DIC and artience Establish Industry-First Common Protocol for Evaluating Film Packaging Recyclability in Japan ―Standardizing deinking and delamination evaluation to advance circular economy across Japan’s supply chain―

Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2026 — DIC Corporation and the artience Group, through its packaging solutions subsidiary Toyo Ink Co., Ltd., announced today the establishment of the industry’s first "common evaluation protocol" to standardize test procedures, evaluation criteria, and reporting formats for deinking and delamination in the material recycling of film packaging within the Japanese market. This protocol provides a unified environment where stakeholders across the supply chain—including converters, brand owners, and recyclers—can evaluate and compare recyclability based on shared domestic standards. By creating this common foundation, both companies aim to accelerate material recycling of flexible packaging and contribute to the realization of a circular economy.

In recent years, the importance of utilizing used plastics as resources has increased due to fluctuating resource prices and rising geopolitical risks, with the Japanese government positioning the circular economy as a key growth strategy. Within the packaging sector, demand is growing for product designs that facilitate easier recycling and for the expanded use of high-quality recycled plastics.
Flexible packaging, used extensively in food, daily necessities, and pharmaceuticals, provides superior functionality for content protection, weight reduction, and transport efficiency. However, because it is composed of multiple materials—such as films, printing inks, and laminating adhesives—the processes of deinking (removing printed ink) and delamination (separating layered films) are critical for high-quality material recycling. Previously, evaluations of deinking and delamination performance in Japan were conducted using proprietary test conditions and criteria, making it difficult to compare results across different companies and materials. This lack of standardization hindered recyclability assessment during the design phase and complicated information sharing across the domestic supply chain. These challenges were difficult for individual companies to address on their own, highlighting the need for a common evaluation framework.

Developed jointly by DIC and the artience Group—two leading printing ink manufacturers—this protocol brings together expertise in printing inks, laminating adhesives, and recycling technologies to address common challenges related to resource circulation. By pooling this expertise, the companies have established a common evaluation protocol consisting of three core elements:

1. Test Procedures: Defines equipment, test conditions, material handling, and operational steps to enhance reproducibility within Japanese testing environments.
2. Evaluation Criteria: Sets objective criteria for assessing deinking and delamination performance and recycled plastic quality.
3. Reporting Format: Standardizes test conditions and results into a unified format, enabling smooth information sharing and comparison of results among stakeholders.

The protocol enables deinking and delamination performance to be evaluated and compared across different companies and materials using common criteria. The adoption of this protocol offers significant benefits to the Japanese supply chain:
・Converters: Streamlines the selection of printing/processing conditions and materials that prioritize recyclability.
・Brand Owners: Enables the selection of highly recyclable packaging materials based on objective, reliable data.
・Recyclers: Allows for the setting of appropriate processing conditions based on material characteristics, leading to improved recycled plastic quality.

DIC and the artience Group will continue to refine the accuracy and practicality of this protocol by incorporating insights from actual packaging materials and recycling processes in the Japanese market. They are committed to promoting a framework where recyclability can be discussed and evaluated across the entire domestic supply chain, from design and manufacturing to collection and recycling. Both companies invite industry stakeholders in Japan to adopt this protocol, aiming to establish it as the standard for recyclability assessment in the flexible packaging sector.

Initiatives related to this protocol will be showcased at the respective booths of DIC and the artience Group during TOKYO PACK 2026, held at TOKYO BIG SIGHT (Japan) from October 14 to 16, 2026. At its booth, DIC will showcase a wide range of DIC Group products and technologies, as well as solutions developed together with partner companies in Japan and overseas, in line with the theme “Enveloping Value. Create Colorful Connections.” Through these offerings, the DIC Group seeks to help address diverse challenges facing the packaging industry—including improving recyclability, conserving resources, ensuring quality, enhancing brand value and improving production efficiency—while creating new business opportunities.

For more information about DIC’s exhibition at TOKYO PACK 2026, please visit: https://www.dic-global.com/en/event/tokyopack/2026/index.html

Exhibition Details
Name: TOKYO PACK 2026 (Tokyo International Packaging Exhibition 2026)
Date and time: October 14–16, 2026, 10:00–17:00
Venue: TOKYO BIG SIGHT (Tokyo International Exhibition Center), East Halls 1–3, 7 and 8
Organizer: Japan Packaging Institute
DIC’s booth: East Hall 2, Booth 2R04
Official website:https://www.tokyo-pack.jp/

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