RECOMMENDATIONS from Closed Loop Partners’s Clean Up Recycled PET study suggest that there is a range of interventions in the current system, including capital investment in new technologies in material recycling facilities, improved packaging design for recyclables, and “the establishment of a More reliable agreement “and a series of initiatives, PET recycling can be substantially increased.
Research shows that these initiatives can reduce recovery costs by 10% and increase MRF, follow-up processors and end-users by 21%. These changes may make the overall PET recovery rate increased by 6% per year, nearly 800 million pounds.
The survey and analysis of the study was conducted by consultancy Resource Recycling Systems with the help of Plastics Recycling Association and the National Association of PET Containers Resources.
“This study identifies a set of levers that can drive brand owners to use additional investments in PET recovery. If the correct combination of these levers can be pulled, the cost of recycling PET will decrease and the frequency of use will increase,” said Nestlé North America Chief Sustainability Officer Nelson Switzer said in a statement.
Closed Loop Partners claims to “invest in sustainable consumer goods, recycle and develop a recycling economy investment platform.” Investors include many well-known companies, including Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble.
Ron Gonen is managing partner at Closed Loop Partners. In a statement, he said: “We believe there are opportunities for investment to benefit both the PET recycling industry and the end user, as recycled PET is an ideal material to compete with new materials.”
