It is the first such coalition to include CPG companies, nonprofits and universities.
What is the small format packaging?
The Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) defines small-format products and packaging as items less than 2 inches in two dimensions and has developed associated sorting protocols for further testing.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) estimates that 10% of all packaging by weight is small. The small format is commonly used in cosmetics and catering (e.g. screens used for sorting in Material Recovery Centers (MRF). Due to these challenges, the majority of small formats go to landfill or have the potential to become waste, rather than being captured as valuable material that can be used in other products and packaging via a more circular path.
Jennifer Park, Head of Collective Action at TSC, said: “This is an exciting collaboration between thought leaders from businesses, NGOs, recycling and academia who come together to solve a complex problem in the consumer goods industry and communities. The work is already providing important information on how to improve the circularity of the small format. “
“Addressing the recycling of small format packaging, which represents a significant part of our portfolio, requires a systemic approach. We hope this coalition will identify meaningful and scalable solutions, ”said Matt Kopac, Associate Director, Sustainability.
Going forward, TSC and its partners will lead a coalition to:
- Carry out a characterization study of small format waste, including a projection of the volume and scale of collection to estimate the economic value and
- Model and test MRF secondary sorting technologies and capacities.