The American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division (ACC) is pleased to announce that Amcor, the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), and Procter & Gamble have been selected to receive Innovation in Plastics Recycling Awards in 2017.
The awards recognize companies, nonprofits, and government bodies that successfully bring new technologies, products, and initiatives to communities and the marketplace, which demonstrate significant innovations in plastics recycling. ACC announced the awards today in celebration of America Recycles Day.
The 2017 winners are recognized for supporting end markets for recycled plastics. With China’s National Sword taking effect, more recycled material is staying in the United States, and there is an opportunity to grow domestic end markets for recycled plastics.
“This year’s award recipients are doing critical work to help support and grow domestic end markets for recycled plastics,” said Craig Cookson, senior director of recycling and energy recovery for ACC. “The honorees are leaders in innovation, helping to ensure that valuable recycled plastics are being kept out of landfills and used in new products.”
- Amcor created a mono-material plastic pouch that contains 20 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. In addition, Amcor notes that the pouch itself can be recycled along with other mono-material plastic bags and product overwraps at drop-off locations, which educates consumers about how to recycle various packaging materials, including plastics. The latest company to use Amcor’s innovative pouch is Method.
- APR launched its Recycling Demand Champions Campaign to encourage the use of recycled plastics in durable products. Demand Champions voluntarily commit to purchase “Work in Progress” items such as crates, totes, and pallets that contain PCR resin produced from mixed residential plastics. Since the campaign’s launch in fall 2017, more than ten companies have taken the Recycling Demand Champion Pledge.
- P&G worked with PureCycle Technologies to develop a recycling technology that produces high-quality recycled polypropylene (PP), increasing the variety of end-market applications for the material. P&G plans to use the recycled PP in more of its packaging and says that the recycled PP will be available for other companies to purchase through PureCycle.
For more information, visit www.americanchemistry.com/plastics.