Graham Packaging Marks Its Progress Toward Recycling Goals

In its 2021 Sustainability Report, released in March, Graham Packaging, Lancaster, Pa., documents its progress toward its previously announced recycling goals. Overall, its products averaged 7% post-consumer recycle (PCR) content, including 4% in PET products and 10% in HDPE containers. It is aiming for 20% overall PCR content in its products by 2025. Another goal for 2025 is to produce 100% recyclable products, based on realistic recycling availability in the U.S. For 2021, that “always-recyclable” total was 90.4%, discounting PP, PVC and black plastics, which are not widely recyclable in this country.

Graham Recycling Co. processed 37.8 million lb of PCR in 2021, including 2.5 million lb of ocean-bound plastics, for which the company says it has “identified a continuous, high-quality stream for 2022.” Graham’s North American bottle plants also used 16.1 million lb of post-industrial recycle (PIR) last year.

In addition, the Graham report says the company is continuing R&D on using colored PCR (it currently uses only natural-color PCR), assisted by an unspecified “first-ever innovation” in mechanical PCR recycling. Also two Graham locations—in Evansville, Ind., and Aldaia, Spain—have been certified according to an international sustainability program to utilize PCR from advanced recycling methods. This International Sustainability and Carbon Certificate (ISCC) Plus certification is used to verify traceability management of PCR throughout the supply chain. Graham is convinced of the growing importance of advanced recycling (also called chemical recycling), whereby waste plastics are depolymerized and then repolymerized as “new” polymers, especially for HDPE and PP. The company plans to explore certifications for more of its facilities this year.