A group of leading recycling and packaging organizations have recently launched The Packaging Recyclability Advancement Task Force to improve recyclability for two widely used packaging formats: PE squeeze tubes, often used for toothpaste, and PET thermoform containers, such as those used for berries, baked goods, and deli items.
Announced at SPC Impact by GreenBlue Executive Director Paul Nowak, the Task Force brings together GreenBlue, the U.S. Plastics Pact, The Recycling Partnership, the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), and the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR).
While many plastic packaging formats are technically recyclable, they often face real-world barriers like inconsistent collection, limited sortation, or weak end-market demand that prevent them from being recycled at scale. Packaging design is just one piece of the puzzle. Under the How2Recycle® system, recyclability is assessed across five pillars: applicable law, collection, sortation, reprocessability, and end-market availability—all of which can shift based on local policies, infrastructure, or broader market trends.
To help brand owners navigate these dynamic conditions, the Task Force will develop clear, actionable guidance focused on improving recyclability beyond design alone. Its initial focus will be on PE squeeze tubes (currently labeled “Not Yet Recyclable”) and PET thermoforms (labeled “Check Locally”). By uniting expertise from across the packaging and recycling value chain, the Task Force aims to equip companies with the tools needed to move these formats—and others in the future—toward broader acceptance and higher recyclability classifications.
The Task Force is building on years of progress—led by companies like Colgate-Palmolive, Haleon, and others—to advance recyclability for these formats.
The Task Force will draw on two leading industry tools—the How2Recycle® recyclability assessment framework and The Recycling Partnership’s Pathway to Circularity Framework—to develop its guidance for brand owners. The Task Force will assess packaging formats to pinpoint barriers to higher effective recycling rates, acceptance in more local programs, and reaching a higher How2Recycle® recyclability category.
The findings will inform a comprehensive guidance document aimed at helping companies consider and navigate the many factors related to recyclability. The resulting guidance will serve as a roadmap not only for PET thermoforms and PE squeeze tubes, but as a scalable model for improving recyclability across more packaging formats in the future.
