Glenroy’s pouch receives approval from NexTrex recycling program

Glenroy Inc., a packaging manufacturer in Milwaukee, has announced it has been approved for the NextTrex recycling program for its Trurenu Poly Packaging. The approval comes from Trex Co., a wood-alternative decking and railing manufacturer in Winchester, Virginia, that launched NexTrex to help brands inform consumers that their packaging can be recycled into Trex decking.

According to a news release from Glenroy, the company has submitted its TruRenu stand-up pouch for assessment and acceptance for recycling through Trex’s NexTrex Recycling Program. Trex introduced the NexTrex package testing and labeling initiative earlier this year. The initiative is focused on sourcing, collecting and qualifying polyethylene (PE) film materials for use in Trex’s composite decking.

Trex reclaims and repurposes more than 850 million pounds of PE scrap and wood scrap annually through commercial partnerships and community programs. Among its largest sources of plastic are grocery stores and other retailers that partner with Trex to dispose of shopping bags and PE film that used to wrap products and pallets.

To qualify for the certified NexTrex label, product packaging must be made of PE and pass three stages of testing to ensure that it meets the criteria for use in the Trex manufacturing process. 

Packaging producers and brand owners  can have packaging tested for free by Trex, which provides a report assessing three key areas: 

• package and film recyclability;
• risk and impact of product contamination; and,
• effect and risk of “look-alike” package contamination. 

To meet the latter criteria, 75 percent of competitive packaging in the marketplace also must be made of PE packaging to avoid confusion with nonrecyclable material. Once packaging is validated by Trex, a certification is issued to the brand owner, and the brand will be authorized to use the NexTrex Recycled Packaging Label. 

“Qualifying for the NexTrex program adds both perceived and tangible value to our flexible packaging that our brand partners can then pass on to consumers,” says Evan Arnold, vice president of business development for Glenroy Inc. “We are confident that this affiliation and certification will drive consumer participation in recycling and have a positive impact on reducing plastic waste–one pouch at a time.”

Glenroy says its TruRenu stand-up pouch has passed the first stage of the NexTrex testing process. This means the virgin packaging material is made of PE and meets the company’s general recycling standards.

However, the recyclability of the packaging through the NexTrex program will depend on what the packaging contained, so brands using Glenroy’s TruRenu stand-up pouch will need to have the packaging tested for acceptance in the next two stages.

“Highlighting NexTrex certification on the product packaging allows brands to inform consumers about how to easily and responsibly dispose of packaging material while also promoting their commitment to sustainability,” says Dave Heglas, senior director of supply chain excellence for Trex Co. “With the NexTrex label, consumers know exactly where their recycled plastic is headed and that it will one day find new life as a beautiful Trex deck.”