Designed to be Reusable
The DESIGNED TO BE REUSABLE – AIMPLAS certificate is the only one approved by AIMPLAS based on legislation applicable to plastic materials intended to come into repeated contact with food, which guarantees both the food safety and functionality of these products after successive uses following dishwasher washing.
More stringent European directives on the circular economy of reusable products prompted the creation of the DESIGNED TO BE REUSABLE – AIMPLAS certificate, which provides greater transparency and information while guaranteeing the rigorous application of a set of standardized measures agreed at European level to safeguard consumer safety when using reusable plastic materials for food contact.
The certificate is the result of 30 years’ experience in the sector of food contact plastic materials and the pioneering work of our expert team. It is based on Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011, Regulation (EC) No. 282/2008, as well as recently issued standard UNE 53928:2020 on reusable plastic tableware for food use. All this involves a detailed study of the inertness and chemical toxicity of plastic materials during reuse, as well as their functionality after repeated dishwasher washing under standardized conditions.
The DESIGNED TO BE REUSABLE – AIMPLAS certificate enables manufacturers of plastic materials for food applications to attain a better position for their products compared to their competitors by guaranteeing the functionality and food safety of their reusable articles.
What the trademark means
The DESIGNED TO BE REUSABLE – AIMPLAS mark means that AIMPLAS, as an international benchmark research centre, guarantees that the article in question was conceived, designed and marketed so that, during its life cycle, it can safely be reused several times for food contact, and can be subjected to a washing process between consecutive uses.
Benefits of Certification
1. FOR THE MANUFACTURER
DESIGNED TO BE REUSABLE – AIMPLAS is a differentiating mark to better position your product compared to the competition. In addition, the list of companies awarded the mark and their certified products is available for public access on the AIMPLAS website. This is how we spread the word about the products certified in accordance with the requirements applicable to plastic materials for food contact that are suitable for reuse.
2. FOR THE CONSUMER
Unlike many products labelled reusable at supermarkets, the DESIGNED TO BE REUSABLE – AIMPLAS mark guarantees consumers that they are purchasing a product that is suitable both in terms of food safety and functionality because it can be reused in contact with food several times after washing in the dishwasher.
3. FOR SOCIETY
In keeping with our commitment to society and the environment, this certificate aims to help reduce the generation of waste and its environmental impact, and to encourage the shift from disposable tableware to reusable items as a means of fostering a true circular economy in the plastics sector.
How to get certified
Manufacturers interested in being certified under the DESIGNED TO BE REUSABLE – AIMPLAS trademark must have their products certified in a phased study carried out at the AIMPLAS laboratories, or at least under AIMPLAS supervision.
Our Experience
Our Food Contact & Packaging Laboratory is staffed by a large team of specialists in plastic materials for food contact. Every day, they provide personalized advice to a number of companies that manufacture materials and articles intended for food contact. Rigorous testing is also carried out on a wide range of products.
As a technology centre, we have more than 30 years’ experience in the plastics industry providing solutions to companies all along the value chain, including suppliers of raw materials, processors and end users.
Our 10,500 m2 facilities are fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Our laboratories also have the highest number of accreditations for plastics in accordance with standard ISO/IEC 17025.
Team
