Henkel has opened a Packaging RecycLab in Shanghai, China, dedicated to assessing how adhesive technologies can support packaging recycling and propel a transition towards a circular economy.

The centre will carry out local testing and process optimisation to bolster Henkel’s service offering for China and the wider Asia‑Pacific region.

The integrated laboratory brings together development, testing and evaluation with industry/academic/research collaboration.

Built around the CEPI/4Evergreen testing framework, the RecycLab simulates industrial recycling processes to generate data to inform packaging design.

The data will assist customers in optimising material choices and pack structures and contribute to efforts to establish a “design‑for‑recycling” closed‑loop system.

Henkel's move is a response to global circular economy initiatives and forthcoming regulatory change such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

Henkel adhesive technologies head of packaging for the Asia Pacific region (APAC) Alejandro Schoenhoff described the Shanghai launch as a strategic step that underlines the company’s long‑term commitment in China. He said that Henkel will provide systematic technical services to help customers reduce environmental footprints while pursuing economic and ecological benefits.

A delegation from the China Packaging Federation (CPF), led by Chairperson Li Hua, visited the RecycLab and jointly commenced the 2025 Green Packaging Recycling China Tour with Henkel.

A key moment of the CPF delegation's visit was the torch relay event.

Li Hua stated: “The Packaging RecycLab combines an international perspective with local market needs. It will serve as valuable infrastructure for the entire industry.”

Henkel packaging adhesives APAC sustainability manager Yanjie Zheng set out Henkel’s approach to tackle challenges across the packaging lifecycle — from sustainable design and carbon footprinting to end‑of‑life recycling and regulatory compliance — through integrated solutions.

The RecycLab will offer the Chinese packaging sector a recycling verification platform.

The company plans to increase innovation investments un China and broaden its cooperative ecosystem, noting that sustainable packaging will require coordinated efforts across the value chain.