We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the soft launch phase of our How2Recycle recycling labeling system. In addition, major brand name Kellogg’s will be joining the 11 other leading companies already taking advantage of the How2Recycle Label, including Ampac, Best Buy, Clorox, Costco Wholesale, Esteé Lauder Companies Aveda Brand, General Mills, Microsoft, Minute Maid, Sealed Air, Seventh Generation, and REI. A photo gallery of the packages currently carrying the label is available here.
The How2Recycle Label is the only labeling system for packaging that communicates recyclability across all material types and gives explicit directions to consumers to influence their recycling behavior, and specifies when a package component is not recyclable. Research completed prior to and during the soft launch phase of the project has confirmed that the Label is understood by consumers, leads consumers to action, elicits positive impressions of products and companies, and meets Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requirements. In addition, the Label has proven to be a valuable tool for companies wishing to understand the specific recyclability of their packaging. In short, the Label is fulfilling the project’s goal of improving both the quality and quantity of package recycling. The complete Soft Launch Report is available for download free of charge.
In addition, GreenBlue is delighted to welcome The Kellogg Company to the How2Recycle Label program, and the public can expect to see the Label on a variety of familiar Kellogg’s and Kashi brand products this upcoming April.
“At Kellogg, we have a long-standing commitment to sustainability, and the How2Recycle Label on our products honors that legacy,” said Melissa Craig of The Kellogg Company. “We continually look for ways to educate consumers on the recyclability of our packaging materials. Consumers need clear, concise communication when it comes to recycling, so materials that can be reclaimed don’t accidentally end up in landfills. This label helps ensure all packaging components are recycled, as intended, to further reduce the environmental impact of our products and promote conservation.”
Of note is Kellogg’s use of the How2Recycle “Store Drop-off” version of the Label for certain plastic bags, wraps, and other films acceptable at many retail locations for recycling with plastic carry-out bags. The familiar cereal “bag in box” format will carry this label as it applies to the inside bag liner. The SPC has partnered with the Flexible Film Recycling Group of the American Chemistry Council to increase use of this label and awareness regarding film plastic recycling. The paperboard box remains recyclable to the majority of the public either at curbside or municipal drop-off locations.
Kellogg’s paperboard formats also carry the Recycled Paperboard Alliance’s (RPA) “100% recycled paperboard” symbol, making the important connection between the act of recycling and the critically important issue of buying products made from recycled materials. Paul Schutes, Executive Director of the RPA, commented, “The How2Recycle Label will lead to greater consumer understanding about the recyclability of fiber based packaging, leading to more fiber being collected, which is important to the 100% recycled paperboard industry.”
Full implementation of the label is now underway, and companies interested in participating are encouraged to contact GreenBlue soon, as it often takes considerable lead-time to integrate the Label into a company’s packaging process. The SPC’s goal is for the Label to appear on the majority of consumer product packaging by 2016.
“This long-term project of the SPC is poised to make a significant impact,” says GreenBlue Senior Manager Anne Bedarf, who with GreenBlue Project Associate Danielle Peacock has led the development of the How2Recycle Label. “With the revision of the FTC’s Green Guides, attention again has turned to accurate and transparent recyclability messaging, and the SPC’s How2Recycle Label is quickly becoming the industry standard. We designed the business model with a tiered structure to encourage participation by businesses of all sizes, and we look forward to working with a diverse group of forward-thinking companies and stakeholders as we enter the next phase.”
Companies interested in using the Label on their products can go to http://www.how2recycle.info/how2join/ and contact Ms. Bedarf at 434.817.1424 ext. 314 or anne.bedarf@greenblue.org.
Category: Sustainable Packaging Coalition
The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) today announced the final agenda for the ninth annual SPC Spring Meeting taking place on March 19-22, which will bring together over 300 packaging and sustainability professionals at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero Center Hotel in San Francisco, CA. Anthony Watanabe, President and CEO of Innovolve Group, will deliver the keynote address, which will focus on regeneration and how big business is bringing back biodiversity.
The SPC Spring Meeting is the group’s largest annual event and is recognized as the leading educational forum on sustainable packaging solutions.
