WPO Launches Chinese Version of Recycling-Focused Packaging Design Guide

WPO Launches Chinese Translation of Its Recycling-Focused Packaging Design Guide

The launch was spearheaded by WPO Vice President for Sustainability and Save Food, Nerida Kelton, alongside Li Hua, president of the China Packaging Federation (CPF), and Jasper Liu, assistant director at the MOFCOM Export Commodities Technology Service Center, China National Export Commodities Packaging Research Institute (CEPI), representing key WPO member organizations. Kelton stated that the interpreted guide will support the advancement of the uptake of circular principles across China’s vast packaging and production sectors by creating widely available best-practice controls.

“Circular project is only operative when the pertinent collection, recycling and sorting streams exist,” she expressed. “To be capable of applying a recyclable packaging pattern, a certain important knowledge of recycling and sorting procedures is necessary. Packaging must consequently be appropriate for state-of-the-art recycling and sorting procedures, in adding to its basic functions.”

The attendant offers brand owners, designers, and packaging designers a clear entry point to better understand packaging recyclability, showcasing global best-practice examples and outlining how design decisions can be linked to real-world recycling potential. Users are empowered to modify the supervision of the local and regional resource recovery substructure.

Kelton expressed she was “extremely proud” to introduce the Chinese translation, acknowledging the widespread partnership behind the project.

“A special thank you to both CPF and CEPI for their hard work on the translation, and specifically, Jasper Liu, who controlled the project, and supportive translators Guo Zhenmei, Wu Xiaoqing, and Melody Wong,” she expressed in a LinkedIn post following the event.

The Chinese edition is now accessible on the WPO website and on CEPI and CPF’s WeChat platforms. The introduction drew on WPO board members from several regions, with representatives from Japan (Sonoyama San) and Poland (Krzysztof Niczyporuk) also appearing at the forum.

Kelton expressed that the translation marks a significant step in helping more brands across Asia become “recycle ready,” consolidating worldwide efforts on packaging patterns for circularity.

Circular Design is only operative when the applicable collection, sorting, and recycling streams are in place. To apply a recyclable packaging pattern, a firm foundation in recycling and sorting processes is important. Packaging must, consequently, be appropriate for state-of-the-art recycling and sorting processes, as well as for its elementary functions.