APR Sustainability Summer Summit: Key Takeaways

Greiner Packaging recently attended the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Sustainability Summer Summit in Cleveland, Ohio — a vital gathering for the plastics recycling industry that brought together recyclers, policymakers and packaging experts. We summarized the most important key takeaways in this blog post for you:

State legislatures are increasingly active in shaping the future of packaging and recycling:

• APR is reviewing a new natural polypropylene (PP) stream for clear recycled PP, aiming to increase renewability value for recyclers and the post-consumer recycling industry.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for packaging passed in two more states, bringing EPR coverage to 7 states in general which means 20% of the U.S. population.
• Bottle bill activity is heating up, including strong Deposit Return System (DRS) discussions in Rhode Island and Washington, and a Texas bottle bill that passed unanimously out of committee.
• Major states like California, New Jersey, and New York remain active with significant recycling and packaging proposals.

These developments underscore the growing pressure on brands and manufacturers to not only innovate in materials but also navigate a rapidly evolving legislative environment.

While policy is setting the tone, industry-led solutions are catching up fast. One notable example is the ongoing collaboration between the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and RecyClass in Europe. While their joint recyclability certification framework was launched in 2023, recent updates signal deeper technical alignment:

• APR’s Design® Guide has been updated to match RecyClass tolerances—for example, allowing up to 6% EVOH in HDPE packaging.
• A Post-Consumer Resin (PCR) Certification Program, developed with RecyClass, was introduced to boost transparency and traceability of recycled content.

For brands operating across both North America and Europe, this alignment simplifies certification processes and strengthens claims around recyclability and recycled content.

The convergence of policy action and industry innovation is accelerating the shift toward a more circular packaging economy. From chemical safety to material design and recyclability verification, the message from the APR Summit is clear: collaboration and adaptability are key to navigating what’s next.

We’re committed to staying at the forefront of these changes — engaging with policymakers, aligning with global standards, and driving towards real-world recyclability. Check out our packaging solutions.