“This year’s Spring Meeting continues to push the boundaries of the business of sustainability,” said Nina Goodrich, Executive Director of GreenBlue. “In addition to the formal agenda there will be significant opportunities for collaborative conversations on leading edge practices, ideas, and actions.”
Others headlining the agenda are highly respected sustainability, innovation, and technical leaders and icons including Chris Luebkeman, Director of Global Foresight and Innovation at Arup; Laura Thompson, Director of Technical Marketing and Sustainable Development, Sappi Fine Paper North America; April Crow, Global Director, Sustainable Packaging, The Coca Cola Company; Lauren Heine, Co-Director and GreenScreen Director, Clean Production Action; Dagmar Braun, Head of Strategic Business Area–Thin Print Papers, delfortgroup; and Ron Gonen, Deputy Commissioner for Recycling, New York City.
Session highlights include:
- Regeneration: the next frontier beyond sustainability
- Understanding sustainability in the process, product, and package context
- The marriage of design and life cycle thinking
- A collaborative approach to material health
- A case study in lean and clean production
- The economics of forest certification
- A day in the life of a recycling expert.
Luebkeman will lead an interactive workshop that will guide participants through a process designed to define the medium- to long-term drivers that will impact the evolution of more sustainable packaging. Also during the conference, the SPC with partner Éco Enterprises Québec and facilitator PAC Next and will announce the launch of a new interactive web-based set of guidelines for designing more sustainable packaging. James Ewell, Director of GreenBlue’s Sustainable Materials program, will also provide an introduction to the organization’s newest resource, Materials IQTM, which is a comprehensive business-to-business online registry that is designed to provide in-depth sustainability information about materials used in a variety of products and industrial sectors.
While the conference is open to the public, it will kick-off on Tuesday, March 19th with SPC members-only Industry Leadership Committee meetings. The meeting will offer optional tours in the San Francisco area, including a visit to the Davis Street Transfer Station, TCHO New American Chocolate Factory, or the Robert Mondavi Winery. An evening opening reception will follow on Wednesday, March 20th, and the meeting’s technical program sessions will take place Thursday, March 21st through 1:00PM PST on Friday, March 22nd.
For event details and to register, please visit http://www.sustainablepackaging.org/events/details.aspx?eventid=10080.
Knowing I work on sustainable packaging issues, a friend recently mentioned the phenomenon of people saving their Apple packaging. Like, saving it FOR YEARS. Initially I dismissed the idea, but when I thought about the people I know who have Macs, I realized it’s an actual habit not seen in PC-users. My in-laws, who otherwise religiously get rid of everything, still have their Mac box. Even here at the office, we recently found a Mac box, tucked away in a little-used corner, from an employee who has been gone for years!
Full disclaimer–I am a happy PC user, though I do own several other Apple products. But I can attest to the fact that I have not saved the packaging. I’m proud of my decluttering efforts, and years spent in a one-bedroom apartment always made my decision easy when considering whether to keep bulky boxes or not. So what is going on here?
Why would people save these particular boxes and not others? Is it that the packaging is beautiful and so people don’t want to throw it away? Perhaps it’s a way of proudly displaying aspects of personality or lifestyle in the way a person’s bookshelves or art do? A quick poll around the office produced the idea that Apple products have a resale value and so the original box could come in handy when it comes time to sell them. In fact, forget selling the computers–there is a whole section of eBay where you can buy empty Apple boxes. Amazing.
My personal opinion about Apple packaging is that it is really not any better, from a sustainability perspective, than any other electronics packaging. Though Apple does consider efficient packaging design, which its website says “not only reduces materials and waste, it also helps reduce the emissions produced during transportation,” I have noticed Apple packaging often contains a lot of components, many of which are not recyclable. The texture, the graphics, the experience–none of these give me enough reason to want to save that box. I just don’t understand this phenomenon! Can anyone out there enlighten me? And tell me, why have the other electronics companies not followed suit to enhance their own packaging’s desirability?
