Moving How2Recycle Forward

From hitting recyclability targets at work to carrying out your recycling bin at home, the global waste crisis touches almost every aspect of our lives — but there’s a bright side to this: Their solutions don’t have to be siloed. At work, we’re engineers, designers, chemists, or communicators. At home, we’re consumers. Bridging these roles to build out solutions is critical.?

Touring the Blue Paradox exhibit at the How2Recycle Summit, we did just that. We gathered industry experts to explore a powerful framework for driving consumer action. And with our How2Recycle Forward campaign, we aim to do the same — to build on the label’s recognition from 8 in 10 consumers, scale consumer education, and improve environmental outcomes.?

In this issue of Beyond the Label, we’ll explore how your engagement can drive the everyday actions we need to fix recycling. Thanks for reading.

- Paul Nowak ,?Executive Director, GreenBlue? ?

The Dynamic Data-Driven Future of On-Pack Labeling

At the How2Recycle Summit in Chicago this Fall, we unveiled our new campaign, How2Recycle Forward: The Dynamic, Data-driven Future of On-pack Labeling.? The campaign comprises four key initiatives:?

• Label Design Refresh: We’re excited to share our new standard label design How2Recycle Pro, and our dynamic QR code labels: How2Recycle Plus featuring Recycle Check.
• Optimizing Our Operations: We’re partnering with first-in-class operational partners to build out our work flows and harmonize data points as we scale How2Recycle’s labels.
• Enhanced Data Ecosystem: We’re strengthening the data ecosystem behind the label to improve accuracy and trust in recycling.?
• Consumer Education: With 8 in 10 Americans recognizing the How2Recycle label, we’re exploring a national consumer education campaign.

What’s next for members?

Right now, How2Recycle Pro labels are undergoing legislative review. Members can keep an eye out for updates as we finalize the How2Recycle Pro labels, or reach out to get involved in consumer education efforts. ?

Learn More About How2Recycle Forward.

Highlights from the How2Recycle Summit?

Relive the How2Recycle Summit

Were you at the How2Recycle Summit as an attendee or speaker? Check out the photo album from the event to relive the action.

View Event Photos.

Save the Date

Already ready for the next How2Recycle Summit? Be sure to save the date for October 1-2 for the How2Recycle Summit 2025 in Boston.

Turning the Tide on Plastic Pollution: Lessons from the Blue Paradox

An informed consumer is an engaged consumer, but how do we turn that engagement into action? The Blue Paradox Exhibit in Chicago follows a foolproof formula for environmental action:

• First, you meet people where they are
• You look clearly at the problem with them
• Then, you provide accessible avenues for action

With our How2Recycle members, we aim to do just that. Together, we meet people where they are, give honest and accurate labels, and provide clear steps for action.? Learn more about lessons in environmental action from the Blue Paradox movement.

Read the Article.

How2Recycle Forward in the News

• “Between legislative changes, eroded trust in recycling, and changes to recyclability, the landscape is evolving.” Read GreenBlue Executive Director’s article in Recycling Today .
• “[How2Recycle is] future-proofing the label to be accurate and compliant no matter when or where they’re issued.” Check out Packaging World’s coverage of the campaign .
• "The demographic is everyone,” explore Packaging Dive ’s coverage of the consumer research findings that informed the How2Recycle label design refresh."