Walpole, NH (August 4, 2025) – After three consecutive and successful awards programs, the U.S. Plastics Pact is eager to announce the fourth year of our Sustainable Packaging Innovation Awards in 2025!
“This program exists to encourage, spotlight, and celebrate innovative solutions to help brand owners in their efforts to redesign packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable,” said Crystal Bayliss, U.S. Pact’s Director for Strategy and Engagement. “While redesign progress has been made, challenging areas remain that don’t yet have identified circular alternatives. I’m excited for another year of amazing innovations to directly address these challenges.”
Packaging Innovation categories include recyclability, reuse or refill, postconsumer recycled content, and compostability. Open to businesses of all sizes with primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging solutions of all substrates. Must service the U.S. market.
Submissions for the 2025 Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award will be accepted through September 3, 2025.
Packaging Innovation Categories:
- Recyclability– meets design for recyclability in U.S. systems (i.e., meets the Association of Plastic Recyclers Preferred Design Guidelines, How2Recycle Guidelines, contains no problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging), supports the transition from non-recyclable to recyclable.
- Reuse or Refill
- REUSE – where packaging is returned and reused for the same purpose it was originally sold, consistent with the definitions of ISO 18603:2013.
- REFILL – where a package is refilled to dispense the originally intended product application, consistent with the definitions of ISO 18603:2013. This may be a branded product instead of a packaging solution and the product refill could be a concentrate or the original formulation of the product.
- Postconsumer Recycled Content (PCR) – innovative packaging solutions that either contain increased amounts of postconsumer recycled (PCR) content or are new applications of PCR material; where recycled material is consistent with definitions of ISO 14021:2016.
- Compostability – certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute or the Compost Manufacturing Alliance for industrial compostable packaging or the TÜV AUSTRIA or AS 5810 for home compostable packaging and contains no problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging.
Eligibility
- Open to businesses of all sizes
- Open to primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging solutions of all substrates
- Must service the U.S. market
Winners Will Receive:
- Participation in innovation panel and showcase at U.S. Plastics Pact in-person Activator meeting, including travel stipend to attend
- Feature in Circular Solution Snapshot database for U.S. Pact Activators
- Promotion through U.S. Plastics Pact channels, including highlights at sustainability conferences
- Chance to be featured on Cory Connors’ Sustainable Packaging Podcast
Submit your circular packaging solution before September 3, 2025
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2024 winners:
– Recyclability: ICPG’s XPP Solutions for PS Replacement in Thermoforming & Form-Fill-Seal
– Refill: Good Filling’s Dispensing Station
– Compostability: LifeMade Product’s Bioffex®
– Reuse: IFCO’s Reusable Packaging Solutions
To arrange an interview with Jonathan Quinn, President & CEO, U.S. Plastics Pact, or to be connected with U.S. Pact Activators, contact:
Eric Downing
###