PlastCert at RIGK – Brief Overview

PlastCert is the certification body within RIGK that ensures companies meet the requirements for plastic products and packaging in a structured and reliable manner through clearly defined audit procedures, high levels of independence and accreditation. As an autonomous entity, PlastCert provides certifications in cooperation with RecyClass, an initiative of Plastic Recyclers Europe. At the core of its work are verifiability, traceability and the consistent documentation of compliance requirements.

“Quality creates structure – and makes improvements measurable.”

In conversation, Letícia comes across as calm, highly precise and pragmatic at the same time. For her, quality management is not “paperwork”, but a practical tool: one that creates transparency in processes, clarifies responsibilities and transforms intuition into a measurable system.

• Letícia, what was your journey to RIGK – and eventually to PlastCert?

Letícia: “I studied Environmental Engineering in Brazil and, during my internship, worked for a company processing engineering plastics – primarily PA6 and PA6.6 compounds for household appliances and automotive applications. I worked in Operational Excellence and was involved in the implementation of ISO 14001.
Later, I contributed to the ‘Segregado Zero’ project, where production waste was reintegrated into the company’s own products, resulting in a recycled material product line. After positions in sales and foreign trade, among others, I moved to Germany and found my way back into the environmental sector through RIGK: initially within the PICKUP take-back system, followed by operational controlling and later executive management support.
With the establishment of PlastCert, I had the opportunity to return to the field where I began my career – with a strong focus on ISO 9001, ISO 14001, continuous improvement, and today also as an auditor for RecyClass certification processes.”

• What attracts you to quality management, particularly in plastics recovery and recycling?

Letícia: “Quality management requires structure and transparency. It helps identify improvements and makes efficiency measurable. I am also highly motivated by working together with colleagues from different departments on continuous improvement initiatives – it deepens the understanding of the overall process.
With RecyClass specifically, I am motivated by seeing how committed companies are to meeting the requirements and preparing themselves for the challenges of the years ahead.”

What is RecyClass – and what are the programmes about?

RecyClass is a European initiative developing practical, ready-to-use tools that support stakeholders across the plastics value chain in advancing the circular economy. The foundation of RecyClass activities lies in its recyclability methodology and its approach to the traceability of recycled plastics.
A central focus is traceability: What comes in (input)? What happens during the process? And what goes out (output)? Most importantly – can this be transparently demonstrated through data, documentation and material flows?

“Most companies know they need to provide evidence. The question is: how – and with what?”

When Letícia talks about customer enquiries, the discussion is rarely about whether requirements exist, but almost always about how to fulfil them. The requirements are there, they are increasing, and in practice they are often far from self-explanatory – particularly within international supply chains where terminology may be interpreted differently across markets.

• What are currently the most pressing concerns or uncertainties for companies?

Letícia: “Many companies are asking how they can practically fulfil increasing regulatory requirements and documentation obligations – particularly regarding recycled content, recycling processes and recyclability.
Very often, the focus is on the documentation required to demonstrate traceability from output material back to input material, supplier requirements, and the interpretation of specific terminology such as ‘pre-consumer’ versus ‘by-products’.
We are also seeing growing demand regarding certification requirements for countries outside the EU27+3 – especially Module A for food contact applications.”

“The requirements are the same – but no audit is ever the same.”

When discussing PlastCert’s audit processes, Letícia becomes particularly clear: standardised requirements do not mean standardised realities. An audit is not a copy-paste exercise. It is a comparison between system logic and operational reality – and ultimately what matters is whether both align cleanly and fulfil the requirements.

• How did you experience the auditor training process – were there any defining moments?

Letícia: “The training was very intensive because it combines technical, procedural and regulatory aspects. To apply, candidates must demonstrate relevant qualifications and/or experience in the plastics and recycling sector through certificates and CV documentation.
Following acceptance, there are extensive preparatory materials, a pre-test, an online workshop for review and clarification of open questions, and finally the examination.
After the theoretical phase, practical experience becomes decisive: experienced auditors accompany the first audits, provide on-site support and assess performance.
My key realisation was understanding that, although the requirements are identical, each client must be assessed individually. We audit companies with highly diverse products and manufacturing processes. Some operate their own recycling lines, while others source recyclates externally. Some receive materials in big bags, others in silos. And some companies trade materials without manufacturing themselves.
This is exactly why practical experience is essential in order to correctly understand business needs and assess them appropriately within the framework of the requirements.”

• How does an audit process work – and where do typical challenges arise?

Letícia: “An audit includes document review, a site inspection and interviews to verify processes and evidence on site. Typical challenges can include documentation gaps or unclear separation of material streams – often operational practice is better than what has actually been documented in writing.”

A Reality Check from Everyday Audit Practice

What Letícia describes between the lines is familiar to many transformation projects: operational processes may work effectively, but the underlying systems – data, responsibilities, versions and documentation – have evolved historically. Certification processes make these gaps visible. And very often, that is precisely where their value lies.

