Amcor reports progress toward packaging goal

Zurich-based Amcor has touted its success toward meeting its goal to have all the packaging it produces be reusable or recyclable by 2025. The company says it is innovating its products with recycling and reuse in mind, collaborating with others to make recycling widely available and informing consumers about their role in keeping waste out of the environment.

The company says it invests $100 million annually in research and development (R&D), which in part has led to the development of the AmLite HeatFlex solution for retort packaging. The company claims this is the world’s first recyclable pouch for goods such as pet food and microwaveable soups.

Amcor says the impact of its R&D investments can be seen in its sales, with $7.7 billion in Amcor revenue generated from packaging that meets recyclability guidelines, including:

• its AmPrima portfolio of more sustainable packaging solutions, available in a wide range of formats;
• Eco-Tite R. the first recyclable shrink bag for meat and cheese;
• AmLite Recyclable metal-free packaging for a range of food and health care applications; and
• improvements in the use of postconsumer recycled (PCR) content in rigid packaging, including the commercialization of many 100 percent PCR solutions and more than 100 million pounds of recycled content being used annually over the last four years.

Amcor says it is working to increase sustainability-related features—such as reducing weight, which decreases the product’s CO2 impact—and offers customers alternative solutions. 

Effective waste management infrastructure is critical to prevent packaging from ending up in the environment, the company says. To address this issue at scale and improve the consistency of infrastructure across the world, Amcor says it collaborates with experts to run pilot programs, align standards and advise on how to expand and improve waste management and recycling infrastructure so more packaging that can be recycled is recycled:

• Amcor has worked with Materials Recovery for the Future (MRFF) to promote recycling of flexible packaging in the U.S.
• The company also has worked with with CEFLEX (A Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging) to develop recycling infrastructure for flexible packaging in Europe.
• Finally, Amcor is a member of the EMF Project Barrier, an initiative to develop a global design-for-recyclability standard for packaging traditionally seen as difficult to recycle.

The company adds that it is working with its customers to improve consumer understanding and participation in recycling and reuse. Its research has revealed consumer confusion regarding recycling labels, which impacts recycling rates. Through product innovation, Amcor is also increasing its use of PCR and postindustrial resin, which the company says proves the effectiveness of recycling to consumers and reduces the use of virgin plastic:

• In 2020, Amcor says it used 83,917 metric tons of PCR as it pushes for its target of 10 percent PCR across its portfolio by 2025.
• Amcor’s rigid packaging has been certified as 95 percent compliant with the Consumer Goods’ Forum’s industry-leading design-rules to encourage recycling, with more and more of Amcor’s packaging meeting these rules across, according to the company.
• For its client L’Oreal, the company has produced a bottle with 86 percent PCR for All Nighter setting spray, which will save 46 tons of virgin plastic from being produced.  

“The progress that we have made since we became the first packaging company to commit to the 2025 target is remarkable and is a tribute to Amcor’s absolute focus on reducing waste and improving sustainability,” David Clark, Amcor vice president for sustainability, says. “Although we’re not finished yet, our results to date speak for themselves—Amcor is still leading the industry and addressing the challenges of recyclability with innovation, collaboration and information.