Graham Packaging receives ISCC Plus certification

Graham Packaging has announced that its Evansville, Indiana, location has received International Sustainability and Carbon Certificate (ISCC) Plus, a certification that enables the site to sell customers ISCC Plus certified postconsumer resin (PCR) that was created through chemical recycling. Graham received the certificate from SCS Global Services, Emeryville, California, an international leader in third-party certification, validation and verification for environmental, sustainability, and food safety.

ISCC Plus is an internationally recognized system of certifying products that result from advanced, or chemical, recycling using mass balance attribution of postuse plastic. This certification provides traceability along the supply chain.

 “We are proud to be one of the few rigid packaging companies who are ISCC Plus certified to use advanced PCR,” says Tracee Auld, chief sustainability and growth officer. “This is a great milestone for Graham Packaging and will help us to meet our long-term goal of incorporating an average of 20 percent PCR across all bottles by 2025.”

With this certification, Graham adds advanced recycled material to its portfolio of mechanically recycled content. This advanced recycled material can be substituted for up to 100 percent of virgin resin in a container, delivering identical material performance while also helping to reduce the packaging’s overall carbon footprint, the company says.

“ISCC Plus certification is a major milestone on our sustainability mission because it will allow Graham Packaging to provide our customers packaging solutions made from sustainable, food-grade PCR,” says Marcelo Passos, president of Graham’s food and nutrition business unit. “We are proud of this work to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainability.”

Richa Desai, director of sustainability at Graham, says, “We see advanced recycling as a complementary process to mechanical recycling and will use both in our dedicated mission to create sustainable packaging.”

The company, which is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, says it plans to earn ISCC certification for additional facilities across its global locations in the future.