You’ve probably heard it before—“Recycle your bottles!” And we’ve gotten pretty good at it, too. In fact, according to NAPCOR, PET bottles hit a 33% recycling rate in 2023. That’s no small feat. But what about those sturdy clamshells holding your strawberries or the clear trays wrapped around ready-made meals? They’re made from the same stuff—PET plastic (#1)—yet only 14% of them are recycled. So, what’s going on?
PET thermoforms are the unsung heroes of modern packaging. They’re lightweight, clear, and durable, perfect for protecting everything from fresh produce to electronics. But here’s the rub: despite being made from recyclable material, most of these packages don’t make it back into the system. Why? It boils down to infrastructure gaps, mixed materials, and a dash of consumer confusion.
And this isn’t just a recycling issue—it’s a circular economy issue. According to NAPCOR’s 2022 report, PET thermoforms only used about 12% postconsumer recycled PET (rPET) on average. That’s not exactly stellar when you consider how much more potential they have. The problem isn’t with the plastic. It’s with the process.
As Laura Stewart of NAPCOR puts it, circular success “requires the right collective action between policymakers, brand owners, producers, and recyclers.” She’s spot on.
Take California’s Senate Bill 54. It mandates that by 2032, all packaging sold must be recyclable or compostable. It even includes something called “eco-modulated fees,” where producers pay less if their packaging is easy to recycle or made from recycled content. It’s like a tax break for doing the right thing.
Infrastructure, though, is where rubber meets the road.
Consider Valemi Inc., a sorting facility in California. Thanks to funding from The Recycling Partnership’s PET Recycling Coalition, Valemi upgraded their systems to capture PET thermoforms more efficiently. The result? An additional 3.73 million pounds of PET recovered annually. That’s not just impressive. It’s essential.
In California, 78% of communities accept PET thermoforms. Sounds great, right? But the actual collection rates don’t reflect that. Why? Because people just don’t know what to do with them.
Ever stare at a clamshell container wondering, “Can this be recycled?” You’re not alone. The problem isn’t a lack of willingness. It’s a lack of clarity.
What we need is straightforward, standardized labeling. Retailers, municipalities, and brands should be singing the same song. Community outreach, in-store signage, and even social media campaigns can demystify recycling and build the kind of habits that stick.
Here’s the silver lining: there’s massive demand for recycled PET. In 2022, over half of all rPET produced in North America was used to make new bottles. That means the market is hungry, but to meet that demand, we’ve got to widen the funnel. Bottles alone won’t cut it.
That’s where innovators like Clearly Clean come in. Their Roll Over-Wrap™ trays are a game changer. These thermoforms are designed for recyclability from the ground up. They contain at least 10% PCR content now, with a goal of hitting 25% by 2030. And here’s a bonus: they’re three times stronger than traditional foam trays, cutting down on breakage during transport.
“At Clearly Clean, we’re committed to transforming the way food is packaged. PET thermoforms can, and should, play a central role in the circular economy.”
— Dirk Edwards, VP Sales, Clearly Clean Products LLC
To truly close the loop, we’ll need:
Dan Kuehn of the Circular PET Thermo-Forum says it best: “We can overcome hurdles to widespread PET thermoform recycling through innovation, strategic policy alignment, and industry commitment.” Absolutely.
Don’t let this be just another problem you scroll past. Here’s how you can drive change:
Because recycling PET thermoforms isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore. It’s a must-do.