The Recycling Partnership launched its PET Recycling Coalition, an initiative informed by industry knowledge and expertise to improve PET (plastic #1) circularity.
Its work will focus on addressing four key opportunities to increase recycling of this valuable material:
•Increasing the capture of bottles
•Broadening the acceptance of PET trays, cups and clamshells in community recycling collection programs
•Unlocking new supplies of recycled PET for packaging manufacturers
•Strengthening recycling systems for pigmented and opaque PET
PET plastic is in high demand for use in textiles such as clothing and carpet (where it is known as polyester) and it’s the most common type of plastic utilized in liquid bottles and food packaging. While eliminating unnecessary usage is important, increased PET recycling is another critical step in advancing circularity. Most Americans with recycling access are able to recycle PET bottles; however, just 54 percent can recycle other types of PET packaging like plastic egg cartons and fruit containers. Furthermore, the recycling rate for PET bottles was only 26.6 percent in 2021. While most PET never makes it into the recycling bin due to insufficient access and participation, as much as 17 percent of bottles that are recovered are lost at materials recovery facilities due to sortation challenges. By supporting solutions identified by the PET Recycling Coalition, there is a great opportunity to increase recovery and reduce plastic waste and help make progress toward packaging circularity goals.
The PET Recycling Coalition will make grants to recycling facilities for sorting equipment and related capital needs. These upgrades will improve PET bottle capture, deliver more rPET for use back into bottles and thermoforms, increase the acceptance of non-bottle rigid items and strengthen recycling opportunities for pigmented and opaque PET. Through grants, technical assistance, and knowledge sharing, the Coalition envisions a thriving PET recycling system that captures significantly more material, enabling more circular PET packaging with increased amounts of recycled content.
The PET Recycling Coalition is part of The Recycling Partnership’s Pathway to Circularity Initiative and aims to advance the circularity of all packaging. The Coalition is supported by and open to members representing all segments of the material’s value chain, including founding steering committee members Eastman, Indorama Ventures, Procter & Gamble, and the Walmart Foundation.
Published in the August 2022 Edition