The CGF Golden Design Rules Referenced in China’s National Recommended Standards for Plastic Packaging

•       Plastics – Guide of Design for Recycling – Part 1: Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) Materials (GB/T 46020.1-2025)

•       Plastics – Guide of Design for Recycling – Part 2: High-Density Polyethylene (PE-HD) Materials (GB/T 46020.2-2025)
  

These standards become effective on 1 February 2026.

During the development process, relevant concepts from The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Golden Design Rules (GDR) were referenced as part of the technical research and analysis. The core Design for Recycling (DfR) logic of the standards demonstrates conceptual alignment with principles advocated by the GDR, reflecting the value of international circular design frameworks in informing national standardisation efforts.

How the GDR Were Reflected

The relationship between the GDR and the GB/T standards is reflected in two key ways:

• The Golden Design Rules are cited as an international reference source in the Compilation Notes of the standards, contributing conceptual and technical input to the drafting process.
• Core DfR principles have been adapted to China’s PET and PE-HD industry context, including local sorting and recycling technologies. Certain concepts are reflected in specific technical provisions, for example, The GDR rule 1 requires: “Use transparent and uncoloured PET (preferred), or transparent blue or green in all PET bottles.” This is consistent with the requirement in Standard 7.3.1: “The depth, transparency and opaqueness of PET products are crucial for the downstream application of recycled PET. The color of PET products should preferably be colorless and transparent, transparent light blue, transparent light green, and should not be opaque or dark.”
  
  

This development highlights growing technical convergence between global circular design principles and China’s national standardisation efforts for sustainable packaging.

Understanding GB and GB/T Standards in China

China’s standards system distinguishes between mandatory and recommended standards:

• GB (Mandatory Standards): Legally binding requirements covering areas such as health, safety, and environmental protection. Products that do not comply may not be produced, sold, or used, and may be subject to administrative penalties.
• GB/T (Recommended Standards): Voluntary in principle. However, they become binding with corresponding legal or contractual effect when referenced by laws, regulations, or policy documents, or when formally adopted by enterprises through self-declaration and public disclosure as required by law. GB/T standards primarily provide technical guidance to support quality improvement and industry best practices.

The PET and PE-HD standards referenced above are GB/T recommended standards.

The CGF’s Role

Since 2022, the CGF Plastic Waste Coalition, together with CGF China, has maintained ongoing dialogue with the China Plastics Reuse and Recycling Association (CPRRA) on plastics circularity and design for recyclability. These exchanges have included benchmarking discussions on relevant concepts and technical frameworks.

The standards were supported by CPRRA in terms of organisation and technical coordination during the drafting process. In 2024, CPRRA initiated the national standardisation procedure. Following completion of the required procedural steps, the GB/T standards were officially released in August 2025.

Looking ahead, CPRRA will continue advancing technical research and standardisation work in the field of design for recyclability. Where appropriate and subject to readiness, technical exchanges with relevant international organisations, including CGF, are expected to continue. CPRRA is also conducting research related to additional GB/T standards covering polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) film materials.

Why This Matters

Advancing technical dialogue:

The Golden Design Rules were considered as one reference input during the development of China’s national recommended standards related to design for recyclability. This demonstrates the relevance of shared circular design principles within a large and complex packaging market.

Strengthening collaboration:

The process reflects technical-level exchange between industry associations, standardisation bodies, and international platforms, supporting experience sharing and mutual understanding.

Providing a pathway reference:

For regions where packaging regulations and standards are still evolving, including parts of Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, this case illustrates how international design principles can be explored alongside local industrial contexts. Greater convergence may help reduce cross-market packaging complexity and ease technical adaptation challenges for companies operating under different regulatory systems.

Find out more about the mission and work of the CGF’s Plastic Waste Coalition and the Golden Design Rules.

Mike Chen, Vice President, China Plastics Reuse and Recycling Association (CPRRA) shared, “It is a great honor to represent the China Plastics Reuse and Recycling Association (CPRRA) under the China Synthetic Resin Association and share with CGF global partners China’s milestone practices in plastic recyclable design. In Feb 2026, we not only witnessed the official implementation of the national standard series Plastics – Guide for Design for Recycling, but also demonstrated to the world that the global consensus on Golden Design Rules (GDRs), when combined with China’s localized innovation, can jointly drive front-end design transformation—thereby offering a replicable “China Solution” for the global plastic circular economy.

Since 2020, as an independent expert panel member of the CGF Plastic Waste Coalition, we have consistently adhered to the guideline of “unified scientific logic and regionally adaptive implementation.” Guided by this principle, we have translated the global concept of Design for Recycling (DFR) into an actionable standard system tailored to China’s industrial chain. Notably, the newly released national standards (GB/T 46020.1/2-2025) align closely with the Golden Design Rules.

Plastic pollution has no borders—neither should circular design. The release of China’s national standards is no end, but a new start for global GDRs implementation. Let’s build on science, bridge with collaboration, and to accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastic packaging, ensuring it never becomes waste or pollution.”

Yangying Xu, Greater China GM and Chief Representative, The Consumer Goods Forum, said: “I am delighted to learn that the two national recommended standards for design for recyclability of PET and PE-HD materials come into force on 1 February 2026, with the CGF Golden Design Rules (GDR) embodied as an international reference in the formulation of these standards. On behalf of CGF China, I extend my warmest congratulations and express my sincere gratitude to the authorities, the China Plastics Reuse and Recycling Association (CPRRA) , and all partners involved.

Since 2022, CGF China and CGF Global Plastic Waste Coalition members, has collaborated closely with the CPRRA to adapt the core rules of the GDR to China’s industrial reality. This milestone represents the profound embodying of global circular design principles with China’s national standardisation development and a remarkable outcome of international cooperation.

Going forward, CGF China will continue to leverage its strengths as an international platform, deepen multi-stakeholder collaboration, and promote the implementation of the GDR across more plastic categories, supporting the development of further national recommended standards for design for recyclability. We will support advanced international concepts to empower the upgrading of China’s industries and contribute China’s sustainable practices wisdom to the global circular economy.”