Plastilene receives the ISCC PLUS International Certification

Our plastic films made with recycled feedstock received the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, a certificate issued by the international institution Kiwa. This achievement is a step forward in our sustainability efforts and achieving a circular economy in plastics.

It is important to note that this is our first international certification for pcr content in plastic films, reinforcing our commitment to promoting sustainable practices.

What is the ISCC Certification?

The ISCC is a third party certification that proves that we meet the strict requirements regarding sustainability and traceability of our products. This is especially relevant to plastic recycling since it guarantees that the materials used meet international standards of sustainability and come from verified post consumer sources.

The journey towards the ISCC certification has been rigorous. It has meant collaborating with different stakeholders: clients who purchase the product, the producer (in this case, Plastilene), and the certifying body. Kiwa is a certifying body based in the Netherlands with a presence in 40 countries, including Colombia, and was in charge of auditing and certifying Plastilene.

In Colombia, Plastilene is one of the three first plastic companies to receive this important certification and recognition.

It took around a year to implement the ISCC requirements, a period during which Plastilene worked tirelessly to close the gap between its current practices and what the certification required. This process included understanding the requirements to become certified, as well as the evaluation of the existing processes and the implementation of necessary improvements to fulfill the standards. All this work ensured the certification of our films with at least 20% PCR.

The importance of mass balance and traceability

During the audit, Kiwa used different tools to ensure the fulfillment of the ISCC criteria.
On one hand, mass balance guaranteed that the amount of recycled raw materials that entered the production process was coherent with the final amount, ensuring the recycled content claims are true.

On the other hand, the traceability strategy follows the origin of the recycled materials until the finished product to ensure that the entire process is up to the established standards. Through this every agent in the chain is backed up by a process that guarantees transparency and excellent quality.

A process that is continuously improving

The ISCC certification consolidates Grupo Plastilene’s positioning as a reference in the plastics recycling industry in Colombia. This achievement is a response to the growing demand from clients for more sustainable products. We see this as the starting point for the development of innovative solutions with food grade and food contact safe advanced recycling feedstock.

Besides, the accreditation reinforces the trust from clients on the quality and excellence in our products and highlights the high standards that the company will keep promoting in all of its operations.

The certificate was awarded during the Plastics Recycling LATAM 2024. Ricardo Estrada, Vice President of Sustainability and Global Procurement of the Plastilene Group, received the award in Mexico City during a panel discussion on Success Stories of Recycling in Latin America.