Recycling information on packaging is critical, per Carton Council research

Research recently commissioned by the Carton Council of North America, Denton, Texas, claims that including recycling information on packaging plays a major role in whether that package gets recycled by a consumer.

Per a survey conducted by the Carton Council, which is composed of carton manufacturers Elopak, Pactive Evergreen, SIG and Tetra Pak, 75 percent of respondents say they assume a package is not recyclable if it does not contain a recycling logo or recycling information on it. The organization also says that research showed the package remains the top source for recycling information (50 percent), followed by local community websites (41 percent).

In addition, the council’s research shows that social media, news, influencers and advocacy groups have gained importance when it comes to recyclability information.

In the survey, 74 percent of respondents say that knowing a brand’s packaging is recyclable increases the likelihood they will purchase it over another, comparable product. Additionally, 60 percent of respondents indicate their loyalty to food and beverage products is impacted by the brand’s engagement with environmental causes.

“Many consumers want to do the right thing and recycle all they can, but it’s not always clear what’s recyclable, both in general and in their neighborhood,” Carton Council Director of Communications Larine Urbina says. “Ensuring recycling information is on every recyclable package is a first step. But we also know that recycling varies from community to community, so consumers should always check with their local programs to see what they can recycle where they live.”

According to the Carton Council, the survey also shows that support for recycling continues to grow among consumers, with 76 percent reporting that recycling is important and people should try to make it a priority—a 25 percent increase since the question was first asked in 2015. An additional 19 percent say they believe recycling is somewhat important and people should do what they can to try to recycle.

The Carton Council is launching a new address locator at www.RecycleCartons.com to help consumers find residential recycling programs that accept food and beverage cartons. The council says that while it continues its efforts to grow the infrastructure so food and beverage cartons are accepted in more communities across the country, it is important to provide consumers with a tool so they can easily check to see if cartons are accepted in their local program.

The Carton Council says that more than 61 percent of the U.S. has carton recycling access, representing more than 71.6 million households.