A life-cycle analysis found that using recycled PET resin in place of virgin resin can lead to a 40% reduction in process and transportation energy. | GenViewFinder/Shutterstock
The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) says using recycled PET offers a 60% greenhouse gas reduction over virgin material, one of several recent findings the group added to its PET environmental impact resources.
The pact members are aiming to launch a roadmap document publicly in April 2021. | chainarong06/Shutterstock
The director of the U.S. Plastics Pact says the effort is marked by two key components: focusing on a target-based national strategy to tackle plastic waste and employing rigorous accountability through reporting to the public.
Using data from 2016, researchers found the U.S. could be the third largest generator of mismanaged plastic waste.| Rafeed Hussain/Ocean Conservancy
Despite having a robust plastics collection infrastructure, the U.S. is one of the largest contributors to ocean plastics worldwide, according to new findings from well-known plastic waste researchers.
Global brand owner Unilever is now using about 75,000 metric tons of post-consumer plastic in its packaging each year. | Konektus Photo/Shutterstock
Global companies such as Keurig Dr Pepper, Dow and Mars recently announced their intentions to bolster the use of PCR. The following is a roundup of several notable news items:
In the U.S., dozens of brand owners, retailers, government agencies and nonprofit groups have joined the U.S. Plastics Pact. | Nagy-Bagoly Arpad/Shutterstock
A program called U.S. Plastics Pact, associated with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, will pursue strategies to eliminate unnecessary packaging, increase recyclability, and ensure packaging contains recycled plastic. It has more than 60 industry backers.
PepsiCo’s Naked juice brand is one the company is moving toward 100% RPET packaging. | Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock
PepsiCo spent about $200 million of its “Green Bond” to purchase recycled PET plastic over the past few years, according to the company.
CarbonLite’s 270,000-square-foot Reading, Pa. facility will eventually have the annual capacity to process 140 million pounds of post-consumer PET. | Courtesy of CarbonLite.
A major PET reclaimer has entered the polyolefins recycling business. The company also recently began production at a large facility in Pennsylvania.
Analysts say that new Chinese import regulations covering recycled pellets have created challenges for exporters of the material. | Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock
In the U.S., the plastics recycling market has been largely dictated by pandemic-related collection and demand realities. Overseas, a recent Chinese move to restrict recycled plastic pellet imports is posing trade challenges.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (left) with Sean Whiteley, Revolution’s CEO, at an event announcing the film processor’s expansion. | Lyndsay D. Photography
Revolution, a polyethylene reclaimer and recycled-plastic products manufacturer, is investing in its Arkansas site to boost its ability to produce recycled-content films.
The price of natural high-density polyethylene sorted at municipal recycling facilities surpassed 61 cents per pound for the first time.