This year the SPC participated in PackExpo as an event partner, and several GreenBlue staff were on hand in the SPC booth to speak with visitors about the role of sustainability in packaging, the activities that the SPC engages in, and the tools and resources it and GreenBlue offers that support the implementation of sustainability activities. The event was a bit under attended, perhaps due to the big Hurricane Sandy that hit the east coast, but it was still eventful with lots of energy and buzz as usual.
Being listed as a “green” partner, one thing we noticed was the prevalence of the “PACK EXPO Green” logo and placards meant to identify vendors that offered sustainable solutions or alternatives. In principle the concept was good, yet in implementation this turned out to be little more than a self identification badge. Several SPC members and others stopped by the SPC booth to report that many of the exhibitors that displayed these placards were unaware of how or why they received the signage. On our own exploration walks around the enormous exhibition halls, we learned that simply being a supplier of light weight flexible packaging, using plant-based inks for printing, offering some level of recycled content, or offering “recyclable” packaging solutions was sufficient to gain the placard.
Another thing that struck us was the shear amount of waste generated at such an enormous industry trade show. For example, when I arrived the day before the opening day to set up our booth, I was a bit dismayed to find a completely barren booth–just cement flooring and the booth walls with a paperboard sign identifying the booth as reserved for the SPC. None of the items we had shipped or ordered had been delivered. At first I was annoyed to have arrived so early to set up and then I couldn’t do anything. Of course the staff were extremely helpful in sorting out the situation. Then, as I awaited delivery, I decided to make an inventory of the items being delivered by the various trades–flooring, electrical, network cabling, furniture, and audio/visual. As a good data man should, I built the inventory and chatted with the different folks about how the stuff got used and disposed of at the McCormick Center. To my dismay, each trade in turn reported that by trade show standards, PackExpo was small-to-medium sized, and that they did not have room or personnel to store and reuse any of the materials. Plus, it was easier and cheaper to start with new items to fit the booths. Easier and cheaper is not necessarily compatible with sustainable. But we will save that discussion for another day.
Here are the items that were intended for single use. Any guesses as to the environmental profile, say in terms of greenhouse gasses invested in this bill of materials? Consider also that the SPC booth was a relatively basic set-up of three tables, a few chairs, a large flat-screen monitor, a couple of laptops, and some project flyers. I will see if I can estimate the impact after the holidays.
Last month, I spoke at the 4th annual Seminario y Exhibición Envase Sostenible, i.e., the Seminar and Exhibition on Sustainable Packaging, held in Bogotá, Colombia. I had the privilege of speaking about two recently released resources developed by the SPC: Guidelines for the Use of Recycled Content in Fiber Based Packaging and Design for Recovery Guidelines for Aluminum, Glass, and Steel. The latter is actually three separate resources GreenBlue and the SPC developed with grant funding provided by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to study the end-of-life management options for various packaging materials, formats, and applications.
Although some of my colleagues at GreenBlue spoke at the same event in past years, I really didn’t know what to expect. I’m pleased to share, however, that I was very impressed with the entire event. More than 20 local/regional companies exhibited sustainable packaging, materials, and services. In addition, the speakers presented in the TED conference format with a strong command of their topics and the stage to an audience of at least 150 very engaged attendees who enjoyed simultaneous translation of the presenters, who like myself, had to speak in English. Likewise, we English-speaking presenters enjoyed simultaneous translation of the Spanish presentations. To say the least, the audio/visual technology rivaled any of the most sophisticated conference/events I’ve attended, including TED.
What’s more, the organizers, B2B Portales, a business-to-business web portal and media company serving the Latin American business community, organized an impressive technical agenda with speakers from across the packaging value chain and life cycle, even as the event seemed to have a very strong focus on end-of-life management. I was joined by fellow Americans Ron Gonen, Founder of RecycleBank and currently Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, and Dr. Ramani Narayan, Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials. Ron gave two presentations, one highlighting various models for recycling packaging including consumer incentive based programs like RecycleBank and the other on how to build successful partnerships with brand owners to promote the recycling of containers. Likewise, Dr. Narayan spoke twice, first on the use of carbon content as a biological basis for more sustainable packaging and then on understanding international standards for the biodegradation and compostability of bioplastics.
