Environmental labeling of our packaging materials
Müller Packaging
Abbreviations such as FE 40, FOR50, or PAP 20 may seem technical at first glance. Behind them lies a standardized system used throughout Europe that makes the packaging materials used clearly identifiable. The goal is to make it easier to collect, sort, and recycle packaging.
The basis for this system is European Commission Decision 97/129/EC, which defines numbers and abbreviations for the various types of materials. For example, PET 1 stands for polyethylene terephthalate, PAP 22 for paper, FE 40 for steel, and ALU 41 for aluminum. Glass, wood, textiles, and packaging made of multiple combined materials also receive corresponding markings.
The system generally covers all stages of packaging. This includes primary product packaging, outer packaging, as well as transport and logistics packaging. For packaging consisting of multiple components, it is therefore necessary to verify which materials the individual components are made of and how they should be correctly labeled.
The labeling system creates transparency throughout the entire supply chain. Waste management companies can better sort materials, companies gain a common language for their packaging, and consumers can more easily identify what a package is made of. However, the code alone does not indicate whether a package will actually be collected or recycled at a given location.
Decision 97/129/EC originally established the labeling system at the European level. Müller Packaging also implements it.
What packaging codes does Müller Packaging use?
Müller Packaging has been identifying the materials used in production and logistics with packaging codes since November 2022, as follows:
Products of Müller Packaging
| Steel drums – FE40 Drums made of mild steel (raw or painted), galvanized steel or stainless steel, sizes from 0.5 to 223 liters, as well as separately supplied clamping rings or lids. |
Composite drums – FE40, HD-PE02 Steel drums of all materials with HDPE inner containers, sizes from 0.4 to 217 liters). | |
Fibre drums – C/PAP80 Fibre drums with steel bottoms and lids, sizes from 12 to 250 liters). | |
Externally sourced packaging materials
| Wooden pallets – FOR50 |
| Plastic pallets – PP5 | |
| Cardboard layer pads – PAP20 | |
| Plastic panels – PP5 | |
| Shrink wraps – LDPE4 | |
| Other cardboard packaging – PAP20 |
Do you have any questions, or would you like to learn more?
