artience and DIC Set Common Japanese Protocol for Film Packaging Recyclability

artience group, through Toyo Ink Co., Ltd., and DIC Corporation have jointly established what they describe as the industry's first common protocol for evaluating deinking and debonding of flexible film packaging in Japan. The protocol standardizes test procedures, evaluation criteria and reporting formats so converters, brand owners and recyclers can compare recyclability on shared domestic standards. Both companies will showcase the protocol at TOKYO PACK 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight, October 14 to 16, 2026.

Key facts

Market context

Flexible film packaging is built from multilayer plastic laminates held together by adhesives and decorated with printing inks, which gives it barrier protection for food, pharmaceuticals and everyday consumer goods. That layered construction is what makes it hard to recycle, because the inks and adhesives must be separated from the base films before the plastics can be reprocessed. Demand for printing inks and laminating adhesives tracks packaging volumes in these end markets, so suppliers in this segment are closely watched for how their formulations affect recyclability. Shared test methods for deinking and debonding give converters, brand owners and recyclers a common basis for comparing designs, which can influence material choices and the economics of recycled plastic streams. Standardized evaluation tends to shift competition toward products that perform well under agreed criteria rather than under individual company tests.

Source: official release on artiencegroup.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.