There were two sessions that I found particularly interesting. One featured José Oscar Jiménez, Manager of the Plan of Inclusion for garbage collection in the capital district of Bogotá, who discussed among other things some of the unique challenges the city faces in improving packaging recycling. He discussed the differences between North American/European waste management systems that may contract with large and sophisticated waste management firms and Latin American waste management systems that typically rely on individual or family “waste pickers.” He noted, for example, that implementing an incentive based system like RecycleBank’s would be more complicated in a place like Bogotá because there would need to be a way to provide incentives to the waste pickers and not just consumers. Waste pickers rely almost entirely on collecting recyclable materials to generate revenue and support their families. Ensuring these folks who typically survive at the bottom of the economic pyramid continue to have a livelihood, while creatively improving waste management systems, is a paramount consideration in Latin America.
A session on the collection of life cycle inventory (LCI) data based on LCA guidelines recently released by the United Nations Environment Program was a testament to the sophistication of the attendees and how far packaging sustainability has already progressed in Colombia. Dr. Nydia Suppen Reymaga, Director General of the Center for Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainable Design in Mexico, noted that Colombian companies often struggle to understand environmental impacts when the only available unit process datasets are US or European. She stressed the need for the development of local (country-based) datasets to make product and process assessments more accurate, credible, and meaningful. Interestingly, she pointed to various organizations that are working to develop robust LCI datasets in various part of the world and noted two that she saw as leaders in the US, Walmart and the SPC—a nice and unexpected shout out from the stage.
The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), a project of GreenBlue, is pleased to announce additional participants in the soft launch of its pioneering How2Recycle on-package recycling labeling system. Major brand names, including Best Buy, Clorox, and Minute Maid, will be joining 10 other leading companies already participating in the soft launch, including Costco Wholesale, General Mills, Seventh Generation, and REI, in implementing the label on select packaging available nationwide in early 2013. Additionally, the SPC has announced its five-year plan for the labeling system.
How2Recycle was developed to reduce consumer confusion around recycling in the United States with a clear and consistent recycling label and corresponding informational website, how2recycle.info. It provides companies with an easy way to conform to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) “Green Guides” while using nationwide recyclability data. While several other recycling labels and symbols exist, the How2Recycle Label is the only one that communicates recyclability across all material types and gives explicit directions to consumers to influence their recycling behavior. It also specifies when a package component is not recyclable.
The How2Recycle Label will be appearing on a new juice product from Minute Maid, Clorox’s Scoop Away products, and select Exclusive Brands products from Best Buy.
“Reducing our environmental footprint is important to Clorox. One way we can do this is to encourage consumers to recycle our packages. Consumers understand the concept of recycling but are frequently confused on what packages can or can’t be recycled. They want the process to be easier and we think the recovery label does just that,” said Gwen Lorio of Clorox. “As we enable consumers to recycle correctly, we ensure more quality recycled material is available for us to use, our consumers send less waste to landfill, and we can reduce the energy needed to create new packages. Overall, this can be a win for us all.”
The How2Recycle Label can already be found on numerous products available (or soon to be available) in the marketplace, including Esteé Lauder’s Aveda Outer Peace Acne Pads; a variety of Kirkland products from Costco Wholesale; General Mills’ Yoplait yogurt brand; Microsoft computer accessories; REI’s Novara bicycle accessories, multi-towels, and hang tags; most Seventh Generation products; and Sealed Air’s Fill-Air inflatable packaging. A photo gallery of the packages carrying the label that are currently in the market is available here.
The soft launch of the label will run through the first quarter of 2013. Full implementation of the label will begin thereafter and will incorporate feedback gathered during the soft launch period from consumers, retailers, participating companies, local governments, trade associations, and recyclers. The SPC plans to add up to 20 additional participants after the soft launch phase and aims for the label to appear on the majority of consumer product packaging by 2016.
Companies interested in using the label on their products after the soft launch period can contact GreenBlue Senior Manager Anne Bedarf for more information at 434.817.1424 ext. 314 or anne.bedarf@greenblue.org.
