Design plays a crucial role in the recycling of plastic products and packaging. It influences not only the recyclability of the materials but also the end-of-life options available. A well-designed product or packaging can make it easier to sort, process, and reuse the materials, while poor design can result in waste and hindrance to recycling efforts. Good design practices include using standardized shapes and materials, avoiding mixed materials, and ensuring clear labeling of recyclable and non-recyclable components. This helps consumers putting it the right bin and sorting facilities and recycling centers to identify, separate, and process the materials effectively.

The “dissection” of a product for understanding the material composition. Design for recycling is a process that involves designing products and plastic packaging with the ultimate goal of becoming recycled materials. The aim is to create products and packaging that are easy to recycle, made from recyclable materials, and that can be transformed into new products through different manufacturing processes. The benefits of design for recycling include reducing waste, reducing the reliance on finite resources, promoting a circular economy and ultimately reducing environmental impact.