§19 articles

Sustainability & Compliance

Articles about Sustainability & Compliance on the Propacks Journal.

Articles

Is Sustainable Packaging More Expensive? The Real Cost Breakdown

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Is Sustainable Packaging More Expensive? The Real Cost Breakdown

The short answer is yes, on paper. According to the Smithers consultancy, post-consumer recycled resin costs roughly 33 percent more than virgin polymer at the commodity level. That premium, Smithers noted in its 2026 report "The Future of PCR Packaging to...

May 1, 2026Seven-minute read

How PCR Plastic Is Made: From Curbside Bin to Your Bottle

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How PCR Plastic Is Made: From Curbside Bin to Your Bottle

The recycled bottle on your shelf started as trash in someone's recycling bin. Between that bin and your product line, it passed through at least seven stages of sorting, washing, shredding, and reprocessing. Most brands buying PCR packaging have no idea w...

Apr 30, 2026Nine-minute read

California SB 54 and PCR Packaging in 2026

¶Sustainability & Compliance

California SB 54 Is About to Change How Every Brand Buys Bottles

California Senate Bill 54 is not a future problem anymore. On March 19, 2026, CalRecycle submitted its final proposed regulations to the Office of Administrative Law for approval. OAL has until May 1 to approve or reject them. Once approved, enforcement me...

Apr 30, 2026Eight-minute read

Mono Material Packaging Explained

¶Sustainability & Compliance

What Is Mono Material Packaging and Why It Matters for Your Next Order

Most brands do not think about what their bottle cap is made of. They think about the bottle. They pick a PET bottle because it is clear, recyclable, and looks good on a shelf. Then they pick a polypropylene cap because that is what every supplier offers. ...

Apr 29, 2026Seven-minute read

pcr vs virgin bottles

¶Sustainability & Compliance

PCR Bottles vs Virgin Plastic: What Is the Actual Difference and Which Should You Buy?

The question used to be simple: buy virgin plastic because it is cheaper, clearer, and easier to source. That answer worked for decades. It does not work anymore. State regulations are mandating recycled content in plastic packaging. Retailers are asking ...

Apr 29, 2026Seven-minute read

Recycled Content Certificates: GRS, SCS, ISCC

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How to Verify Recycled Content: A Guide to GRS, SCS, ISCC PLUS, and Other Certificates

Making a sustainability claim is easy. Proving it is hard. When you buy post consumer recycled (PCR) packaging, your brand's credibility rides on one question: can you prove the recycled content is real? A supplier's word is not enough. You need a third pa...

Apr 28, 2026Seven-minute read

Why We Refuse to Charge More for Recycled Plastic | Propacks

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Why We Refuse to Charge More for Recycled Plastic

Everyone in packaging knows the quiet math. PCR resin costs more than virgin. The tooling is pickier. The supply chain has fewer options. Every supplier in the country uses this as their excuse to tack on 15 to 30 percent and call it the "sustainability p...

Apr 28, 2026Six-minute read

What Happens to PCR Plastic After It Cannot Be Recycled Again

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Where Does PCR Plastic Go After It Can No Longer Become a Bottle?

Every PET bottle has a mechanical recycling limit. After two to four passes through the grind, melt, and remold cycle, the polymer chains shorten enough that the material no longer meets bottle grade standards. Clarity drops. Strength weakens. Intrinsic vi...

Apr 18, 2026Six-minute read

Do Essential Oils Need Child Resistant Caps in California?

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Do Essential Oils Need Child Resistant Caps in California? SB 54 vs PPPA Explained

Do essential oils need child resistant caps in California? Not because of SB 54. California SB 54 focuses on packaging responsibility and recycled content. Child resistant closure requirements usually come from the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, or PPPA,...

Apr 8, 2026Five-minute read

Why Brands Are Switching to PCR Packaging in 2026

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Why Brands Are Switching to PCR Packaging in 2026

Major brands are switching to post consumer recycled (PCR) packaging to meet new laws, satisfy consumer demand, and achieve corporate sustainability goals. Strict regulations in states like California and Washington set PCR content mandates that take effec...

Mar 26, 2026Four-minute read

Caps On or Off for Recycling? The Actual Answer

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Should You Recycle Plastic Bottle Caps On or Off

Yes, you should leave plastic caps on your empty bottles when you recycle them. Modern recycling facilities are equipped to handle bottles with their caps on. This practice ensures the small cap is captured and recycled instead of being lost during the sor...

Mar 26, 2026Four-minute read

Prepare for the California SB 54 Deadline

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Prepare for the California SB 54 Deadline

California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, or SB 54, sets ambitious goals for packaging circularity. A critical reporting deadline is approaching in 2026. Recent regulatory movements have created a new urgency for ...

Mar 24, 2026Four-minute read

California SB 54 and Your Plastic Packaging

¶Sustainability & Compliance

California SB 54 and Your Plastic Packaging

California's Senate Bill 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, transforms how brands manage packaging. This law requires producers to make all single-use packaging and plastic food service ware sold in California r...

Mar 20, 2026Four-minute read

Is rPET Recyclable?

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Is rPET Recyclable?

Yes, rPET is recyclable. The material, which stands for recycled polyethylene terephthalate, can be collected, processed, and remade into new products multiple times. Its ability to be recycled is a primary reason brands choose rPET for sustainable packagi...

Mar 13, 2026Four-minute read

What Is rPET? Recycled PET Plastic Bottles Explained

¶Sustainability & Compliance

rPET Bottles Explained: Why More Brands Are Going Recycled

rPET bottles are one of the most practical sustainability upgrades a brand can make. They look and perform like standard PET bottles. They are made from material that already existed. And they are increasingly required by law. Here is everything you need t...

Mar 11, 2026Four-minute read

Understanding the California Bottle Bill

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How to Transition to rPET Bottles Under California SB 54

If you sell packaged products in California, SB 54 is pushing packaging toward formats that are recyclable in practice and measurable in reporting. SB 54 creates an extended producer responsibility program for packaging and plastic food service ware, and C...

Mar 5, 2026Four-minute read

Where to Recycle Plastic Bottles in California

¶Sustainability & Compliance

Where to Recycle Plastic Bottles Near You (California Guide)

Where to Recycle Plastic Bottles in California If you want plastic bottles to actually be recycled, the most reliable option is to bring them to certified recycling locations. California has several systems that allow residents to find nearby recycling ce...

Mar 5, 2026Two-minute read

How to Check If Your Plastic Bottle Is Actually Recyclable

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How to Verify If Your Plastic Bottle Is Actually Recyclable

A recycling symbol does not automatically mean a plastic bottle will be recycled. The number inside the triangle is a resin identification code created to help manufacturers identify plastic type. It was not designed to guarantee recyclability. Whether a ...

Mar 2, 2026Four-minute read

How Many Times Can rPET Be Recycled?

¶Sustainability & Compliance

How Many Times Can rPET Be Recycled?

As more brands shift to sustainable packaging, one question comes up repeatedly: Can rPET be recycled indefinitely? The short answer is no. While rPET can be recycled multiple times, mechanical recycling gradually changes the material at a molecular leve...

Mar 1, 2026Three-minute read