“We look forward to taking this long-term SPC project to the next level,” said Bedarf, who along with GreenBlue Project Associate Danielle Peacock has shepherded the process. “With the revision of the FTC’s Green Guides now out, attention again has turned to accurate and transparent recyclability messaging, and the SPC’s How2Recycle Label is quickly becoming the industry standard. We designed the business model with a tiered structure to encourage participation by businesses of all sizes, and we look forward to working with a diverse group of forward-thinking companies as we enter the next phase.”
On November 12-13, I had the pleasure of attending the Southeast Food Waste Reduction conference, presented by the Carolina Recycling Association along with government and non-profit partners. The presenters and exhibitors showcased a compelling array of activities, ranging from industry initiatives in food donation, organics and compostable packaging collection and processing, and understanding the myriad of triple bottom line benefits associated with waste diversion, including compost (the noun) and composting (the verb).
I presented on the SPC’s new project, “Scaling Up Composting in the Charlotte Area,” for which we recently received a grant from US EPA Region IV and matching funds from Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. The project will be co-led by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s IDEAS Center—Infrastructure, Design, Environment & Sustainability Center. Additional partners include Elemental Impact, with their partner the National Restaurant Association, and Earth Farms composting. Mecklenburg County’s recently conducted a food waste study showing major food waste generators, and potential collection and transport options, which our work through this project will help to scale up.
You may be wondering, how is packaging a part of the food waste issue? Packaging often protects the product and enhances shelf life, resulting in “less waste in the first place.” Additionally, certified compostable foodservice packaging such as plates, cups, and utensils enable the consumer to easily separate the compostables into one bin.
There are now over 90 programs across the country where residents can place compostables into a curbside bin, and this number is growing. This conference reminded me just how important the expansion of this service is to moving us towards true sustainable materials management—reducing waste and finding a valuable product as a result.
As part of our increasing work in recycling and recovery, Project Associate Danielle Peacock and Senior Manager Anne Bedarf continue their recycling blog series, ReLoop, which will address different recycling topics, questions, and concepts. You can check out other posts from the ReLoop series here.
There are three primary ways to collect household recycling: source separation, single stream, and no separation from trash (or “all in one”), and each of these methods provides unique benefits and trade-offs. So far in the ReLoop blog series, we have covered source separated recycling and single-stream recycling. In this blog we take a closer look at “all in one” collection, also known as mixed waste processing (MWP) or using a “dirty MRF.”
MWP is a one-bin system where the consumer places all trash and recyclables in one bin with no separation. This material then proceeds to a sorting facility to glean recyclables. In our previous blog post on single-stream recycling, we discussed how a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) works. These facilities use a combination of machinery and human hands to sort.
MWP uses what is commonly called a dirty MRF because the incoming stream is household trash (also known as Municipal Solid Waste, or MSW). See this report for profiles of different types of sorting facilities, including pictures. This report also estimates that MWP facilities make up less than 5% of all MRFs in the US.
There are varying estimates of the effectiveness of MWP facilities[1]:
- Kit Strange in Issues in Environmental Science and Technology estimates that 10-30% of waste entering a MWP facility is recovered as commodity grade recyclables, with contamination contributing to this low rate. Contamination is reduced when input comes from homogenous sources like office buildings.
- The City of Toronto studied various waste treatment and recovery systems, including dirty MRFs. They found that success relies on a clean and dry stream, and current recovery rates rest around 5–10% with a low quality output due to contamination. They ultimately chose a different course of action.
- StopWaste.Org (Alameda County, California) calculated the average recovery rate for MWP facilities in California at 19%, compared to 85% at single-stream MRFs.
- Pinellas County, FL also studied California facilities. They found a maximum recovery rate of around 30%, with a higher rate possible when co-locating with composting. It was not recommended as the primary method of recycling.
- R3 Environmental planned to co-locate a dirty-MRF with an incinerator in New Hannover County, NC. The project ultimately failed.
As with any recycling system, there are trade-offs:
Good – MWP requires no consumer participation, education, or sorting behavior. It can also be used to recover additional recyclables from the waste stream missed in recycling separation. MWP facilities can also co-locate with single-stream recycling MRFs, waste to energy, or composting facilities to maximize their impact. The quality of materials recovered through MWP is maximized if the source is homogenous, like office waste, or has organics removed prior to disposal.
