en.Wedoany.com Reported - Returpack/Pantamera, the operator of Sweden's deposit return system, has become the first deposit return system in Europe to receive RecyClass certification. The recycled plastic produced from its PET bottle sorting process has been proven to meet food safety requirements and comply with EU traceability regulations.

The certification is based on EU Regulation 2022/1616, which governs the collection, pre-treatment, and traceability of recycled plastics used in food and beverage packaging. This certification confirms that the recycled materials from the Returpack system are traceable, food-safe, and ready to re-enter the supply chain. The audit was conducted by QHSEcert GmbH.

According to Returpack, the deposit return system is structurally well-suited for RecyClass certification because each container is identified by a barcode at the collection point. This mechanism helps ensure a clean, uncontaminated material flow throughout the supply chain.

Sara Wester Bergendorff, Head of Sustainability and Quality at Returpack, stated that this certification confirms the company has strong control and traceability across the entire process—from collection and sorting to delivery to material recyclers—and also proves that its working methods and processes meet high standards of quality and safety. She noted that the structural advantage of the deposit system lies in the fact that the collected plastic is a clean, identifiable single-material stream from the start. This certification provides material customers and beverage producers with the documentation needed to reuse the material in new packaging.

Returpack previously reported that the company collected over 3 billion PET bottles and aluminum cans in 2025, an increase of 130 million units compared to the previous year. Sweden's recycling rate also rose to 88.4%, very close to the national target of 90%.

In other news, TOMRA Reuse announced the installation of two collection machines at Freiburg Central Station in Germany. Combined with the existing RECUP network, these machines aim to provide consumers with a convenient way to return cups without needing to find participating cafes.

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