PureCycle Positions Food-Contact PCR Resin for New Jersey’s 2027 Recycled Content Mandate

According to company reports, PureCycle Technologies is positioning its recycled polypropylene (PP) resin as a compliance-ready solution for food-contact packaging manufacturers following regulatory confirmation that its PureFive® resin qualifies as post-consumer recycled (PCR) content under New Jersey’s recycled content law.

The clarification from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) provides brand owners and packaging manufacturers with greater certainty as they prepare for the state’s upcoming recycled content requirements, which will begin applying to food-contact rigid plastic packaging in 2027.

The regulatory milestone comes as consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies face increasing pressure to redesign packaging and secure reliable supplies of food-grade recycled plastics ahead of tightening recycled content mandates across the United States.

Under New Jersey’s Postconsumer Recycled Content Law (P.L. 2021, c.391), a five-year exemption for rigid plastic food-contact packaging expires in January 2027. From that date, affected packaging must contain at least 20% post-consumer recycled content. The requirement will increase progressively to 30% in 2030, 40% in 2033, and 50% by 2036.

Meeting these requirements presents significant technical and operational challenges for packaging producers. Food-contact applications require extensive material qualification, product redesign, and regulatory validation to ensure recycled content does not compromise product safety, performance, or manufacturing efficiency.

PureCycle said its PureFive® resin has already demonstrated commercial viability through collaboration with global packaging manufacturer Amcor. The companies have produced rigid food-contact containers incorporating at least 20% PureFive® resin, illustrating that packaging can meet New Jersey’s initial PCR threshold while maintaining product performance and food safety standards.

“Brand owners are actively working to meet new recycled content requirements and need solutions that are ready to scale up,” said Diane Marret, Vice President of Sustainability and Strategy at Amcor. “Our work with PureCycle shows that it is possible to incorporate high-quality PCR into food-contact packaging without compromising performance or food safety. That is a critical step as companies prepare for New Jersey’s 2027 mandate and other policies that explicitly include PCR requirements.”

PureFive® resin is produced using PureCycle’s patented dissolution recycling technology, which removes color, odor, and contaminants from post-consumer polypropylene waste to produce recycled resin with properties comparable to virgin polypropylene. The process enables the production of high-quality recycled material suitable for demanding applications, including food-contact packaging where material consistency is essential.

As recycled content legislation expands across North America, demand for certified, food-grade PCR materials continues to rise. Brand owners are increasingly seeking recycled resin that not only complies with regulatory requirements but is also available at commercial scale to support high-volume packaging production.

Access to domestically produced PCR materials is also becoming strategically important as manufacturers seek to reduce supply chain risks and improve resilience while meeting sustainability commitments.

“The NJDEP’s recognition of PureFive® resin as qualifying PCR is an important step for brands working to meet New Jersey’s requirements,” said Christian Bruey, Director of Sustainability and External Affairs at PureCycle. “It brings together regulatory validation and real-world application, giving companies a clearer and more confident path to compliance. Since the decision, we've seen an outpouring of interest from brands with a desire to accelerate discussions and qualifications in preparation for 2027.”

New Jersey’s recycled content mandate is part of a broader regulatory trend encouraging greater use of recycled plastics in packaging as governments seek to reduce plastic waste, strengthen domestic recycling markets, and support circular economy objectives. Similar legislation is being implemented across several U.S. states, prompting consumer goods companies to accelerate investments in sustainable packaging solutions.

By securing regulatory recognition for its recycled resin and demonstrating commercial use in food-contact applications, PureCycle is seeking to position its technology as a scalable solution for manufacturers navigating increasingly stringent recycled content requirements.

Source: PureCycle

SUNSHINE Spotlight: PureCycle’s PureFive® recycled polypropylene resin has been recognized as qualifying PCR under New Jersey’s recycled content law, providing food-contact packaging manufacturers with a commercially validated solution ahead of the state's 2027 recycled content mandate.