Bad – The lack of consumer participation can also be seen as a negative, as there are no educational opportunities and consumers are less likely to make the connection to the impacts of their consumption habits. In addition, compared to the other methods, the potential for contamination is very high and the recovery rate is relatively low. Pre-separating organics and investing in technology can improve this process. However, these two options revert to consumer participation and require significant investment in machinery. Use of human labor exacerbates the potential for negative human health impacts on workers. Accepting all municipal solid waste into a MWP facility increases the likelihood of worker being exposed to dirty diapers, spoiled food, sharps, medical waste, and hazardous wastes. In his book Garbage Wars, author David Pellow describes such conditions for workers in a Chicago facility in the mid 1990’s, which used a combination of technology and hand sorting.
Contamination continues to be an important factor in the recycled commodities market. Contaminated materials require extra processing or are rejected outright and sent to landfills. The export market for these lower quality materials is also shrinking. Most recently, China has begun to crack down on unwashed plastic imports and contaminated paper bales.
The Grey Area – Like both of the recycling systems previously discussed in this blog series, decision makers must weigh the pros, cons, and costs of any system. What is the primary goal of the recovery system? Are you using MWP as the sole recycling system? Are you using it to glean additional recyclables from trash after single-stream separation? Are you co-locating with energy recovery or composting? How much are you willing to invest in technology versus human labor?
One East Coast city provides a particularly salient example. In this city, which will remain nameless, transparency is lacking at the local dirty MRF, and processes and recycling rates are unknown. Advertisements from both the dirty MRF and haulers falsely promote a recycling rate of 90%[2], push the dirty MRF as a superior recycling option, and confuse residents by labeling it “single-stream recycling.” Contamination is billed as “not a problem,” though discussions with local recyclers show significant concern regarding material from this source. Many residents adopted the dirty MRF as their primary recycling option though curbside and drop-off recycling were available. While some robust local dialogue occurred, there is still a prevailing misconception that the dirty MRF recycles 90% of all waste and is a viable recycling option.
So where does MWP fit? In my opinion, it is not appropriate as a primary recycling option. At present, the best opportunity for MWP is co-location with a landfill or waste to energy facility to provide a final sort of municipal solid waste prior to disposal. Concurrent organics source separation would greatly decrease contamination. This catches missed items and provides a last effort in areas with no recycling ethic or options. However, it should not be billed as a significant recycling option.
[1] For the purpose of this blog, recovery rates are the percentage of materials that enter the facility and are diverted to recycling. The remainder may be landfilled or sent to a waste to energy or incineration facility.
Recovery rate = Amount Recovered for Recycling / Total Input
Recovery rate = Amount Recovered for Recycling / Total Input
[2] The facility offers a sorting line designated only for construction and demolition waste. This line achieves approximately 90% recycling as a homogenous and dry stream.
The relevance of the plastic “numbers”—officially known as the “Resin Identification Codes” or RICs under ASTM D7611—depends on who you ask. Adamant recyclers often believe they are useful, while time and time again both research and anecdotes show that at least half of the population is confused by them, and this confusion can result in recycling stream contamination.
While participating in the ASTM process for the RICs, I found that there is no clear answer as to whether supply chain players actually find the RICs useful. Brand owners and retailers? Not really, as specification requirements for packaging are much more detailed than a number. MRF and recovery facilities? Not really, as lines move too fast for numbers to be identified during hand-picking, and optical sorters certainly don’t use them. Reprocessors? Not really here either, as density and converting technology are more relevant factors. This presents a conundrum: while the RICs were never intended for consumer communication and generally fail at efforts to do so, it seems that consumer communication is the only real potential usefulness of the RICs.
In particular, the widely understood chasing arrows appearing as part of the RIC contribute greatly to the confusion. There has been discussion and pushback on the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR’s) “education without the numbers” campaign (see Plastics News articles here and here for more information), which represents an effort based on solid evidence that shape/format is a much better way to help consumers understand what to recycle. This creates another conundrum, in that certain formats, such as thermoformed clamshells, are made from a variety of resins and thus the differentiation of resin type is often necessary where mixed plastics are not currently accepted. Couple that with the fact that so many local governments and recyclers do educate the general public using the RICs, and the RICs aren’t going away anytime soon.
