Recycling and Packaging: The Intersection of Two Industries
Sustainable Packaging Symposium (SPS)
2020
2020 Sustainable Packaging Symposium
Abstract Submissions
Plenary Talk 6/29
Monday, June 29, 2020 - 1:05pm to 1:30pm
From the beginning of time, humans have recycled -initially out necessity, but eventually, recycling became a global trade supplying feedstock to the manufacturing industry. By the 20th century, markets for metals and paper ebbed and flowed in a commodity-based market system.
While commercial and industrial recycling still functions in much the same way, in the 1990’s local policies began to emphasis the growth of residential recycling programs as a solid waste disposal alternative. Residential recycling programs focused on building supply without corresponding policies to create sufficient demand. As a result, recyclables moved to countries that needed the feedstock for their growing economics. For several decades, as residential recycling programs grew, export demand kept our supply and demand in balance.
Fast forward to 2017. China’s changing policies to clean up their environment disrupted global recycling markets. The result was a reduction of 50% of the world’s demand for mixed paper and mixed plastic, which drove down global commodity prices. Ironically, this led to new technology investments to improve the quality of recyclable feedstock and to improve efficiency in order to improve the economics of recycling.
As the pandemic hit, MRFs that had made these investments saw their investments pay off with systems that could continue to function in a COVID environment.
In this session, we’ll talk about the role of packaging design, recycling technology, material quality, policy and economics -drawing from past experiences to imagine our vision for the future.
While commercial and industrial recycling still functions in much the same way, in the 1990’s local policies began to emphasis the growth of residential recycling programs as a solid waste disposal alternative. Residential recycling programs focused on building supply without corresponding policies to create sufficient demand. As a result, recyclables moved to countries that needed the feedstock for their growing economics. For several decades, as residential recycling programs grew, export demand kept our supply and demand in balance.
Fast forward to 2017. China’s changing policies to clean up their environment disrupted global recycling markets. The result was a reduction of 50% of the world’s demand for mixed paper and mixed plastic, which drove down global commodity prices. Ironically, this led to new technology investments to improve the quality of recyclable feedstock and to improve efficiency in order to improve the economics of recycling.
As the pandemic hit, MRFs that had made these investments saw their investments pay off with systems that could continue to function in a COVID environment.
In this session, we’ll talk about the role of packaging design, recycling technology, material quality, policy and economics -drawing from past experiences to imagine our vision for the future.