Sorting labels derived from data you already hold
The EU's harmonised sorting labels (PPWR Article 12) become mandatory in August 2028. Merchant Packaging derives the correct label for every component from its material code, format, and composition - no manual tagging required.
What are sorting labels?
Under PPWR Article 12, all packaging placed on the EU market must carry a harmonised sorting label - a consumer-facing pictogram telling people which waste stream to use. The JRC technical proposal (JRC141706) defines 20 labels across 10 material groups, covering everything from cardboard and glass to compostable and hazardous packaging.
These labels are not the same as the PP01-PP12 material identification codes. PP01-PP12 tell you what the packaging is made of. Sorting labels tell the consumer where to put it. The mapping between them depends on multiple attributes: material, format, rigidity, glass colour, composite type, compostability, and whether the packaging contains hazardous substances.
How Merchant Packaging handles this
The sorting label is never manually set. It is derived automatically from the attributes already captured on each component.
- Material code (PP01-PP12)
- Packaging format (rigid, flexible, etc.)
- Glass colour (clear, green, brown) where applicable
- Composite type and dominant material
- Compostability certification (home, industrial, or none)
- Hazardous waste flag
The system applies a decision tree to these attributes and returns the correct sorting label, the label group, and the associated colour code. This data is exposed on the API alongside the component data, ready for your artwork or labelling team to reference.
What we provide
- The derived sorting label code and group for every component
- A reference image of the label pictogram for your repro team
- API output (JSON) including sortingLabel, sortingLabelGroup, and sortingLabelColour
- Automatic recomputation when component attributes change
Formal label identifiers will be assigned when the Commission adopts the implementing act. We will adopt the official codes as soon as they are published.
Get ahead of the 2028 labelling deadline
Tell us about your packaging range and we will show you the sorting labels derived from your own component data.
Southampton SO14 3TG, UK