U.S. Plastics Pact Releases Updated Guidelines for Circular Packaging Design

The U.S. Plastics Pact has published updated design guidelines for reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging, providing companies with a unified framework to support circular packaging development and prepare for evolving regulatory and market requirements.

The industry-supported nonprofit released three updated handbooks covering Recyclable Packaging Design, Reusable Packaging Design and Compostable Packaging Design. The publications outline current certification requirements, labeling practices and design recommendations for packaging manufacturers, brand owners, retailers, distributors, engineers and policymakers.

According to the U.S. Plastics Pact, the guidance is intended to improve consistency across the packaging value chain by helping organizations incorporate circular design principles into product development.

Marcu Alexander, Director of Strategy and Engagement at the U.S. Plastics Pact, said the handbooks provide companies with practical information to support informed packaging design decisions and promote greater alignment across reuse, recycling and composting systems.

The organization noted that packaging design is a key factor in improving circularity but emphasized that successful outcomes also depend on collection infrastructure, consumer participation, end-market demand and supportive public policies.

Guidance for recyclable packaging

The Recyclable Packaging Design Handbook examines how packaging design influences recycling performance throughout the value chain. It encourages companies to align product development with the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Design Guide and to incorporate post-consumer recycled (PCR) content where appropriate.

The updated guidance comes as governments introduce stricter packaging regulations, including the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which requires all packaging placed on the EU market to be recyclable by 2030. Expanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs globally is also increasing pressure on producers to improve packaging recyclability and recycled-content use.

Expanding reuse systems

The Reusable Packaging Design Handbook draws on research, pilot projects and operational experience to evaluate practical approaches for reusable packaging systems. The guidance reflects growing industry interest in reuse models as businesses respond to regulatory initiatives targeting single-use packaging and increasing consumer demand for waste reduction.

Standards for compostable packaging

The Compostable Packaging Design Handbook recommends that compostable packaging be developed in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards and verified through independent third-party certification.

The handbook complements the U.S. Plastics Pact’s broader work on expanding composting infrastructure. Earlier this year, the organization published its Enabling Composting at Scale report, which examines policy measures and investment opportunities to improve composting systems across the United States.

According to the Pact, compostable packaging can play an important role in recovering food-contaminated materials that are difficult to recycle, particularly in foodservice, takeaway and large-event settings where food waste and packaging are commonly collected together.

The updated guidance reflects growing efforts across the packaging industry to standardize circular design practices as regulatory requirements for recyclability, reuse and compostability continue to evolve.

Source: Packaging Insights

SUNSHINE Spotlight: The U.S. Plastics Pact’s updated packaging design guidance provides a practical framework for improving recyclability, reuse and compostability as brands adapt to increasingly stringent circular economy requirements.