Fedrigoni Special Papers says 99.9% of its tested specialty paper portfolio has been certified as recyclable following a year-long assessment based on the Aticelca method.
The result represents an early milestone toward the company’s ESG 2030 objective of achieving certified recyclability across its entire portfolio. The assessment forms part of Fedrigoni’s Rethink Eco Design and Circular Approach program, which focuses on applying eco-design and circular economy principles to product development and industrial practices.
Fedrigoni selected the Aticelca 501 method to obtain independent, third-party verification rather than relying on self-declared recyclability claims. The standardized laboratory testing simulates the industrial paper recycling process to determine whether paper products can be effectively recycled under industrial mill conditions.
The company said the Aticelca method is aligned with the recyclability methodology developed by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), which could support future harmonization of testing standards across the European Union.
Fedrigoni developed the testing approach with Italian paper industry association Assocarta and Aticelca. To assess a broad product range efficiently, the protocol followed a worst-case approach that tested the most technically challenging paper categories first.
Particular attention was given to Fedrigoni’s plastic-to-paper solutions for packaging applications. These products are designed to replace plastic substrates while providing comparable functional and barrier properties. Their certification indicates that recyclability can be maintained in complex paper-based structures developed for demanding packaging uses.
Fedrigoni has made recyclability its primary end-of-life metric, ahead of compostability and biodegradability, because recycling allows cellulose fibre to remain in the production cycle. The company acknowledged that fibres cannot be recycled indefinitely because they shorten and lose strength during repeated processing, making responsibly sourced virgin fibre necessary to sustain the paper recycling system.
The initiative also anticipates changes under the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. The regulation requires packaging placed on the EU market to be designed for recycling, with recyclability performance grades applying from 2030, according to the European Commission.
Fedrigoni plans to continue testing and product development as it works toward its goal of designing its full specialty paper portfolio for end-of-life recycling and recovery by 2030.
Fedrigoni is a global producer of specialty papers and self-adhesive materials serving applications including packaging, publishing, graphics, brand protection, labels and visual communication. Founded in Verona, Italy, in 1888, the group employs approximately 6,000 people and operates 73 production plants, slitting facilities and distribution centres, with sales in 132 countries.
