Henkel expands EU packaging testing capabilities in Asia

Henkel’s Packaging Recyclab laboratory in Shanghai has received accreditation from the cyclos-HTP Institute (CHI), allowing the facility to conduct EU-recognized paper packaging recyclability testing and issue external assessment reports for customers across the Asia-Pacific region.

The accreditation provides packaging manufacturers, converters and brand owners in Asia with local access to testing aligned with European requirements. It comes as companies exporting to Europe face increasingly detailed recyclability obligations under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

European recyclability testing becomes available locally

Packaging companies in China and other Asia-Pacific markets have traditionally had to send samples to European laboratories when they required recognized recyclability assessments. Henkel’s Shanghai facility creates an alternative by allowing companies to carry out testing closer to their manufacturing and development operations.

According to Henkel, this can reduce development time and provide companies with earlier information about whether their packaging designs are suitable for the European market. The facility currently applies two recognized European paper packaging recyclability testing protocols: CEPI/4evergreen and CHI.

PPWR increases the importance of recyclability testing

The accreditation comes at a significant moment for the packaging industry. The PPWR introduces requirements covering packaging recyclability, recycled content, hazardous substances, reuse and extended producer responsibility. For companies exporting packaging or packaged products to Europe, compliance is increasingly becoming part of the product development process rather than a final regulatory check.

Henkel argues that recyclability needs to be considered from the beginning of packaging development. The performance of a paper-based package depends not only on its fiber content, but also on components such as coatings, adhesives, inks and structural elements.

Testing evaluates the complete packaging structure

Modern fiber packaging increasingly incorporates functional components designed to improve sealing, barrier performance, printing and product protection. However, these components can influence how packaging behaves during industrial recycling processes.

Recyclability testing therefore provides packaging developers with data on the performance of the complete structure rather than simply assuming that a paper-based package is recyclable because its main substrate is fiber.

This approach can help companies identify potential problems earlier and optimize packaging designs before they reach commercial production.

Shanghai becomes part of Henkel’s global testing network

The Shanghai Packaging Recyclab forms part of Henkel’s wider global network, which also includes a facility in Düsseldorf, Germany. The Shanghai laboratory is integrated into Henkel’s Inspiration Center environment, allowing customers to work with technical specialists across different stages of packaging development.

This includes concept development, material selection, testing, recyclability assessment and optimization. The approach is intended to connect packaging design with end-of-life performance rather than treating recyclability as a separate stage after the package has already been developed.

Plastic packaging assessments planned

Henkel currently focuses the Shanghai laboratory's accredited testing capabilities on paper packaging, but the company is already preparing to expand its scope. Preparatory work is underway to introduce recyclability assessments for plastic packaging, with additional export packaging categories expected to follow.

The expansion could make the facility increasingly relevant to the region’s large packaging manufacturing base, particularly companies supplying products to European markets.

Design for recyclability gains importance

The new accreditation reflects a broader shift in the packaging industry towards design for recyclability. As regulations increasingly require evidence that packaging can be effectively recycled, companies need reliable testing methods to evaluate materials before products reach the market.

For Asia-Pacific exporters, having access to EU-recognized testing within the region could shorten the feedback loop between packaging design, laboratory assessment and commercial production. It also provides companies with a more direct way to prepare packaging for European market requirements as the PPWR becomes increasingly influential.