Big things come in recyclable packages

Many retailers vow to reach ambitious sustainability goals by making more of their packaging recyclable; the boldest players aim to increase the share of such material in their products to 50 percent by 2030. That could prove challenging, note senior partner Daniel Rexhausen and colleagues. The demand for postconsumer recycled plastic packaging is expected to increase threefold by 2030 while the supply of these materials is only expected to double.

The demand for recycled plastics is expected to far outpace the available supply by 2030.

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Two groups of plastic-product illustrations provide a simple comparison of the expected supply of recycled plastic in 2030, estimated to be around 60 million tons with the current-trajectory scenario, and its expected demand in 2030, estimated to be around 90 million tons.

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To read the article, see “Reimagine, reuse, recycle: How to reach sustainable packaging targets in retail,” December 14, 2023.