What’s in Store for Recycling? New Paradigms, Events, and Designs

What do AI investments in recycling, “tracker tests,” and EPR laws have in common? They point to the fact that, right now, the recycling system is at a crossroads. Recycling laws are changing, technology is evolving, and public trust in recycling is eroding.?

In this issue of Beyond The Label, we're excited to share the three T’s we’ll use to meet this moment and unlock the potential within the recycling system: technology, transparency, and trust.?

We’ll also unpack findings from the second round of consumer testing for the How2Recycle label design refresh, industry news, and programs to look forward to at the How2Recycle Summit, where we hope to see you soon. Thanks for reading.

- Paul Nowak ,?Executive Director, GreenBlue? ?

The Future of Recycling Depends on Technology, Transparency, and Trust

As new technologies, narratives, and laws emerge, the recycling paradigm is primed to shift.?

How can we bring the recycling system forward to address the urgent environmental needs, align with changing legislation, and achieve the potential in the recycling system? We can build on the old three R’s—reduce, reuse, and recycle–and carry the system forward with the three T’s: technology, transparency, and trust.?

More transparent and clear communications lead to increased credibility around brands. Tech-forward, efficient recycling leads to increased credibility in recycling itself. And what does credibility build? Trust. Read more about how these three T’s can help unlock the potential of our recycling system.

Read the Article

Label Design Refresh: Results from the Second Round of Consumer Testing

Before we can scale the on-pack communications and behavior change needed to improve recycling, get waste into the right streams, and reduce pollution, we need to understand what communications actually resonate with consumers.?

Following our first round of consumer testing concepts for the refreshed How2Recycle label design, we’re excited to share findings from our second round of testing 1,000 American consumers. The biggest takeaways? ?

1. People want to see recycling referenced
2. People preferred informative language in their disposal directions
3. People liked bold but contained designs
4. The brand equity in the recycling symbol stayed strong?

Learn more about the findings that inform our refreshed design of the How2Recycle label.

Read the Results

Last Call: September 25th Deadline to Register for the How2Recycle Summit

Are you registered for the How2Recycle Summit? From October 2 - 3, How2Recycle members will gather at the Hilton Chicago to explore the future of recycling.?

Together, we’ll have sessions, tours, and workshops designed to help unlock the potential in the recycling system with better data, legislative alignment, design, and more.

If you haven’t already, you can register before September 25th to join us and hundreds more How2Recycle members at the How2Recycle Summit.?

Register Today

In Other News

• GreenBlue Executive Director Paul Nowak joined the Specright Beyond the Shelf podcast to discuss the future recycling, labeling, and packaging.?
• New polling suggests that a majority of American voters are in favor of holding the plastics industry responsible for recycling claims.
• Amidst a trend of “tracker tests,” The Association of Plastics Recyclers is encouraging materials recovery facilities (MRF) tours.
• The latest version of the How2Recycle? Guidelines for Use , which How2Recycle members are required to follow, was released in July.