Innovating for the future – delivering recyclable packaging
Sustainability
January 27, 2021Reading time: 3 minutes
As a leading global packaging company, we believe Amcor’s role in the packaging supply chain is to create the best packaging, for our customers, for their consumers and for the environment.
As a leading global packaging company, we believe Amcor’s role in the packaging supply chain is to create the best packaging, for our customers, for their consumers and for the environment.
This means creating a responsible system in which consumers enjoy all the benefits of packaging that science can offer, while knowing it will not end up in the environment. In practice, the quickest and most effective way to do that is to ensure packaging gets recycled. So, in 2018 we were the first packaging company worldwide to set ourselves an industry leading target – to make all of our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
This January marks the third anniversary of that pledge and we are proud to report on the significant progress we have already made towards our target. Today nearly US $8bn of our revenue is generated from packaging that’s designed to be recycled. While we are on track to reach that 2025 goal, our aspiration is to move quickly with the aim of beating our 2025 target.
Delivering on our pledge, so that all of our packaging is recyclable or reusable by 2025 will be a major step to delivering a more circular system for plastics. However, to create a circular system you need two other parts of the puzzle: recycling infrastructure which enables products to be recycled at scale globally; and informed consumers to increase participation in recycling and reuse. This blog is the first in a three-part series which addresses each of these stages and how Amcor participates at each stage to drive forward positive change.
How to deliver more sustainable packaging innovation
How are we achieving this goal? We’ve deployed our world-class research and development (R&D) experts to focus their efforts on our product portfolio and deliver packaging that is recyclable or reusable as fast as possible.
This is no small challenge; our customers require thousands of technically sophisticated products with highly demanding features and we operate in more than 40 countries. However, we have found that through significant investment in R&D – we spend $100M annually – powered by a collaborative global network of the top talent, we’ve been able to accelerate innovation and achieve huge technological breakthroughs.
For technically challenging products, where solutions do not already exist that combine product performance with recyclability, we have assembled groups of engineers in innovation streams to seek scalable solutions. This allows us to enhance collaboration and to deliver ground-breaking expertise and winning outcomes for all our stakeholders.
Delivering innovations
Just a few months ago, Amcor delivered a technological breakthrough. With our partner Nestle, we announced the world’s first recyclable retort pouch for their Felix wet cat-food brand. The solution uses our AmLiteTM technology and an innovative plastic film to deliver the same performance as the conventional, non-recyclable product. In December, we announced the application of this same technology for microwavable rice pouches with Mars Foods demonstrating this solution can be applied to a wide range of products.
When European meat and cheese producers were looking for an alternative to PVDC packaging, which is not recyclable in mechanical or chemical recycling streams, Amcor launched Eco-Tite® R, a designed-to-be-recycled, PVDC-free shrink bag for fresh and processed meat, poultry and some cheeses. This more sustainable solution does not compromise on performance, using Eco-Tite® R to maximize shelf-life while maintaining safety and reducing food waste.
Learn about more of our innovations
AmPrima™ – A portfolio of more sustainable packaging solutions, that are designed to be recycled with no compromise on performance.
Amcor high-barrier paperboard trays – Perfect for meat, seafood, cheese, ready meals and more. They are made with lightweight recycled material and are easy for consumers to recycle.
Meeting our pledge
Packaging provides substantial benefits to society and will always have a role to play in delivering the products consumers need. Through better design, and the drive of our people, we’re helping create a more sustainable future. We are also making great progress – by weight, 61% of our Flexible packaging, over 95% of our Rigid packaging and 100% of our Specialty Cartons portfolio is recyclable – but we know we’re not done. In the four years to come, we’re more determined than ever to break through and meet our aspiration that all of our products will be recyclable or reusable by 2025.
As we look past Amcor’s product innovation, it’s important that equal attention is paid to the next pieces of the puzzle – effective recycling infrastructure and broad participation. However well-designed products are, if the facilities to recycle them have not been built or people do not use them, the benefits for the environment will be severely reduced. Keep an eye out on our blog page for the second part in this series which will focus on this issue, our work to collaborate with partners in this area and the critical need for investment in infrastructure.
