Joint report highlights industry-led source reduction progress

The American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN), the Consumer Brands Association and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) have released a report, delivered by Smithers, that estimates that industry-led source reduction efforts have decreased United States packaging volume by about 5 million metric tons between 2019 and 2024, despite the growth of e-commerce and a subsequent increase in packaging demand.

The organizations say the study provides an independent assessment of the U.S. packaging industry’s substantial progress in reducing and optimizing packaging over the last decade.

“Consumers are at the heart of everything we do, and packaging is a critical piece of ensuring our industry’s products remain safe and accessible,” says John Hewitt, senior vice president of packaging and sustainability for the Arlington, Virginia-based Consumer Brands Association. “Packaging’s fundamental function is to protect the American consumer and the products they love. This report shows that our industry has made great strides in source reduction efforts. As we look to the future, continued progress must not come at the expense of consumer or product safety.”

Lynn Dyer, executive director of Springfield, Massachusetts-based AMERIPEN, says packaging already is being optimized to protect the product inside, while minimizing packaging costs.

“As we contemplate future optimization efforts, we must consider other sustainability goals and mandates like recyclability, increased recycled content usage and reduced greenhouse gas emissions," she says. "Failure to do so may result in unintended consequences for consumers and the planet.”

The organizations say brands are voluntarily adopting solutions such as lightweighting, material shifts and refillable or reusable packaging, and these actions show a shared commitment to sustainability and illustrate how innovation delivers measurable results across the industry.

“Industry-focused innovation is driving real progress in packaging sustainability,” says Katie Reilly, vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability at Arlington, Virginia-based CTA. “Durable goods manufacturers recognize that source reduction is not just about sustainability—it’s about maintaining product integrity while innovating responsibly. This report reinforces that reduction goals must be balanced to protect products from breakage, serve customers and maintain our complex global supply chains.”

As source reduction continues to be a topic of discussion across state legislatures, the organizations say their report highlights the progress that has been achieved and provides important insights into the challenges brands face in future reductions.