COCET provides all the documents you need to improve the way your packaging is sorted:
- Protocols to show you the framework of the various tests and their methodology.
- COCET Notices outlining the lessons learned from the tests.
COCET Notices pertain solely to the behaviour of the packaging in sorting centres and provide no indication of the impact of the issue studied on the process performed at the recycling plant.
The work carried out by COCET and the materials committees (COTREP, CEREC, ALUTREC, COTREM) is combined into designated matrices to draw up comprehensive eco-design recommendations, ensuring the packaging’s compatibility with the sorting and recycling process.
You can find these matrices here:
- For plastic packaging: www.cotrep.fr
- For paper/cardboard packaging: www.citeo.com
- For flexible aluminium packaging: www.alutrec.fr
- For rigid metal packaging: www.cotrem-emballages.fr
FOCUS ON DARK PACKAGING
Used across many industries, dark-colored paper‑cardboard, rigid plastic, or flexible plastic packaging (black, brown, dark blue, dark green, etc.) is widely considered a market standard. However, these dark pigments can prevent packaging from being properly sorted and therefore recycled: dark colorants often absorb infrared radiation, making it difficult for sorting equipment to correctly identify the material. As a result, these items are frequently misdirected and poorly recycled. This is particularly true for carbon black, a pigment commonly used to achieve dark shades.
To address this issue, the COCET recommends the following actions:
1. Prioritize the use of non‑dark colorants (e.g., red, green, blue, or transparent)
2. If dark colorant is still used, follow COCET’s guideline’s:
– For dark flexible plastic and cardboard packaging, general COCET Report specify eco-design recommandations required to ensure proper sorting of these packaging (AG8 and AG10, respectively).
– For dark rigid plastic packaging, a testing protocole – the Dark packaging protocole – is available to help industrials independently evaluate the detectability of dark colorants. If the colorant is validated, a COCET Technical Notice is delivered and allow industrials to avoid the Citeo eco-contribution Penalty associated with non-detectable dark plastic. Additionally, all dark colorant validates by COCET are listed in the Positive List, which industrials can consult to select dark colorants that are already approved for detectability.
Please find all referenced documents on Notices and Ressources.
Note: Historically, the topic of dark rigid plastic packaging was handled by the COTREP. Since 2025, COCET – the committee dedicated to evaluating packaging behaviour in sorting centers – has taken over these activities.
> To consul Technical Notices delivered befor 2025, refer to the COTREP page.
> To consult Technical Notices delivered since taking over the subject, refer to Notices and Ressources.