With non-recyclable laminates, product designers have created 
packaging that is literally “designed for the dump” and completely violates the U.S. Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s definition of a sustainable package. Many believe that this type of packaging needs to be phased out in favour of reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging. But how?
Some food packers are pressuring their suppliers to develop flexible laminated packaging that reduces the amount of different materials to one polymer so that the package would become more recyclable. But they recognise that there are technical obstacles to this, as each layer in the laminate performs different functions (e.g. one prevents oxygen from getting inside; the other – water, etc) and inks, adhesives and food contamination all make even a single web of film difficult to recycle.
Others are pushing compostable flexible packaging solutions but until collection, sorting and industrial composting facilities and programmes are in place to handle the additional waste then this is not a completely closed-loop system.
Others see the solution being to push the problem up the supply chain with extended producer responsibility (EPR), which makes manufacturers responsible for green design and reducing, reusing and recycling their packaging. The companies that put packaging into the marketplace need to have a plan for where that packaging is going once consumers are finished with it and they should be actually responsible for making sure these waste handling facilities are in place.
PCI experts also agree that manufacturers should take greater responsibility for the design, production and end-of-life handling of their packaging. Much is being done but more ‘producer responsibility’ is required, particularly at the product collection and recycling stages.