These conundrums were taken into consideration when the SPC designed the How2Recycle Label. For the “Check Locally” version of the Label—for those materials that have between 20 and 60 percent consumer access—the RIC will likely remain an indicator that local recyclers use to answer recyclability questions regarding packaging bearing this label. The how2recycle.info website includes extensive information on the RICs for consumers, and many people ask us questions on the topic of the RICs through our consumer survey.
Simultaneous to the development of the design of the Label, the SPC became involved in the ASTM group working on RICs and continues to advocate for an upgraded system that replaces the chasing arrows and brings more clarity to issues such as varying types of PET and bio-resins. Neither the SPC or APR are advocating for abandoning the RICs, however their use as a primary communication tool for recyclability is necessarily being questioned. The SPC’s and APR’s tools provide a path forward that allows these communication efforts to peacefully co-exist with an updated version of the RICs.
This article by GreenBlue Project Manager Adam Gendell appeared in this month’s issue of Packaging Digest, which features a monthly column by GreenBlue staff on packaging sustainability. Read the original article.
Recycling is a growing industry, and it has become clear that it has a sibling-like relationship to the packaging industry. Like a younger sibling, the recycling industry is supported largely by the packaging industry; and like an older sibling, the packaging industry wants to see the recycling industry succeed.
The packaging community has moved past the notion that recycling is simply good for the planet. In this modern era of striving for sustainability, the packaging community recognizes that businesses that sell goods will only prosper in a responsible manner if the packaging industry and recycling industry both thrive. If we want them to succeed, we just have to examine the laws of supply and demand. For a higher quantity of transactions (that is, more recycling), supply and/or demand has to increase. The packaging industry, it turns out, has the ability to positively influence both supply and demand.
Supply can fundamentally be thought of as the willing ability of recyclers to sell their recovered material at a given price. It’s a no-brainer that it’s preferable for them to sell at a certain price if their costs are lower. That’s where the packaging community can help.
The recycling industry incurs a tremendous expense in their sorting operations and filtration of undesirable contaminants. If the packaging industry can create packaging that is easily sorted and not likely to introduce potential contaminants, then it makes the recycling industry’s job easier and ultimately reduces their costs. When their job is easier, supply of recovered materials will increase.
Likewise, supply will increase if consumers give recyclers access to used packaging in greater quantities and without undesirable contaminants. Proper on-package messaging from the packaging industry can help consumers help recyclers, which in the end helps the packaging industry. Improvements to packaging will eventually come around that improve access to recycled materials.
Demand, on the other hand, is the measure of how badly the packaging industry wants to buy recycled materials. Packagers have already embraced recycled content as a means to improve the environmental attributes of their packaging. It’s easy to think that an increasing demand from consumers for greener products will trickle down and increase demand from the packaging industry for recycled materials. Again, proper on-package messaging from the packaging industry can educate consumers about the importance of recycled content.
Certain changes can even increase demand from the packaging industry independently of consumer demand. For example, investment into new manufacturing technologies will help overcome the challenge of using less-than-perfect quality materials. It is also plausible we will see recycled materials become consistently cheaper than virgin raw materials. True cost accounting that takes into account the environmental costs of extracting raw materials might make that future an instant reality today.
Unfortunately, the recycling and the packaging industries do occasionally act like bickering siblings. Recyclers might argue that the burden lies on the packaging industry to put forth packaging that is optimal for their current systems. Meanwhile, the packaging industry might feel like the recycling industry needs to modify their systems to keep pace with new packaging innovations. Recyclers want packagers to better cope with less-than-perfect recycled materials.
Packagers want recyclers to reduce contamination. The packaging industry wants the recycling industry to increase its supply. The recycling industry wants the packaging industry to increase its demand. Both industries would appreciate if the other would take the reigns on consumer education. At the end of the day, the siblings of this sometimes-dysfunctional family must find a way to get along. Fortunately for the packaging industry, they have more than one way to help their little sibling.
