New voluntary recycling labels to launch in 2012

New voluntary recycling labels to launch in 2012

By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling

Five large companies have agreed to begin using a voluntary alternative recycling label on their products beginning this January.

ConAgra Foods, Costco Wholesale, Microsoft, REI and Seventh Generation will implement the labeling system, developed by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. The labels are meant to provide more information on the materials found in packaging and clear instructions on how to recycle packaging.

Due to substantially different recycling options available between communities, each package component is labeled as either "widely recycled," "not yet recycled" or "limited recycling" and is also accompanied with instructions for consumers on how to check locally. The system is based on OPRL system in the U.K. and was developed over three years of research that included extensive consumer testing and a national effort to collect updated recyclability data.

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition represents a wide range of companies and is administered through the Charlottesville, Virginia-based non-profit organization GreenBlue. The organization provides businesses with the resources to make their products more sustainable and has released "Labeling for Packaging Recovery," a report that outlines the challenges regarding confusing recycling labels on packaging and what to do about it.

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