more than the board itself.

Common Mistakes Brands Make With Recyclable Packaging Certification

The most common mistake is treating “recyclable” and “certified recyclable” as interchangeable. They are not. A claim can be directionally true and still fail under review. That is where brands get pushed into revisions they did not budget for. When people ask what is recyclable packaging certification protects against, this is the first answer. I’ve seen a claim get rejected over a single laminated insert that was never listed in the product spec.

Another mistake is ignoring the small stuff. Metallic foils, labels, windows, zipper components, and even certain adhesives can ruin an otherwise acceptable structure. I once reviewed a clean-looking folding carton where the only issue was a high-tack label on the side panel. That single component changed the outcome. Small details are not small in certification. A 25mm label in the wrong place can matter more than a 350gsm board spec that looks perfect on paper.

Choosing packaging only for shelf appeal is another trap. Beautiful matters. I’ve spent enough time on packaging floors to know that retailers and consumers do respond to finish, texture, and structure. But if the visual story conflicts with end-of-life performance, you are borrowing trouble. The better question is how to balance packaging design, function, and recyclability in one spec. That is the real purpose behind what is recyclable packaging certification. A premium soft-touch finish applied in a Shanghai print house may look extraordinary, but if it blocks fiber recovery, the visual win is temporary.

Brands also forget to verify the claim in the exact market where the package will be sold. A certification pathway in one region does not automatically transfer. A carton approved for one country may not fit local collection rules in another. I’ve seen teams assume global portability and then spend days rewriting country-specific claims. If you ask what is recyclable packaging certification means globally, the answer is: not the same thing everywhere. A label approved in Paris can require different wording in Chicago or Sydney.

Then there is the timing problem. People underestimate how long it takes to gather samples, revise artwork, coordinate suppliers, and wait for approval cycles. Even a straightforward review can stall if the spec sheet is incomplete. One purchasing manager told me, “We thought it would just be a paperwork exercise.” That optimism cost them a full print slot. If you’re evaluating what is recyclable packaging certification, assume more coordination than you think, especially if the converter in Shenzhen is waiting on final copy from a team in London.

Finally, teams forget to keep documentation current when suppliers change. A new coating supplier, a different adhesive formula, or a second-source paperboard can all alter the approved structure. This is especially risky in high-volume retail packaging programs. The certification is only as good as the version you are actually producing. A switch from one FSC-certified mill in Hunan to another mill in Hebei may seem minor until the finished carton behaves differently in testing.

Expert Tips for Smarter Custom Packaging Decisions

Start with the end-of-life pathway first. That sounds obvious, but most teams still design from the outside in: look, print, then sustainability. I’d reverse that. Decide how the package should be collected and processed, then build the structure around that. If you approach what is recyclable packaging certification this way, you reduce the chance of late-stage redesigns. A 0.3 mm change in board caliper at the start can save a whole round of reproofing later.

Ask suppliers for component-level documentation early. Not generic PDFs. Specifics. Paper weight, coating type, adhesive family, ink system, liner material, and manufacturing notes. The cleanest projects I’ve seen had documentation before the first proof was approved. That paper trail often separates a two-week review from a six-week cleanup. For custom printed boxes, those details matter more than most people expect, especially when the carton is being produced in batches of 5,000 across multiple print houses.

Use certification as a design filter, not just a compliance gate. In one project, certification feedback pushed the team to remove an unnecessary insert and simplify the folding sequence. Material usage dropped by 12%, and packing labor got easier. That is the kind of outcome brands miss when they ask only what is recyclable packaging certification costs instead of what it can improve. In that case, the team saved roughly $0.08 per unit and cut assembly time by 18 seconds per carton.

Compare certification cost with the cost of failure. A redesign might add $0.06 to $0.14 per unit. Certification fees might add a few thousand dollars. But a failed claim can trigger reprints, retailer complaints, and inventory scrappage. I’ve seen a brand eat $22,000 in obsolete packaging because a claim was challenged after launch. That was avoidable. This is why what is recyclable packaging certification should be viewed as an insurance policy with design benefits, not as a line item you cut to protect margin.

Build a packaging spec sheet that tracks versions. Keep one master file with material names, finishing details, supplier names, and approved claim language. Then update it every time the structure changes. It sounds tedious. It saves money. When you handle multiple SKUs, especially across branded packaging families, version control is the difference between confidence and confusion. A single source of truth can prevent a reprint in Cleveland from being built on a claim approved for a carton made in Shenzhen.

