NAPCOR Roadmap: U.S. PET Industry Targets Major Emissions Cuts by 2050

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The U.S. PET packaging industry could substantially reduce its environmental footprint over the next three decades while continuing to expand production, according to a new decarbonization roadmap released by the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR).

Developed by independent environmental consultancy Eastern Research Group (ERG), the roadmap expects the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity from major PET beverage bottle systems to fall by approximately 57% by 2050. Despite expected production growth, annual emissions could decline by about 42%.

The analysis covers 16.9-ounce water bottles and 16.9-ounce, 20-ounce, and 2-liter carbonated soft drink bottles.

The roadmap indicates that reductions could begin well before 2050. Emissions intensity for the 16.9-ounce water bottle system could decrease by about 44% by 2035 from its 2023 baseline. The three carbonated soft drink systems could achieve reductions ranging from approximately 35% to 43%.

According to NAPCOR, lightweighting, renewable energy and manufacturing efficiency could deliver near-term gains. Improved collection and sorting mechanisms, expanded recycling capacity and higher recycled PET content could provide additional reductions over time.

The roadmap highlights the importance of coordinated action across the PET value chain in order to achieve the projected emissions reductions.