Creating a Path Towards the Future of Plastics Recycling

Recycling works. It is essential, along with reduction and reuse, in the ever-evolving landscape to create a circular economy. As an international non-profit and the only North American organization focused exclusively on improving recycling for plastics, it has remained the focus of APR's work for over 30 years. We stand at a pivotal moment, where the actions we take today can significantly shape the future of our planet.

Improving plastics recycling requires the collaborative efforts of many. While reclaimers, the companies that recycle plastics every day, are the core of APR, our members represent the entire interconnected recycling industry, including every link of the chain from initial design to eventual manufacturing. APR membership has now grown to more than 300 member companies, including 68 companies that have been members for 10+ years and 22 companies for 20+ years.

We expanded our team of skilled and knowledgeable professionals to better serve the industry and our members. Check out the full APR team here. We were also pleased to announce that APR's President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Policy Officer were recognized as Notable Leaders in Sustainability by Plastics News in 2023. 

The plastics recycling industry faces headwinds on many fronts. Although the release of the 2022 U.S. Post-Consumer Plastic Recycling Data highlights these challenges, it also reports that North American recyclers kept over five billion pounds of plastic out of landfills in 2022. 

We look forward to working with our members to address these challenges as we create a path forward in 2024 and beyond to improve circularity for plastic.

Improving Recycling Through Public Policy

Policymakers at every level of government are looking for solutions to reduce plastic pollution, and the APR greatly expanded its policy efforts in 2023 to champion the economic and environmental benefits of scaling plastics recycling and the needed policy solutions. The APR elevated its profile as a solutions-driven organization focused on three priorities: collect more plastics for recycling, ensure more plastic packaging is designed to be recycled, and strengthen market demand for using more recycled content in more product lines. In addition to advocating for new policies, APR also provides credible, technical support for policy development and implementation to agency staff and other stakeholders. In addition, APR staff are frequent speakers and leading voices at national conferences, webinars, and in media on the role of recycling and effective policy solutions.

Across the States

The APR prioritizes state-level policies and rulemaking as the most influential vehicle for success. APR focuses on supporting well-crafted Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Minimum Recycled Content policies. The APR engages with key states through several activities, including lobbying, meeting with elected officials, submitting testimony, working with coalition partners, providing technical bill language, and other efforts. In 2023, APR supported bills in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Washington. In addition, APR provided feedback on policy implementation in California, Oregon, and Washington. APR also developed resources for members on recycled content legislation. 

Federal Activity

APR supported two national bills to improve recycling data and access, and also met with 10 Senate offices in support of a national recycling refund program for beverage containers.

APR advised on national strategy and provided technical resources on several federal agency programs and rulemakings, including the EPA Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution and the FTC Green Guides. APR was also selected as a panelist during the FTC Green Guides hearing. In addition, APR frequently met with several federal agencies on both federal initiatives and the global plastics pollution negotiations, including staff with the White House Council on Environmental Equality (CEQ), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the US State Department, the US Trade Representative (USTR), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). APR presented the APR Design® Guide as a national and global model during an interagency workshop with over ten agencies in attendance.

Global Efforts

APR also spoke on an official UN panel during the negotiations and then during two UN webinars before the next round of negotiations. The APR Design® Guide has been referenced as a global model for recycling standards, and APR also met with elected officials and key stakeholders in the EU to highlight our efforts to harmonize design standards with RecyClass. As we head into the fourth round of global negotiations, read more about APR's key priorities and our takeaways on the global momentum.  

Working with Canada

APR joined the Canada Plastics Pact and engaged a Senior Advisor to build relationships with key organizations in Canada and position APR as a North American leader with key tools and resources focused on improving plastics recycling. APR has engaged with leading Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) in Canada and is also informing the development of Canadian policies and standards by participating in multi-stakeholder engagement processes, serving as a member of the Oversight Task Force for the Canadian Standards Association Group's Plastics Recycling Standard, submitting comments on Canadian labeling requirements, and consulted with USDA on trade implications of Canadian policies. 

Taking Action to Improve Plastics Packaging Recyclability 

Global Harmonization Efforts

APR and RecyClass culminated a year-long collaboration to accelerate global alignment of Design for Recycling Guidance with the publication of a report detailing accomplishments and key milestones. 

First launched in 2022, the Global Design Guidance Catalog outlines the most current plastic packaging recyclability guidelines for different countries and regions around the world. We expanded coverage to 12 countries in 2023 and added additional packaging parameters. The catalog includes recyclability evaluations for rigid PET, HDPE, PP, and flexible PE film packaging.

