AMERIPEN

Save the date: AMERIPEN’s 2025 Annual Summit is scheduled for June 10-12, once again taking place in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside our nation’s capital. Open exclusively to AMERIPEN members, this event features insightful and interactive workshops, unmatched networking opportunities, a visit to Capitol Hill, and more. Our theme this year: The Power of Packaging! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3YA4NNq

AMERIPEN membership grants you free and unlimited access to resources that help you make informed decisions for your organization. Regardless of whether your focus is with policy, compliance, sustainability, design, or legislation, AMERIPEN has programs and resources for you! Learn more about membership here: https://bit.ly/40YttP7

A luxury bottle… made of paper!? AMERIPEN member Diageo recently trialed an all-new Johnnie Walker Black Label bottle made using innovative Dry Molded Fiber technology. Kudos for pushing the limit of what packaging materials can accomplish! Read more here: https://bit.ly/3YIenwj

In case you missed it, we’ve spent all week leading up to #AmericaRecyclesDay celebrating the circularity of all packaging materials, and we’d like to close with Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)'s report on the Economic Impact of the Recycling Industry in the United States. It’s important to note that the recycling industry supports over half a million well-paying jobs and contributes nearly $117 billion to the U.S. economy – but, it’s perhaps more critical that the industry processes over 130 million metric tons of valuable commodities annually, which not only save resources but also reduces greenhouse gases--an invaluable investment in our planet with an impact that cannot be overstated. Source: Project Drawdown at https://bit.ly/48Lx32T Thank you to all the organizations and passionate individuals who work behind the scenes towards a more sustainable future and economic growth through innovative recycling. In particular, we’d like to give a special shoutout to some AMERIPEN members who help drive our domestic recycling industry and ensure our packaging in recovered: ReMA, National Waste & Recycling Association, Pratt Industries, Sonoco, WM, GFL Environmental Inc., Novolex, NOVA Chemicals, Eastman, and ExxonMobil. There are no words that can express our true appreciation! Read the full ReMA report here: https://bit.ly/3CkooIH

We’ve been celebrating #AmericaRecyclesDay all week long, today shifting our attention to Glass. In an act of true community and association, AMERIPEN members Owens Illinois (O-I) and Glass Packaging Institute provide grants to help modernize glass sorting and recycling infrastructure, spending their resources to benefit the entire industry. Glass producers are collaborating with competitors to help increase curbside access to glass recycling with a goal of 50% PCR in all glass products. For every 10% increase in recycled content for glass products leads to a 5% reduction in carbon emissions and a 3% reduction in energy use, and every 1,000 tons of glass that is recycled creates 8 local jobs. #RecyclingisReal

As part of our weeklong celebration of #AmericaRecyclesDay, we’d like to focus on Metal! However, today’s post has a bit of a twist: Did you know that modern packaging can be even more effective when different materials are used together, playing to each of their strengths? AMERIPEN member Sonoco iconic fiber-based containers with steel bottoms are an example of a technology that plays a significant role in reducing food waste, extending the shelf life of food from 20 days to two years. These containers need both materials to effectively transport and protect their contents. However, the nature of these products makes them hard to sort at local MRFs – until Sonoco stepped in with innovative robotic technology that properly identifies and sorts these containers. This advancement results in 45% decrease in climate emissions over landfilling! #RecyclingisReal

We’re continuing our weeklong celebration of #AmericaRecyclesDay with Plastic! Most plastics are recyclable, but underfunded municipal recycling facilities often don’t have the resources to process every type of plastic. Case in point: Plastic ring carriers are actually recyclable! AMERIPEN member Hi-Cone has long operated a program that provides free shipping labels for consumers to send used carriers direct to a recycler. As a result of this scheme, Hi-Cone now produces ring carriers with 50% PCR, resulting in 90% less energy, 83% less water, 75% less GHG and 93% less solid waste than 100% virgin plastic carriers. Learn more about this innovative program and request your free shipping label here: https://bit.ly/3CyownJ #RecyclingisReal #PlasticsRecycling #PlasticRecyclingWeek

This Friday is #AmericaRecyclesDay, and we’re celebrating recycling and recycled content innovations in different packaging materials all week, starting with Fiber Packaging! We often hear that only virgin fiber can be used for food-contact products, but with modern technology this has become a myth. AMERIPEN member Dart Container recently developed the first ever FDA compliant post-consumer fiber paper hot cup. This beverage container is a massive step towards a circular future. Combine that with efforts by AMERIPEN members American Forest & Paper Association and Foodservice Packaging Institute to increase cup recycling and we have a true circular success story! #RecyclingisReal, and more innovations are arriving with every passing day!

After making hundreds of new connections in the packaging world this past week at PACK EXPO, we’re certain to have some new followers here – welcome! Thank you to all our colleagues who attended an AMERIPEN presentation or stopped by our booth this week. Please keep in touch, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility impacts an incredible number of organizations – if your company creates packaging or puts a product in a package, you need to care about EPR laws. Thank you to AMI for inviting our own Rob Keith to present at Stretch and Shrink Film next month!