Sun Chemical Receives APR Design for SunCure EcoPlast

Sun Chemical announced that its SunCure EcoPlast direct print ink technology attained APR Design for Recyclability Recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). This marks a significant milestone for inks designed for direct printing on rigid polypropylene (PP) packaging articles.

According to APR, SunCure EcoPlast “meets or exceeds the voluntary requirements for APR Design for Recyclability Recognition” following evaluation against industry-recognized criteria for plastics recycling compatibility. 

The technology was tested on PP articles at realistic decoration conditions for direct-printed applications. 

This recognition represents an important advancement in enabling recyclability for rigid PP packaging, including applications such as direct-printed foodservice cups, where inks are integral to the package and must be considered within the overall design-for-recycling framework.

“Recognition under APR’s most stringent Critical Guidance criteria demonstrates that exceptional application performance and compatibility with downstream recycling processes can be accomplished in parallel,” said Nikola Juhasz, Global Technical Director, Sustainability at Sun Chemical. “The innovative EcoPlast technology integrates these requirements at the design stage, enabling the transition toward simplified, mono-material packaging systems in rigid PP.”

“We are especially grateful to tms for their outstanding partnership throughout our development process,” said Bob O’Boyle, Senior Key Account Manager at Sun Chemical. “Their team went above and beyond—coordinating critical test work, supplying the samples and materials needed to complete the evaluation, and providing valuable regulatory guidance along the way. Their knowledge and support were instrumental in helping bring this recognition to life, and they have been true champions of innovation and recyclability from start to finish.”