Continuous Improvement to the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability

APR published a first of its kind, multi-material 2d3d sorting potential test method, "Evaluation of the 2D/3D Sorting Potential of a Whole Article," developed through supporting funding from the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). This completes the series of Sorting Potential Test Methods, which also includes test methods that assess how package design affects Near Infrared (NIR), Size, Metal, and Color Sortation. These test methods enable brands and their suppliers to assess how packaging performs at each step of the sortation required to make it through the full recycling process.

Through the collaborative efforts of APR's Technical Committees, the APR Design® Guide has been continuously improved and updated. Recent work includes:

PET Technical Committee

• Developed and approved new practice for aging oxygen scavengers.
• Researched rPET Color reduction identifying the sources of contamination in six commercial samples of washed rPET.
• Created a working group to focus on the effects of labels and effectiveness of delabelers.
• The Label working group quantified the type of label systems in PET stream.

Olefins Technical Committee

• Updated guidance on EVOH, as well as density & closures on natural HD.

The Films & Flexibles Committee

• Developed a working group to focus on testing and guidance for inks and metallization.
• The laminating adhesive working group produced reprocessed blown films per APR's Critical Guidance protocol for testing the effect of various laminating adhesives on recycling.
• Updated label adhesive guidance.
• Approved PE Mono-Film for Preferred Design Recognition.

Expanding APR Design® Recognition and Training

Once again, a significant number of companies were recognized in the past year for improving the recyclability of their packaging. Companies receive APR Design® Recognition through 4 pathways: 

• PET, HDPE and PP base resins
• Label ink and adhesive structures for PET
• Label constructions for PET, colored HDPE and PP
• Closures for PET, colored HDPE, and PP
• PP bottles & containers
• PP packaging constructions
• Mono Material PE stretch and collation films

Additional categories are in progress and planned to be implemented in 2024 as the APR Design® Guide is regularly updated.

Significant new technologies, or package components that solve long-standing problems in sustainable package design, received Critical Guidance Recognition. APR was pleased to recognize 47 innovations in 2023. Specific areas of impact include:

• Mono-material tubes recyclable in HDPE or PP rigid streams.
• Barrier films (coated or multilayer laminated, compatibilizers for barrier materials) recyclable with PE flexible films.
• New barrier resin (PEF) and catalyst for PET production,
• New cPET shrink sleeves.

The APR conducted 9 APR Design® Guide Training sessions over the past year, where our experienced staff explains the recycling process, and helps align teams on how to design for recyclability and why it's important. This helps companies meet voluntary and legislative requirements, communicate better with customers, improve the supply of high-quality PCR, and reduce plastic waste going to landfills. Watch our video to hear first-hand experiences with APR® Design Training: 

Examining the Potential for Pyrolysis to Complement Mechanical Recycling

Supporting a Reliable, Robust PCR Market

The APR Design® Guide and the APR PCR Certification Program work hand in hand to ensure products are Circular by Design™. 

The program has now grown to include 26 companies that have met the necessary qualifications to provide certified recycled content. APR hired a new Program Director to lead the next phase of the program which includes expanding the program to the product level. 

Communicating the Facts About Recycling Plastics

With a focus on counteracting a rising tide of misinformation and fostering rational, fact-based dialogue around plastics recycling, APR continues to develop a variety of content and resources highlighting the tools needed to scale recycling effectively as a key solution to reduce plastic waste and move toward a more sustainable, circular economy.

Social Media

APR's social media channels continued to grow now surpassing 24,000 followers on LinkedIn, our primary social media platform. APR continues to rank on LinkedIn as not only the #1 most followed organization in our field, but also the fastest growing and most engaged with recycling organization in North America  

Podcast and Webinars

APR's educational webinar series has also continued to tackle issues of interest, with record attendance for the Plastics Recycling Myth Busters session which set the facts straight on some recently circulated misinformation about recycling plastics. Other topics covered in 2023 included APR Design® Recognition, Policy, and Boosting Demand for Recycled Plastics. 

In the Press and on the Blog

APR publishes regular blog posts covering a wide range of subjects including APR Programs, UN Global Negotiations, Plastics News' Notable Leaders in Sustainability, APR's testimony for the Senate EPW Committee, EPR, issues with wide-spec virgin plastic, and much more. We welcome contributions from members and other organizations.

APR works to get ahead of the stories that affect our industry. We gather facts and data, develop press releases, announcements, statements, fact sheets, and additional resources to set the facts straight. Our insights and programs are regularly featured in trusted industry publications including Resource Recycling, Plastics News, Recycling Today, as well as national publications including the Washington Post, New York Times, Politico, and The Hill.

APR Members are Committed to the Success of Plastics Recycling.

We know the ongoing challenges facing our industry will not simply disappear, but we will continue our path forward taking advantage of available opportunities, while creating more along the way.