Industry Alliance Commits to Boost Recycled Content In Plastic Bags

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance (ARPBA) reiterated its commitment to use more recycled plastic in the forthcoming years. The coalition of plastic bag manufacturers announced several commitments related to recycled content and recyclability.

According to ARPBA, its members have committed to selling products with 10% recyclable content by 2021. This will be further raised to 15% by 2023 and 20% by 2025. The commitment by the group covers all recycled plastic, including both post-industrial and PCR. Consequently, the group anticipates more investment in PCR resin recovery systems.

Matt Seaholm, executive director of the ARPBA commended the industry’s efforts to build adequate recycling infrastructure to recycle plastic bags and other plastic films into new products. The recent renaming of the alliance reflects efforts of its members as a coalition to boost plastic bag recycling.

Estimates suggest that the current reuse rate of plastic grocery bags is around 78%. The sustainability commitment signed by the alliance targets 95% reuse or recycle rate for plastic bags by 2025. The Alliance will collaborate with retailers to ensure that less number of plastic bags leave the stores.

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