Innovation pathway relevant to Background & introduction
Amongst plastic packaging, PET bottles, especially disposable PET bottles used by beverage companies, comprise a significant portion of the total plastic waste generated.
Recycling technologies for PET are well established, and thus a very large % of the PET bottles made can be recycled back. However, a key challenge is the collection process owing to the retail nature of the product.
Through the mechanism of Extended Producer Responsibility for PET bottles in which the brand that uses the PET bottle also needs to put in place a mechanism to collect it back. Such a mechanism, when well implemented, successfully overcomes the key challenge of PET bottle collection for recycling.
What are the key sustainability benefits?
The most important benefit from EPR for PET bottles is that a very large percentage of these plastics can be recycled back into their original products, resulting in significant reductions in energy use and use of petroleum to make PET bottles.
How does this work?
The EPR usually works through third party organizations that put in a system to collect used PET bottles from retail outlets and from consumer end use points. These organizations might in turn rely on support from other local sources for the same.
In addition to the use of these organizations, brand owners might also provide incentives to their end users to return the PET bottles to the collection points.
Where is innovation needed (which part of the process)?
More innovation will be needed for collection of PET bottles from residential users of these PET bottles.
Keywords 
UpdatesIndians will have to take cognisance of this environmental threat and adopt alternatives to carry bags, straws and cling film as the country starts to phase out single-use plastic (SUP) starting next year
LinkIn its response to government consultations on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and a deposit return scheme (DRS), the NLWA signalled its firm stance on the fact that further, quicker action is needed on these packaging schemes
LinkIt’s high time to require the corporate producers of packaging waste—like Amazon, Walmart, and Procter and Gamble—to do their fair share and take responsibility for their part in the recycling of packaging
LinkPetco announced that it is diversifying into multimaterials as it anticipates that participation in PROs will increase significantly and to ensure that its members remain compliant under new packaging sustainability laws
LinkAn Oregon bill (SB 582) that establishes extended producer responsibility for packaging and calls for other major updates to the state’s recycling system
LinkConsultations for extended producer responsibility (EPR) and a deposit return scheme (DRS) have been launched by Defra, with concerns from industry and NGOs over the scope of the proposals
LinkPanelists at the Northeast Recycling Council event covered how lessons from Canada and Europe could help improve U.S. recycling systems while also debating the merits of chemical recycling
LinkWithout such policies, packaging collection and recycling is unlikely to be meaningfully scaled and tens of millions of tonnes of packaging will continue to end up in the environment every year
LinkThe 41 members of our Plastic Waste Coalition of Action - representing more than 10 percent of the global plastic packaging market - are striving to deliver the solutions that industry can provide
LinkThe 41 members of our Plastic Waste Coalition of Action - representing more than 10 percent of the global plastic packaging market - are striving to deliver the solutions that industry can provide
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