ICYMI: The Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s Paper Packaging Recyclability Collaborative recently partnered with Clemson University to conduct research on how food residue affects the recyclability of paper packaging.
Here’s what they found:
“After observing 100 consumers and interviewing dozens of recyclers, we discovered that food residue may present a less significant issue for many paper formats than the industry has previously believed — but recyclers still aren’t willing to accept any more than they’re already receiving.
We also found that on-pack messaging, particularly when paired with a small amount of education, is both effective and critical to limiting the amount of food residue that enters the recycling system in the first place.”
Here’s what this means for How2Recycle members: While the research doesn’t change How2Recycle’s methodology or any current label designations, it increases confidence around acceptable levels of food residue for formats like paper beverage cups and helps identify directional next steps for formats such as paper trays. Future assessment updates would still require supporting data across additional How2Recycle recyclability pillars, including collection access and viable end markets.
The findings also reinforce the need for alignment across paper recyclers, MRFs, and end markets around acceptable levels of food residue. And while translating qualitative recycler feedback into actionable testing standards and labeling guidance will continue to have challenges, this research moves the conversation toward clearer residue thresholds and stronger consumer communications.
Labeling takeaways: SPC and Clemson’s food residue research
Good news: Most consumers already understand the need to clean packaging before recycling. Better news: The study found that clear on-pack instructions significantly improve recycling preparation behavior. Key labeling-related takeaways from the research include:
- Participants presented with a How2Recycle label and brief education were about twice as likely to properly prepare packaging for recycling, removing at least 50% of food residue.
- Consumers ranked printed recycling icons as the most helpful source for determining recyclability.
- “Recycle if Clean & Dry” language influences preparation behavior:
- “Clean”: When consumers saw that instruction, 65% believed packaging should be fully clean before recycling, compared to 50% without the instruction.
- “Dry”: With explicit instructional language, 30% said packaging should be “mostly dry” before recycling. Without explicit instructions, views flipped, with 41% believing it doesn’t matter whether a package is wet or dry before recycling.
To learn more about consumer comprehension, communication opportunities, and recycling facility views, read the research summary here.
Format-specific insights on paper packaging food residue
Cups, tubes: For some formats, like beverage cups and dough tubes, the study confirms what many already knew: food residue is not an issue in these applications and not blocking their pursuit of a higher label. On these formats, How2Recycle would point members to participate in SPC’s Paper Packaging Recyclability Collaborative and other expert organizations, such as Closed Loop Partners and the Foodservice Packaging Institute for their continued efforts on access and acceptance to effect label change here.
Tubs: Other applications, such as ice cream tubs, also largely rely on access and acceptance data, and would likely benefit from new language for a potential future label change. Language How2Recycle has used in food applications historically is “clean & dry.” The findings of this study suggest that further consumer studies could be critical in helping to establish what language most effectively influences consumers to clean residue off an item before putting it in their recycling bin.
Trays: Similarly, paper trays for cooked-in applications could also benefit from more research into improving on-pack language instructions.
Conclusion
The Clemson study indicates that well-informed consumers are active participants in recycling. And it should be no surprise that the packaging studied in this research — like most packaging — could benefit from more consumer education. How2Recycle members can get involved in our How2Recycle Forward campaign or join the SPC’s Consumer Education Collaborative to advance work on this front.
This work, paired with other work by organizations like Smurfit Westrock with pizza boxes, points to levels of food residue on recycled paper packaging that may be acceptable by recyclers. However, reaching industry alignment on acceptable residue levels — and how to consistently test for them — will require additional collaboration.
The How2Recycle team sees these challenges moving closer to resolution as SPC’s Paper Packaging Recyclability Collaborative and partner organizations work toward more quantitative guidance on acceptable residue levels and testing approaches.
By: Emily Williams, How2Recycle Director