SPE WORKSHOP: Design for Recycling: How Producers Design Packaging for Recyclers

Workshop

Design for Recycling: How Producers Design Packaging for Recyclers

May 12–14, 2026
All workshop days are from 3:30 to 5:00 PM ET.
Online

Summary

This three-part Design for Recycling (DfR) workshop series is designed to help packaging producers, designers, and brand owners understand how packaging design decisions affect recyclability in real-world recycling systems. Led by Anthony Peyton, Founder and Director of PREP Design and creator of the PREP recyclability assessment platform, the workshops bridge the gap between packaging design intent and recycler outcomes.

Participants will learn how materials recovery facilities (MRFs), reprocessors, and end markets actually handle used plastic packaging, and why traditional recyclability indicators such as format-based assessments and Plastic Identification Codes (PICs) are often misleading. The workshops introduce the SMS methodology (Size, Materials, Shape) as a more accurate, system-based approach to determining recyclability.

Across the three sessions, participants will:

Gain a practical understanding of the plastic recycling value chain
Learn design parameters that directly influence recyclability and material recovery value
Explore eco-modulated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and end market realities
Apply learnings to real packaging samples through hands-on exercises
Develop strategies for improving packaging recyclability and engaging consumers through on-pack instructions

The workshops support informed, evidence-based packaging design decisions that align with circular economy principles and current recycling infrastructure capabilities.

Agenda

May 12, 2026

Session 1: Importance of Design & Introduction to SMS (Size, Materials, Shape)

Duration: 1½ Hours

May 13, 2026

Session 2: Eco-Modulation & End Markets

Duration: 1½ Hours

May 14, 2026

Session 3: Detailed Design Parameters & Consumer Engagement

Duration: 1½ Hours

If you can't attend one or several sessions live, or if you want to review some concepts, the recordings will be available after each session.

Registration Information

SPE Premium Member	$405
SPE Members	$450
Nonmembers	$650

Not an SPE member? Join today and attend this workshop at a discounted rate!

Workshop Packs

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3 Sessions

Level: Intermediate

Total Hours: 4½ Hours

Streaming access on desktop and mobile browsers

Instructor

Anthony Peyton
Director
PREP Design Pty Ltd
LinkedIn

(Click for more information)

Anthony Peyton is Director of GreenChip and PREP Design, Australian consultancies specializing in product stewardship, extended producer responsibility (EPR), packaging sustainability, and waste and recycling systems. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from the University of Melbourne and spent 12 years working with large technical consulting firms before founding his own consulting business in 2001.

In 2017, Anthony founded PREP Design, which owns and operates the PREP software platform—a packaging design and assessment tool that has evaluated the recyclability of over 500,000 consumer packaging items. Through his professional work, he has supported Australian governments, industry groups, brand owners, and regulators in the design and implementation of stewardship schemes, policy frameworks, and practical waste‑reduction and recycling initiatives.

Anthony is a member of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and serves on the Global Product Stewardship Council, contributing to international collaboration on product stewardship policy and best practice. He has also held leadership roles within the Australian Institute of Packaging and is active in community and volunteer roles, including environmental advocacy and community sports administration. His work focuses on linking policy, industry capability, and system design to deliver measurable environmental outcomes.

Questions? Contact:

For questions, contact Iván D. López.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for professionals involved in packaging design, sustainability, and recycling, including:

Packaging and product design engineers
Sustainability, ESG, and circular economy professionals
Brand owners and product managers
Regulatory and compliance teams
Materials and packaging engineers
Recycling, waste-management, and MRF professionals
Consultants and advisors working on recyclability and EPR compliance

Why Should You Attend?

Design for Recyclability (DfR) is increasingly critical as recyclability requirements, EPR frameworks, and end-market expectations evolve. This workshop explains how packaging design choices affect sorting, recovery, and recycling outcomes and provides practical guidance to help producers design packaging that works for recyclers.

Everyday Problems You’ll Address

Why is packaging labeled as recyclable still being rejected at MRFs?
How do size, materials, shape, and additives impact recyclability?
Why are format-based assessments and plastic ID codes often misleading?
How do recyclers evaluate packaging, and what design errors create lost value?
How can packaging designs align with end-market requirements and EPR expectations?

What You’ll Learn

You will learn:

How recyclers assess packaging using the Size–Materials–Shape (SMS) methodology
How packaging moves through collection, MRFs, and reprocessing systems
The limitations of traditional format and resin ID approaches
How design parameters such as dimensions, weight, additives, inks, labels, and bonding affect recyclability
How eco-modulated EPR schemes and end markets influence design decisions
How to evaluate real packaging samples for recyclability

Why This Course Matters

Packaging design decisions directly determine whether materials are recycled, lose value, or become waste. This workshop matters because it helps organizations design packaging that aligns with recycler capabilities, reduces regulatory risk, supports EPR compliance, and contributes to a more functional circular economy.