The American Chemistry Council has announced that the Procter & Gamble Co. has joined the Flexible Film Recycling Group (FFRG), a self-funded group that ACC says is driving unprecedented growth in the recovery of flexible polyethylene film, wraps, and bags.
“Optimizing and recovering packaging is a key part of our sustainability mission at P&G,” says Stephen Sikra, P&G Research and Development Manager. “Our aim is to reduce our environmental footprint as a company and that of the consumers who choose our products. Working with the FFRG and our value chain partners to expand film collection and recycling is a focused priority as we work toward that goal.”
Says Shari Jackson, Director of FFRG, “We’re extremely pleased to be working with P&G. National efforts to educate consumers about the recyclability of bags and wraps are already paying off, and having P&G on board will help extend our reach even further.”
The recycling of postconsumer plastic film surged 116 million pounds, or 11%, in 2013 to reach a reported 1.14 billion pounds, according to a recent report. This marks the highest annual collection of plastic film—a category that includes product wraps, bags, and commercial stretch film made primarily from PE for recycling, since the survey began in 2005.
Through its partnership initiatives, FFRG has supported the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s (SPC) store drop-off label for plastic film packaging and has helped to establish film recycling pilot programs around the country. In addition, FFRG is partnering with SPC and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers on the Wrap Action Recycling Program, or WRAP, which makes it easier for state and municipal governments, brands, and retailers to increase awareness of opportunities to recycle used PE wraps at local stores.
Founding members of the Flexible Film Recycling Group include Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, Chevron Phillips, Berry Plastics, Wisconsin Film and Bag, Sealed Air Corporation, SC Johnson, Avangard, and Trex.
