APR expands its Recycling Demand Champions

 The Washington-based Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has announced new participants in a campaign designed to expand market demand for recycled resins and improve plastic recycling in North America. The APR also announced its plans to include additional applications and material in the program. 

The APR says its Recycling Demand Champions campaign seeks to expand the market for residential plastics, driving investment, increasing supply and producing more high-quality postconsumer resin (PCR). The initial phase of the campaign, which began in October 2017, focused on purchasing new volume PCR through “work in process” (WIP) durable goods but has expanded to include any and all new applications for PCR.

“Although the initial phase of the campaign focused on WIP durable goods, such as pallets and crates, we quickly realized the opportunity to expand the program to include any new application for PCR,” says Liz Bedard, director of the APR Rigid Plastic Recycling Program. “Through commitments to purchase WIP durable goods manufactured with broad specification PCR or develop a new application for PCR, APR Recycling Demand Champions will make a significant and measurable impact in strengthening plastic recycling markets.”

The new APR Recycling Demand Champions are Nestle, Denton Plastics and Champion Polymer Recycling. These companies join those that committed in October 2017: Berry Global, Campbells Soup Co., Coca-Cola North America, Envision Plastics, Keurig Green Mountain Inc., KW Plastics, Merlin Plastics, Plastipak/Clean Tech Inc., The Procter & Gamble Company and Target Corp.

Demand Champions sign a commitment letter to identify and use WIP items with PCR content in their facilities or detail another new application for PCR that will be developed within a year. As the program adds more participants, this will increase the demand for postconsumer recycled resins, APR says.

“The APR Recycling Demand Champions Campaign highlights manufacturing applications to utilize PCR, and was met with an overwhelming, enthusiastic response from plastic recycling stakeholders,” says Steve Alexander, APR president. “One manufacturer recently indicated intent to replace 250,000 wood pallets with pallets made with PCR, leading to more than 2 million pounds of increased demand in that one application alone.”

APR says it will continue working to expand participation in this program in partnership with brand owners, retailers, trade organizations and other members of the recycling value chain.

“We anticipate this will become a seminal program of APR going forward,” Alexander says.