We are drowning in plastic packaging. But there is a better way.
In 2023, PSI partnered with the Pack Green Coalition, a nonprofit 501(c)6 organization that educates and advocates for meaningful policies and laws to advance the replacement of unnecessary plastic in packaging supply chains with sustainable alternatives.
There are many organizations focused on solving the plastic problem. But the Pack Green Coalition is the only organization to promote sustainable packaging alternatives and advocate for laws and policies to level the playing field for innovative companies that make better choices. Their efforts play a critical role in advancing the global transition to a circular economy.
PGC provides their members with the tools they need to share their sustainability stories in an authentic and meaningful way. Their research provides information that is critical to developing the resources we need to shift away from unnecessary plastic packaging. And they are a unified lobbying front and go-to resource for policymakers who advance meaningful legislative change.
Why is this work so important? An estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the world’s ocean each year – the equivalent of dumping a garbage truck of plastic waste into the ocean every minute. According to Trivium Packaging’s 2022 Global Buying Green Report, 13% of customers would be willing to pay 10% more for products in sustainable packaging. Choosing better packaging can help protect the planet – and a company’s bottom line. PGC works to support and amplify the message that there are alternatives to plastic packaging that can help companies advance their sustainability goals. Through lobbying and advocacy, research, and communication, they seek to advance changes today that are critical for protecting our tomorrow.
Plastic packaging made up 40% of the over 350 million tons of global plastic waste generated in 2019 (OECD, 2022) and recycling rates are consistently lower than 15%. But paper has a consistently high recycling rate – over 80% for paper and paperboard packaging in the united states (US EPA, 2018) – and biodegrades in landfills or if accidentally littered. Read and/or download this resource.
Numerous sustainable materials have emerged as viable alternatives to plastic packaging, which protect products equally well in transit. While paper is the most commonly used, other bio-based alternatives exist, each with unique qualities and strengths that help replace various types of plastic packaging. Read and/or download this resource.
A 2021 analysis performed by McKinsey & Co compared the greenhouse gas emissions and the recycling rates of several different products within two categories: beverage containers and food service cups. Read and/or download this resource.