Page 43 - Plastics News November 2025
P. 43
BUSINESS NEWS
WHY 2025 POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED (PCR)
TARGETS ARE SLIPPING
ment within a decade. Companies now treat re-
cycled content as central to packaging design
and compliance. Industry data show that aver-
age PCR use in packaging rose from 5.3% in 2019
to 10.7% in 2023.
Legislative action accelerated this shift. Califor-
nia, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington passed
extended producer responsibility laws, while
California mandated 15% recycled content in
CR use doubled since 2019, yet 2025 beverage bottles by 2022. Global Plastics Trea-
packaging targets slip from supply, costs, ty negotiations added further momentum.
Pand infrastructure gaps—what must
change to meet 2030 goals? Despite these drivers, recycled plastics meet
only 6% of global demand. Analysts forecast a
Between 2020 and the pandemic years, global 5 million metric ton shortfall by 2030. These fig-
consumer goods companies pledged ambitious ures underline the scale of the challenge and the
goals for plastic packaging. Many promised that urgency for coordinated solutions.
at least 25% of their packaging would contain Barriers to Progress: Why Brands Are Falling
post-consumer recycled (PCR) content by 2025. Short
These commitments reflected strong consumer
expectations and mounting regulatory pressure. Despite momentum, several structural barriers
explain why companies miss 2025 recycled con-
Five years later, the results are mixed. PCR use tent goals.
in packaging has doubled since 2019, yet most
brands remain far from their 2025 milestones. The first challenge is supply. Food-grade PCR
The gap between ambition and delivery now remains limited; when available, it often costs
raises critical questions: What slowed progress more than virgin resin. Quality is inconsistent,
despite rising investment and legislation? Where with contamination and performance issues re-
have companies succeeded against the odds? stricting use. Most curbside recycling systems
Most importantly, what practical lessons can collect only PET and HDPE, leaving polypropyl-
guide the industry toward realistic and scalable ene items like pumps and caps underserved.
solutions for 2030? These constraints make it difficult for brands to
secure stable, affordable supply chains.
The Global Push for PCR
Infrastructure is another critical bottleneck. A
Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic has shift-
ed from a niche solution to a strategic require- Recycling Partnership report shows that 40% of
Americans lack access to basic recycling. Ana-
November 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 43
