Using post-consumer resin (PCR) content in plastic packaging is one of the most effective ways to reduce the environmental impact of the packaging. It also helps build and stabilize recycled markets, level the competitive playing field, and provide an environment for end market investment, innovation and growth. This, in turn, can support the expansion and stability of community recycling programs.
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The APR has a strong history of supporting mandatory post-consumer recycled content, along with third-party certification for post-consumer resin. Certifying PCR provides transparency and accountability for all stakeholders, from consumers through to brand companies, further sustaining a robust, fair, and trusted recycling system. Both Oregon and California cite the APR&#;s PCR Certification Program, or similar third-party certification, in their policies (see below).
As of early , four states have passed laws requiring post-consumer recycled content in plastic packaging; several more states have proposed laws to date this year, and there are broad-scale proposals actively under development in Canada and the European Union. In addition, there is renewed state-level attention on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging policies to increase recycling rates. It is becoming more common for EPR policies to also include recycled content goals or incentives, which is seen as a complementary way to combine supply and demand side policies to improve recycling in a comprehensive way. All content mandates or incentives in existing or proposed laws specify PCR recycled content. Post-industrial (pre-consumer) material will not meet requirements.
In short, PCR requirements are here and this emphasis on recycled content appears likely to continue as policy makers aim to reduce plastic pollution and accelerate a circular economy. Key dates and details for packaging manufacturers and brand companies are outlined below. One thing is for sure: change is coming, and you&#;ll want to keep up with the latest updates. Don&#;t get left behind. Get certified today!
What PCR recycled content laws are in effect right now?
Recycled content requirements for plastic containers have been adopted by four states as of , and requirements are already in effect in two of these states: California for plastic beverage containers and reusable plastic bags, and Washington for reusable plastic carryout bags, plastic beverage containers, and trash bags. The chart below outlines all recycled content laws passed to date, as well as the role of PCR Certification in the rulemaking process underway.
While post consumer recycled resin seems to be the leading option to accomplish packaging sustainability in the industry, there are several considerations to make when sourcing PCR material:
There are four main plastics used in packaging: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Currently, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and PET recycling are more common than others. The infrastructure is built to support the collection of these materials and many CPGs lead initiatives to educate consumers to recycle. PP is readily recyclable but needs more infrastructure and education around the material. Finally, PS is also recyclable as it is extremely tolerant to &#;re-melting,&#; but its collection presents difficulties due to its form factor.
Certain plastics are like oil and water&#;they don&#;t mix well. The contamination caused by their mixing, or worse yet, the addition of other factors (such as food, dirt, or other contaminants) can render the resins very difficult to reuse. The makeup of the post consumer resins can be a big obstacle in the industry&#;s endeavor to achieve a truly circular economy, which is a critical piece for packaging sustainability.
In addition, based on your company&#;s performance requirements of the product, the mixing of the materials can lead to further complications in achieving goals. Almost 60% of European plastics converting companies find it &#;hard&#; or &#;very hard&#; to reuse plastic scrap due to contamination, according to a European Plastics Converters Association study.
Then how can you ensure 100% purity for packaging materials?
The first step is to establish a set of recycled material goals for your product. Then, you need to partner with your supplier to evaluate and understand their sources and supply chain. They must have the appropriate quality controls and tests in place to ensure the material supplied meets your product&#;s specifications.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Post Consumer Recycled Resin. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Therefore, it is imperative that you have full visibility into your supplier ecosystem and a strong understanding of how the post-consumer recycled plastic was sourced, processed and produced.
Not every type of recycled resin works for every use case or complies with applicable regulations.
In the United States, the FDA has guidelines for the use of recycled plastics in food packaging. Specifically, they have three concerns that:
Europe has more stringent guidelines. Under a regulation set over a decade ago, only &#;food-contact materials and articles that contain recycled plastic obtained from an authorized recycling process&#; may be used in the EU.
It is very likely that in the future more industry standards will be developed, and perhaps also government regulation, to ensure the material really is what it should be. Brands once again can partner with governments worldwide to help shape regulation and drive post consumer recycled content forward.
Over the long term, this area will become more like medicine or food&#;when we go to a grocery or drug store, we hardly ever think about whether the medicine or food is &#;good&#; or &#;safe.&#; We rely on the system in the background which ensures that it is.
Finding a steady source of high-quality post consumer recycled plastic is a difficult endeavor today. Consumers are not yet recycling enough plastic waste worldwide&#;which drastically impacts the supply. The reasons vary from geographically different regulations to the additional cost customers must occasionally incur to recycle. Furthermore, while many understand the importance of recycling, many are also confused on how to properly do it.
With such high demand for recycled materials, brands and packaging integrators must treat the sourcing of these resins as a partnership with their supplier, rather than a transactional exchange. Unlike sourcing virgin material, brands, converters and suppliers must work as a team and make the proper investments to build a viable infrastructure. Sometimes, that means launching community initiatives.
PepsiCo, for example, recognizes the importance of bringing all stakeholders together. To support the development of packaging sustainability, they launched PepsiCo Recycling, an initiative to improve plastics recycling infrastructure and raise awareness on the issue worldwide. With their partnerships through the program, they&#;ve provided recycling access to 33 million households across 700 communities in the U.S. since , collecting more than 115 million pounds of plastic bottle and recyclables.
These types of partnerships and investments can help you reach your sustainable packaging goals while making a big difference for the environment. Watch Jabil's documentary: The Sustainable Packaging Revolution for a better understanding of how integrators like Jabil, KW Plastics and Danimer Scientific are bringing innovative packaging solutions to the market.
While long-term partnerships and investments into the larger ecosystem will help to ensure a steady supply of post-consumer recycled resins, end-of-life must be addressed at the very beginning with product design. As it stands currently, approximately 30 percent of plastic packaging will never be reused or recycled without fundamental redesign or innovation, according to the World Economic Forum.
The current recycling infrastructure needs an overhaul, but brands can design their packages to optimize recyclability while working within the boundaries of the current infrastructure. This can be accomplished in different ways, such as making components out of a single polymer family, tethering a cap to a bottle or by minimizing how the packaging is assembled so it can be easily separated when necessary.
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