The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and Fibre Box Association (FBA) have jointly published an updated Voluntary Standard designed to assess whether coated or treated corrugated fiberboard can be repulped and recycled in the existing Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) stream.
The revised Voluntary Standard for Repulping and Recycling Coated or Treated Corrugated Fiberboard and its Equivalents provides a validated testing protocol to help the paper and packaging industry ensure their products meet recyclability requirements. The update reflects advances in mill technology and modern manufacturing practices.
“This Voluntary Standard will help our industry develop innovative coatings and treatments for cardboard packaging to meet customer needs, while also ensuring they can be validated as repulpable and recyclable,” said Terry Webber, Vice President, Industry Affairs at AF&PA.
Cardboard with protective coatings is often used for transporting moisture-sensitive products like produce, seafood, or meat. However, these treatments can complicate recycling unless properly formulated. The updated guidelines help manufacturers verify compatibility with conventional recycling systems.
“The repulpability and recyclability test procedures in the revised Voluntary Standard deliver results that are valid, reliable, and repeatable,” said Bob McIlvaine, President and CEO of the FBA. “This ensures our industry can repulp that packaging and turn it into other products.”
The new document builds on the 2013 standard jointly issued by the AF&PA and FBA and is now available for free download to industry stakeholders.
The update reflects the industry’s ongoing efforts to improve recovery rates and support sustainable packaging solutions through innovation and science-based evaluation methods.
About AF&PA
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) advocates for public policies that promote economic growth and sustainability in the U.S. forest products industry. The sector supports over 925,000 jobs and produces more than $435 billion in products annually, contributing 4.7% to U.S. manufacturing GDP.
About FBA
The Fibre Box Association (FBA) represents North American manufacturers of corrugated packaging, promoting the benefits of fiber-based solutions and advancing industry practices in recycling and sustainability.
