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Developing More Effective Recovery SystemsThis GreenBlue research project, funded with a grant awarded by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery’s Market Research Grant Program, is intended to guide the development of more effective material recovery systems by connecting packaging designers with available recovery options. Ultimately, the goal of the project is to significantly increase the overall recovery of all packaging materials at end-of-life. The Closing the Loop Project has also received financial support from the SPC, which shares its topical focus on packaging and interest in increasing the recovery of packaging materials.
Closing the Loop focuses on the end-of-life options commonly available for packaging in the United States, including collection, sorting, and reprocessing technology. Research on the corresponding waste management systems in Western Europe, Australia and Canada allow useful comparisons that measure the United States’ efforts against best and worst waste management practices elsewhere. This information is used to assess the effectiveness of U.S. systems.
Research FindingsAs a result of this research, GreenBlue has released A Guide to Packaging Material Flows and Terminology, which provides a common framework for communication along the supply chain, including a glossary of all major packaging materials and graphic representations of the flow of packaging materials through production, use, collection, and sorting and disposal/recovery. Download A Guide to Packaging Material Flows and Terminology. 
In the coming months, Closing the Loop will release several additional
research reports.
The first report will outline the requirements for an ideal packaging
labeling system that communicates to consumers how to properly dispose
of a package and prompts them to take action. There is no comprehensive
packaging labeling system in the United States that identifies both
packaging material type and available post-use recovery options, which
leads to consumer confusion and lower material recovery rates. This
report will address that problem.
The Design for Recovery Guidelines for Paper Packaging will focus on
educating packaging designers and recyclers. The document will describe
requirements that must be met in order for fiber-based packaging to be
compatible with various available recovery methods. With input from
paper manufacturers, packaging designers, and recyclers and composters,
this information can then be shared publicly in order to enhance
communication and technical alignment along the supply chain. The
Guidelines will include a survey and description of the available
end-of-life options for paper packaging, as well as information about
treatments that are applied to various grades of paper packaging, such
as the most commonly-used inks, coatings, adhesives, and additives.
Finally, it will discuss what effect, if any, these treatments present
to end-of-life recovery.
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