APR Recycling Leadership Awards to Honor Excellence in Plastics Recyclability

Published: January 09, 2025

Innovators to be celebrated at the 2025 Plastics Recycling Conference

Launched in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability, the inaugural APR Recycling Leadership Awards will recognize packaging designers, manufacturers, researchers, or innovators who are improving recycling for plastics.

Winners will be announced during the opening plenary session at the Plastics Recycling Conference (PRC), where industry leaders gather to shape the future of recycling, on March 24th in National Harbor, MD. Recipients will gain industry recognition and the opportunity to showcase their work at the trade show.

Award categories focus on unique contributions moving plastics recycling forward and include:

• Outstanding Leadership: Celebrating those whose commitment and vision have driven meaningful advancements in APR research or recyclable packaging design.
• Recycling Technology Innovation: Honoring pioneering technology that boosts the quality and efficiency of recycled materials.
• Package Design Innovation: Recognizing creative packaging solutions that address major recycling challenges.
• Post-Consumer Recycled Content (PCR) Utilization: Awarding companies demonstrating a powerful commitment to PCR through expanded applications and innovative use in new product categories.

“We’re continually inspired by incredible innovations across the plastics value chain to drive recyclability,” said Steve Alexander, APR President & CEO. “The APR Design® Guide is widely recognized across the globe as the authority on plastics packaging design for recyclability. As we celebrate 30 years of impact, we are pleased to honor individuals driving significant change on a national stage at PRC this coming March.”

The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 31, 2025. Both self-nominations and nominations of others are accepted. APR membership is not required to submit a nomination or to be nominated for an APR Recycling Leadership Award. Find more information and submit nominations on the APR website, plasticsrecycling.org.

Founded over 30 years ago by mechanical recyclers, the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is an international non-profit and the only North American organization focused exclusively on improving recycling for plastics.APR’s tools and resources help companies design packaging that can be recycled, support innovations that overcome existing recycling challenges, and encourage stable and reliable markets for postconsumer recycled content.