Kevin Kelly, CEO of California-based Emerald Packaging, said his company already internally recycles clear scrap plastics, but needs support to reach its diversion and PCR goals. | Praethip Docekalova/Shutterstock
Post-consumer resin is the way forward, the head of flexible film producer Emerald Packaging said. But it’s going to take commitment, collaboration and follow-through from many different actors to reach full PCR potential.
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The project, run by Return-It and the American Chemistry Council (ACC), resulted in about 94% usable plastic. | Huguette Roe/Shutterstock
In five months, Washington state residents in the greater Seattle area turned in over 25 tons of film to independent grocery stores as part of a pilot project. Continue Reading
Environmental group Oceana estimates Amazon produced 709 million pounds of plastic packaging in 2021. | oasisamuel/Shutterstock
Amazon recently disclosed data on its plastic packaging footprint and sustainability efforts. But where the online giant sees progress, an environmental group sees cherry-picked numbers.
ACI Plastics’ new extruder (at left) and wash line (at right) at the Flint, Mich. recycling plant. | Courtesy of ACI Plastics
ACI Plastics is approaching the finish line on its film line.
Waste Management (WM) has committed to investing more than $800 million to enhance recycling infrastructure, including $56 million to upgrade three Pacific Northwest materials recovery facilities (MRFs). | Pavel Kubarkov/Shutterstock
Dow and Waste Management are partnering on a pilot program that will give some Chicago residents the option of recycling plastic films curbside.
Global consulting firm McKinsey & Company views secondary sortation facilities and high prices for PCR as potential avenues for preventing non-bottle plastics from going to landfill. | TY Lim/Shutterstock
Plastics producers rolling out chemical recycling technologies can access new feedstock streams by helping to finance secondary sortation facilities, according to a McKinsey study.
The aims of the study were to document consumer access to recycling for LDPE film and flexible packaging within California, including store and municipal drop-off and MRF collection, and determine film quantity and quality. | artgray/Shutterstock
Recent research found that the average Californian has to drive for 6.2 minutes to reach their nearest PE film recycling location, and that store drop-off programs collect over 8,700 tons of the material each year.
The five finalists are Netherlands-based Blue Plastics, Austrian GAW Technologies and U.K. companies Impact Recycling, Mura Technology and Nextek. | Tiffy Studio/Shutterstock
Circular Solutions for Flexibles announced the five finalists in the running for its $3 million Alliance Prize for film recycling.
Based outside of Houston, Avangard recycles PE films used in the commercial sector. | Mega Pixel/Shutterstock
Reclaimer and equipment technology company Avangard Innovative plans to open a recycling facility in Indiana, slated to come on-line in 2024. Continue Reading
For NOVA Chemicals’ latest recycled resin product, PE is sourced from distribution center flexible film, a blend of back-of-store stretch and front-of-store consumer drop-off. | Courtesy of NOVA Chemicals
NOVA Chemicals launched a 100% mechanically recycled PE resin for use in films such as shrink, e-commerce, heavy-duty sacks and protective packaging.