According to Euwid, the report analyzes how the safety of recycled plastics can be reliably assessed given their complex composition.

The recently published paper “Chemical content validation of recycled plastics” by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) examines existing approaches to identifying and controlling ingredients and highlights potential as well as their limitations, reports Euwid. According to the OECD, the safety of recycled plastics is complicated by the wide range of chemical compounds in plastics and complex material compositions. Numerous standards, certifications, and quality assurance systems for recycled plastics were already existing, the report states that their focus often does not lie on comprehensive chemical analysis. Furthermore, the analytical methods used to identify constituents—such as chromatography, mass spectrometry, or spectroscopic methods—each provided only partial information, making a combination of multiple techniques necessary. Furthermore, the report states that the properties of recycled materials depend on the specific recycling process. Mechanical recycling would face limitations with mixed or contaminated materials; while complementary solvent-based processes showed positive results, they were still in the pilot stage. Chemical recycling processes, which were associated with higher costs and energy consumption, could potentially enable higher-value applications, including food-grade applications, but are in some cases still under development.
 
Among other things, the OECD identifies further examination of product design as a potential policy option and possible course of action, which are said to require further analysis with regard to recyclability and chemical safety. In this regard, the report cites, among other things, the reduction of chemical complexity and the restriction of problematic substances as possible starting points. To this end, the development of internationally harmonized standards for chemical analysis were required as a central component. Improved transparency regarding the chemical composition of plastic products is also proposed, for example through standardized reporting systems or product passports. In addition, according to the report, downstream measures such as strengthening separate collection, expanding closed-loop systems, and further developing recycling technologies could also be examined.
 
Sources:

• euwid-recycling.de (14.4.2026)
• Image: © OECD