Why do plastic bags exported to the EU require EN15343 certification?

EN15343 This is a certification standard for plastic recycling, established by the EU based on its internal regulations CEN/CENELEC It mainly involves the traceability of plastic recycling and the accurate calculation of recycled material content. Plastic recycling aims to conserve resources, reduce the consumption of raw materials and energy, while minimizing harmful emissions to air, soil, and water, and any impact on human health.

According to CEN/CENELEC the provisions, national standards organizations in European member states are responsible for enforcing this standard.

EN15343 The standard is issued by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) It establishes a systematic and traceable assessment system to ensure the quality and origin of recycled plastics.

Therefore, recycled plastic content certification and the traceability of recycled plastics are EN15343 two main functions of the certification certificate.

According to CEN/CENELEC Internal regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries must enforce EN15343 the standard: UK, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

To reduce plastic packaging tax, overseas manufacturers must provide documentary evidence of recycled material content to their customers in the UK and Spain.

In the UK, overseas manufacturers can provide proof of recycled material content or conduct a supply chain audit. This evidence can be provided by the importer or a third-party organization with the relevant qualifications.

In Spain, from 2024 year, manufacturers must provide UNE EN 15343:2008 compliant assessment certification for the traceability of plastic recycling and recycled material content. This certification must be issued by an authorized certification body. According to the Spanish plastic tax law, the certification can be issued by entities recognized by certification bodies in Spain or other EU member states. This will help promote the large-scale operation of the recycling industry in developing countries, while reducing transaction costs when trading with EU countries.

Obtaining EN15343 certification not only provides the market with high-quality recycled and recyclable products but also helps all customers exporting to the EU respond to the "European Plastics Strategy" and creates opportunities for companies to avoid the increasingly stringent plastic taxes in the EU.

Currently, in major plastic recycling countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK, ， passing EN 15343 certification has become a passport for companies to enter the European market. Furthermore, according to Spanish regulations, from 2024 year, the content of recycled plastics in non-reusable plastic packaging exported to Spain must be certified based on UNE-EN-15343 standards to apply for plastic tax exemption.

Shunxingyuan Packaging has ITUV issued EN15343 certification certificate. The recyclable plastic bags it produces have various bag types, transparency, powder-free, easy opening, recyclability, and clear and firm printing, and Shunxingyuan Packaging's EN15343 certification certificate covers different recycled material ratios and materials, 30% RECYCLED、50% RECYCLED、70% RECYCLED、100% RECYCLED many ratios for you to choose from, and also LDPE 、 HDPE 、 MDPE 、 PPE 、 CPE 、 PP 、 EVA 、 OPP 、 PET and many other materials, as well as adhesive bags, bone-attached bags, stand-up pouches, zipper bags, bellows bags, flat bags, vacuum bags, wire bags, hook bags, button bags, card head bags, paper card bags, hook bags, shrink film, stretch film, and many other bag types to meet the requirements of different customers for recyclable plastic bags.