What makes some types of packaging easier to recycle than others? It’s usually a question of how many materials they contain and how easy they are to separate.

Glass jars with paper labels, for example, contain just two base materials that can be easily detached from each other before they go through their respective recycling processes. This makes them not only easy to recycle, but also energy efficient. 

Composite materials, such as packaging containing paperboard and PET film laminate, are a different story as they tend to be extremely difficult to separate and recover. This makes them a less than ideal choice for companies looking to boost their sustainability efforts. 

Mono-materials, on the other hand, are composed of just one type of material (such as paper, glass, metal, etc), making them among the easiest and most energy-efficient types of packaging to recycle. 

What are your big sustainability goals? Let us know!