For us, DAkkS is a benchmark – and for customers, a signal of trust.”

Letícia views PlastCert’s recently achieved accreditation as a binding framework: clear rules, verified competence and defined procedures. Internally, this means structure. Externally, it means higher standards and stronger trust.

• What does DAkkS accreditation mean for you and your team?

Letícia: “For me, accreditation confirms our technical expertise and the quality of our processes. For the team, it strengthens PlastCert’s role as a reliable and independent certification body within the industry.”

• Do you notice this in day-to-day business?

Letícia: “Yes. We are seeing increased demand for accredited certifications, and trust in our services is growing. At the same time, our internal processes have become even more standardised and structured.”

“We do not provide consultancy – but we ensure companies understand what lies ahead.”

The distinction between certification and consulting is important to Letícia. Certification is not consultancy. However, certification without orientation is inefficient. PlastCert therefore focuses primarily on creating transparency around procedures and expected evidence.

• How do you support companies in navigating standards and requirements?

Letícia: “It is important to clarify that, as a certification body, we are not permitted to advise clients on how to design their processes in order to obtain certification.
Our role is to explain the certification procedure, outline the programmes and their differences, and provide an overview of the documentation that will be assessed – so that the on-site audit can proceed as smoothly as possible.
The purpose of the on-site audit is to verify whether what is described in the documentation is actually implemented in practice – enabling a well-founded certification decision.”

• What is currently in highest demand?

Letícia: “Structured checklists and overviews that help companies organise their data and processes systematically. In addition, there is strong demand for individual discussions and information formats regarding RecyClass programme requirements and regulatory developments.”

“At the core is material tracking – from purchasing through to goods dispatch.”

When discussing feedback, Letícia becomes very concrete. Many companies expect a process similar to traditional QM/EMS audits. However, the focus here is different – and that changes what companies need to pay attention to internally.

• Was there any customer feedback that particularly stayed with you?

Letícia: “Some clients said they initially expected the audit process to resemble conventional quality or environmental management system certifications. In practice, however, this certification is structured differently: the main focus is on material traceability – from raw material purchasing and production use through to finished goods dispatch – together with the associated documentation and quality assurance throughout all process stages.
What stood out most to me were companies that used the certification process as an opportunity to fundamentally improve their internal material flows and responsibilities – and this was clearly visible again during surveillance audits.”

“Please do not wait until shortly before the audit to begin.”

According to Letícia, it is essential to begin preparing for certification early, assess existing processes against certification requirements, and analyse material flows holistically – involving all relevant departments from the very beginning.

• Which typical mistakes can be avoided?

Letícia: “A common mistake is waiting until shortly before the audit to begin organising the documentation. It is equally problematic to focus only on individual requirements instead of considering the entire material flow and traceability concept.”

Outlook: “The circular economy will become mandatory – and demonstrable implementation will be essential.”

Letícia does not describe the coming years as a “trend”, but as a paradigm shift: more obligations, more verification schemes, greater need for harmonised terminology and robust data. Companies that establish structured systems early will save significant time and costs later.

• Where do you see opportunities and challenges for PlastCert and the industry?

Letícia: “The greatest opportunity lies in the fact that circular economy requirements are increasingly becoming mandatory through regulations such as packaging legislation and reporting obligations. Companies require robust and independent verification – for example regarding recycled content, recycling processes and recyclability – and accredited certification bodies such as PlastCert can play a key role here.
The challenges include international and highly complex supply chains, material streams that cannot always be cleanly separated, and terminology such as ‘post-industrial’, which may be interpreted differently. In addition, there are many parallel programmes and standards that must be harmonised and consistently classified.
And most importantly: data availability and data quality. Without digital, audit-ready documentation across the entire value chain, issuing robust certifications will become extremely difficult.”

• How can DAkkS accreditation under ISO 17065 help establish new standards?

Letícia: “ISO 17065 accreditation ensures that our certifications are conducted according to internationally recognised and rigorously assessed standards – for example regarding impartiality, auditor competence and harmonised audit procedures. This makes certificates more trustworthy and more comparable. For me personally, accreditation also means working against a clearly defined benchmark: it motivates us to standardise procedures, comprehensively and transparently document the entire audit and certification decision-making process, and continuously improve.”

“Plastic is often underestimated – yet it is a valuable raw material.”

Towards the end, Letícia becomes more personal while remaining highly professional: the discussion is not about whether plastics are “good” or “bad”, but whether we treat them as a valuable resource and genuinely close material loops.

• What personally motivates you?

Letícia: “As an environmental engineer, responsible resource management is extremely important to me. Plastic is often portrayed as the ‘villain’, but it is a valuable raw material present in many aspects of our daily lives.
Working on solutions that ensure plastics are properly collected and recycled after use – and enabling reuse through recycled content in new products – is a key factor in achieving sustainability.”