Refreshing the How2Recycle Label, Reflections from Earth Day & Our October Summit

The team at How2Recycle is excited to announce our new monthly newsletter: Beyond The Label. Every month, you can look out for insights and updates on label news, recyclability, legislation, and more.?

This month, we're sharing updates on refreshing the How2Recycle label, lessons from Earth Day, and more on our members only How2Recycle Summit. We can’t wait to see so many of our members in October! And we’re of course excited to look beyond the label with you.

- Karen Hagerman , Director, How2Recycle, GreenBlue

How Will Policy Change Labeling? Updates on Refreshing the How2Recycle Label

Back in 2008, members of our sister project at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) got together to solve the problem of needing to give consumers clear, consistent disposal instructions.?

But now, the recyclability landscape is changing as states adopt EPR legislation and California’s SB 343 redefines labeling laws. To meet the moment, we’re working with our partners at SPC’s Packaging Design Collaborative to solve a new problem:?

Can we refresh the How2Recycle label to not just meet new legislative requirements, but to also increase consumer understanding and advance innovation?

Read our latest article to learn more about efforts to refresh the How2Recycle label.

Earth Day Reflections: The Gaps & Potential in the Recycling System

In the 55 years since the first Earth Day, recycling has seen incredible progress. But we’ve also seen the recycling system struggle to keep pace with production.

This Earth Day, the How2Recycle team broke down journalist Oliver Franklin-Wallis’ insights and looked clear-eyed at the gaps in the recycling system to inform concrete solutions.

In doing so, we hope that by next Earth Day, recycling—at least our corner of the system—will reap better outcomes for our environment.

Read the article on our reflections for improving recycling.

Registration Open for How2Recycle Summit

This month, we opened up registration for our first in-person How2Recycle Summit in Chicago. We can’t wait to see so many of our members to learn, collaborate, and improve the recycling system.?

The members only event is co-located with SPC Advance, the fall members only event of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. At the event, attendees can take advantage of our wide variety of unique networking opportunities. They can also look out for:

• Our How2Recycle Summit Speakeasy featuring a Put A Label On It station to test your How2Recycle label expertise??
• The How2Recycle Interactive Marketplace with Package InSight by Quad, which tests consumer perceptions vs reality??
• A Behind the Label kiosk for questions on the data and research behind your How2Recycle label

... And more! Members can register here , and interested sponsors can learn about opportunities here .?

In Other News

• Our staff gathered in-person this month for our annual retreat! Check out the social media recaps of our team bonding , our historical tours of Charleston , and our visit to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge .
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) released its Packaging Innovations Trends Report . In the report, they highlight How2Recycle’s pilot project, which pairs a traditional label with a Recycle Check QR code label to provide location-specific instructions.??
• GreenBlue Org ’s (our parent nonprofit) study with Quad was published. It examines the impact of using three types of in-store signage to educate consumers on packaging, recyclability, and the Store Drop-off program.
• INC-4, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee working on a global plastics treaty, wrapped talks last month. You can read more about outcomes in Packaging World's recap .