FPA Launches New Consumer Website
- Published: March 11, 2019
In 2018, the Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) work on promoting the environmental benefits and sustainability of flexible packaging culminated with the launch of its new consumer microsite,www.perfectpackaging.org. The site contains information on the environmental benefits of flexible packaging, including reducing food waste; end-of-life options for flexible packaging; the global view of the flexible packaging industry; and why flexible packaging is the preferred packaging choice.
FPA developed the new microsite to promote flexible packaging to consumers and policy makers specifically. The microsite uses current information on food waste, e-commerce, end-of-life management/recyclability, marine debris, and climate impacts. It also includes the new information gleaned from the A Holistic View of the Role of Flexible Packaging in a Sustainable World Report and the FPA 2018 Flexible Packaging Sustainability Study: Perspectives on the Meaning of Sustainability in Flexible Packaging Report to promote the industry to consumers and policy makers, addressing the misinformation that is being reported about packaging, particularly plastic packaging.
The flexible packaging industry leads important packaging trends by extending shelf life and increasing safety, design flexibility, convenience, and sustainability. Technical advances and innovative designs have led to an amazing array of benefits. Flexible packaging use is growing and is second only to corrugated cardboard in the U.S. It provides many consumer benefits, but flexible packaging is quickly becoming the preferred solution for brands because it reduces their environmental footprint. When considering the full life cycle of packaging materials, in most cases, flexible packaging requires less water and energy to manufacture and less gas to transport, reduces product waste, and sends less material to landfills.
In the U.S., approximately 50% of flexible packaging can easily be recycled through in-store drop-off programs. Single layer polyethylene (PE) films can be recycled, but often must be dropped off at grocery stores since most curbside programs are not yet able to sort and process PE films. The store collection program is called “WRAP” (Wrap Recycling Action Program) and is available to more than 90% of Americans at more than 18,000 major grocery and retail stores. To help consumers find in-store drop off locations, FPA partnered with TerraCycle to provide a U.S. zip code locator for consumers to find the nearest store drop-off for their bags and films, which is featured on the new website under the “Recycling” section.
For More Information
For more information on FPA’s new website, please visit www.perfectpackaging.org, or contact FPA at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 410-694-0800.
