Page 50 - Plastics News April 2025
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BUSINESS NEWS
those promises. environmental harm.
These pullbacks create ripple effects across the The impact of this misinformation is evident in
recycling value chain. Recyclers have invested in public opinion data. Just five years ago, around
infrastructure to meet the anticipated demand 15% of consumers questioned whether their re-
for recycled plastics. When companies reduce cyclables were truly recycled. Today, that figure
or delay their commitments, that infrastructure has more than doubled. This growing doubt has
becomes underutilized, which jeopardizes future tangible consequences: When consumers lose
investments and stalls the development of circu- confidence in recycling, they don’t stop buying
lar systems. plastic, they just stop putting it in the recycling
bin.
Customers consistently express a preference
for recyclable packaging and expect brands to The facts tell a different story. Plastics recycling
follow through on their environmental commit- in the U.S. diverts more than 5 billion pounds of
ments. Additionally, using PCR helps companies material annually, delivering significant environ-
reduce their carbon footprint and meet corpo- mental benefits like reduced greenhouse gas
rate social responsibility goals. So why are com- emissions and energy savings. We also have the
panies backing away? The answer often boils capacity to double that volume if more material
down to cost. As described earlier, recycled ma- is properly collected and sorted.
terial carries a price premium compared to virgin
resin. For recycling to succeed, that premium In 2025, APR will continue to push back against
must be viewed not as an unnecessary expense misinformation. We are committed to providing
but as an investment in sustainability. accurate, science-based information to policy-
makers, industry leaders and community pro-
In 2025, brands must recognize that inconsistent grams. Restoring trust in recycling is essential
demand weakens the entire system. Long-term if we want to build a truly circular economy for
contracts for PCR content can provide recyclers plastics.
with the market stability they need to continue
expanding capacity. Without this commitment, 5. States Take the Lead
the industry risks stagnating just when it needs In recent history, activity on recycling at the fed-
to grow. eral level has been limited. But states are filling
4. The Misinformation Battle the void to address plastics recycling challenges.
Extended producer responsibility programs that
There is no question that misinformation and dis- shift financial burdens to producers are gaining
information about plastics recycling have grown momentum across the U.S. This structure pro-
into major obstacles. In recent years, we’ve wit- vides a direct incentive for companies to design
nessed a concerted effort to undermine public more recyclable packaging and invest in recy-
confidence in recycling, often driven by groups cling systems.
advocating for the complete elimination of plas-
tics. Ironically, these attacks target one activity However, not all EPR programs are created
— recycling — that demonstrably reduces the equal. Many initial frameworks focus heavily
need for virgin plastic production and mitigates on the supply side — improving collection and
50 PLASTICS NEWS April 2025
