Emerald Packaging joins US Flexible Film Initiative

Emerald Packaging Inc., a Union City, California-based supplier of retail flexible packaging for the produce industry, says it has joined the U.S. Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI), a nonprofit industry coalition dedicated to building a scalable, circular system for recycling flexible plastic packaging in the United States.

Emerald says it is the first associate member and first flexibles manufacturer to join the initiative, and notes that flexible packaging such as bags, wraps and pouches is a fast-growing segment of the plastics industry, though such items face recycling challenges.

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The coalition is comprised of major consumer companies including Mars Inc., PepsiCo Inc., Nestlé, General Mills, Mondelēz International and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and aims to provide funding to material recovery facilities (MRFs) and other recyclers to launch film and flexible plastic packaging recycling initiatives, with an initial focus on California.

“Unlike past efforts by industry, this one will provide subsidies to bridge the gap between the cost of recycling plastics, and the price companies can profitably sell it at,” Emerald says.

USFFI aims to scale recycling systems and move toward a model where flexible films are intentionally collected alongside other recyclables, especially curbside. Emerald says the initiative seeks to establish reliable markets for flexible materials as California implements its extended producer responsibility program under Senate Bill 54 (S.B. 54), which requires all single-use packaging and plastic food ware to be 100 percent recyclable or compostable by 2032.

“Joining USFFI aligns with Emerald’s belief that circularity is achievable when recyclers can sell the material at a profit,” Emerald CEO Kevin Kelly says. “Flexible packaging has long been the missing piece in the U.S. recycling system. By demonstrating that recyclers will process postconsumer flexible films when it’s economically viable, USFFI is helping to create a system that finally brings flexibles into the circular economy. We hope that by providing the concept, the Circular Action Alliance will direct EPR funds to bridge this critical gap.”

The Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is the producer responsibility organization (PRO) charged with implementing California’s EPR program under S.B. 54.

Laurie Hansen, a long-time consultant to the flexibles industry and government affairs advisor to Emerald, notes that this is the very first major effort by a manufacturer to get their packaging recycled.

“Emerald has for years been a leader, and joining USFFI with a major financial contribution shows their leadership is serious about recycling flexible packaging,” Hansen says. “Other manufacturers should be following in their footsteps before it’s too late to act.”

Maite Quinn-Richards, USFFI’s executive director, says the group is proud to welcome Emerald as an associate member and invites other brands, retailers and packaging converters to join and add their resources to the effort.

“Expanding our membership strengthens the funding pool and accelerates market development,” Quinn-Richards says.