Emerald Packaging Joined U.S. Flexible Film Initiative
The U.S. Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI), a nonprofit initiative and industry coalition dedicated to building a scalable, circular system for recycling flexible plastic packaging in the USA, has a new member: Emerald Packaging, the nation’s largest supplier of retail flexible packaging for the produce industry.
As reported, the company is the first associate member and first flexible manufacturer to join. According to Emerald Packaging, flexible packaging such as bags, wraps, and pouches is a fast-growing segment of the plastics industry. However, these items face significant recycling challenges. A coalition of major consumer companies, including Mars, PepsiCo, Nestlé, General Mills, Mondelēz, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, aims to address this issue by providing funding to material recovery facilities (MRFs) and other recyclers. Their focus will be on launching recycling initiatives specifically for film and flexible plastic packaging, starting with California. “Unlike past efforts by industry, this one will provide subsidies to bridge the gap between the cost of recycling plastics, and the price companies can profitably sell it at,” the company informed.
(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 1/2026, Page 12)
