APR Press Release: APR Recycling Demand Champions Campaign Announces Three Year Impact and Growth During Virtual APR Member Meeting

Accelerating growth in demand for recycled plastics.

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is pleased to announce that its program designed to expand market demand for recycled plastics has generated more than 175 million pounds of new demand for postconsumer resin (PCR) in its tremendously successful third year. The APR announced the latest program results during the Virtual APR Member Meeting being held this week.

First launched in 2018 the APR Recycling Demand Champions Campaign has grown exponentially in its first three years. The first year of the program increased demand for PCR by 6.8 million pounds, and the second year increased demand for PCR by 25.9 million pounds.

"We are thrilled with the growth we have experienced over the past year, particularly during the challenges the world faced in 2020," commented Ali Briggs-Ungerer, APR's Director of Market Development. "While the crisis caused by the pandemic rages on, many big name brand companies that had previously announced great initiatives to use more PCR in their products scaled back their sustainability goals. The companies participating in the APR Recycling Demand Champions Campaign are true leaders."

The APR Recycling Demand Champions that increased their use of PCR in the past year include:

• Annie's
• Automated Drop Stations, LLC (Blusion Laundry)
• Avangard Innovative
• Berry Global
• Champion Infiltrator
• Chick-fil-A
• Clean Tech Inc.
• Coldkeepers, LLC
• Colgate Palmolive Company
• Dart Container Corporation
• Dow
• EcoEnclose
• EFS-plastics Inc.
• Fabri-Kal Corporation
• Happy Family Organics
• Keurig Dr. Pepper
• Nestle Waters North America
• Novolex
• PAC Worldwide
• Pactiv Evergreen Inc.
• PakTech
• PepsiCo
• Procter & Gamble
• Rehrig Pacific Co.
• Revolution
• ScottsMiracle-Gro
• Target
• The Toro Company
• Unilever
• UPM Raflatac
• Viva
• Waste Management

Collectively, the APR Demand Champions increased their PCR purchasing by 175.4 million pounds in 2020. This level of demand increase has resulted in major economic and environmental benefits: preventing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 45,494 passenger vehicles driven for one year, creating 2,000 jobs in plastics recycling, and providing a new life for a years' worth of all of the plastic recyclables from a city the size of Chicago, IL (2,695,598 population).

"Creating new market demand, which is essential to the success of plastics recycling, is a key focus for APR," said Steve Alexander, President & CEO of APR. "Even in these rapidly changing times, some facts remain – a strong and effective recycling chain is of paramount importance to protecting the environment and achieving climate and economic sustainability."

Contact:
Kara Pochiro
APR VP of Communications & Public Affairs
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is The Voice of Plastics Recycling^®. As the international trade association representing the plastics recycling industry, membership includes independent recycling companies of all sizes, processing numerous resins, as well as consumer product companies, equipment manufacturers, testing laboratories, organizations, and others committed to the success of plastics recycling. APR advocates the recycling of all plastics. Visit www.PlasticsRecycling.org for more information.