Think beyond the box. Shipping efficiency, storage footprint, consumer instructions, and source reduction all matter too. A lighter package that still performs can reduce freight cost and material use at the same time. If you’re buying through Custom Packaging Products, ask how the certified structure affects carton fit, pallet count, and damage rates. What is recyclable packaging certification really doing for you if the pack breaks in transit? Not much. And then everyone gets to start over, which is a special kind of packaging misery.

Here are the questions I ask clients before they print:

• Does every component have a documented specification?
• Is the claim valid in the exact sales market?
• Have labels, inks, and coatings been reviewed together?
• Can the supplier support redesigns if one element fails?
• Are the ecommerce product pages using the same claim language as the carton?

Certification works best when it is treated as part of the broader packaging strategy, not a late-stage sustainability patch. That is the mindset shift I wish more teams would make. It turns what is recyclable packaging certification from a defensive question into a design advantage. The brands that build it in from the first dieline tend to ship cleaner claims and fewer emergency fixes.

Next Steps: Verify, Document, and Test Before You Print

Begin by reviewing your current packaging line and marking every SKU that carries a recyclability claim. Don’t just flag the hero products. Include seasonal items, club-store sizes, and ecommerce shipper formats. In my experience, the hidden risks usually sit in the smaller-volume SKUs that nobody revisits for 18 months. If you’re asking what is recyclable packaging certification applies to first, start with the highest-visibility claims and the most complex structures. A Christmas gift box and a year-round shipping carton can carry very different risk profiles.

Next, match each SKU to the likely pathway and gather supplier documentation before design lock. That means technical sheets, component declarations, and any prior recyclability evidence. If you are sourcing custom printed boxes, ask whether the coating, ink, and glue system have been used in a similar approved build. It saves time. It also prevents false assumptions about what is recyclable packaging certification will accept. A supplier in Jiaxing may have the data already; you just need to ask for it before the first proof.

Run a pre-check on materials, coatings, and labels before tooling or print production begins. This is where you catch the oddball issues: a metallic effect that looks small but covers too much surface, a label liner that isn’t compatible, or a barrier layer nobody mentioned in the sales quote. I’ve watched a $0.03/unit material substitution turn into a full carton rework. The pre-check is cheaper than a reprint, and far less annoying than explaining to finance why a “tiny change” ate the margin. On a 10,000-piece run, that small change can become a $300 problem before anybody notices.

Set a realistic timeline. Allow time for review, testing, revisions, and claim approval. If the package is simple, that might mean a few weeks. If the structure includes multiple materials or a premium finish, add more time. There is no prize for pretending the process is faster than it is. The smart move is to protect your launch calendar before a certification delay does it for you. A typical paper-based review can close in 12–15 business days from proof approval, but only if the documentation is complete.

Create a final packaging checklist so the structure, artwork, and sales copy all tell the same story. That checklist should include approved materials, supplier names, claim wording, region-specific notes, and a change-control owner. If you ever need to answer what is recyclable packaging certification to a retailer, a regulator, or your own sales team, that checklist becomes your proof pack. In practice, it is the difference between a quick answer and a week of back-and-forth across time zones.

My view after years around converters, designers, and procurement teams is simple: certification is not paperwork theater. It is a filter that forces packaging to be honest. Sometimes that honesty reveals a better box. Sometimes it reveals a bad claim. Either way, it saves you from guessing. And in custom packaging, guessing is expensive. A spec written in Milan and produced in Guangdong should be able to survive actual use, actual sorting, and actual scrutiny.

If you are planning a new launch, or revisiting an old structure that suddenly needs to pass a sustainability review, make what is recyclable packaging certification a design requirement from the start. The brands that do this well tend to ship cleaner claims, fewer revisions, and better package branding outcomes. That is not luck. It is process, usually supported by a clear spec sheet, a disciplined supplier, and a realistic 30-day window before print.

If you remember only one thing, make it this: what is recyclable packaging certification is not a sticker, not a slogan, and not a shortcut. It is the evidence that your packaging claim can survive real-world scrutiny, from factory floor to retailer shelf to recycling stream. For custom packaging brands, that evidence is worth more than the shine on the box, especially when the box was built in one city and sold in another. So before you print, verify every component, document the approved claim, and test the structure against the actual recycling path in the market where it will be sold.