Over the past decade, many consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies have vocalized various sustainability commitments, particularly from a packaging perspective. From pledging to achieve 100% recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging to reducing global use of virgin petroleum plastic, today’s leading CPG brands are making dedicated efforts to improve the sustainability of their packaging and rethink their entire systems — from supply and processes to downstream efforts.
Certain consumer items unfit for retail sale, contaminated packaging, plastics and other waste streams have traditionally been sent to a landfill or disposal facility for incineration. In fact, nearly 50% of all waste in the U.S. was sent to a landfill in 2018. However, in recent years, manufacturers have evolved, taking a more active role in focusing on sustainability and driving company goals to zero landfill and beyond.