Category: GreenBlue

(SEATTLE April 29, 2025) — A group of leading recycling and packaging organizations today launched The Packaging Recyclability Advancement Task Force to improve recyclability for two widely used packaging formats: PE squeeze tubes, often used for toothpaste, and PET thermoform containers, such as those used for berries, baked goods, and deli items.

Announced at SPC Impact by GreenBlue Executive Director Paul Nowak, the Task Force brings together GreenBlue, the U.S. Plastics Pact, The Recycling Partnership, the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), and the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR).

While many plastic packaging formats are technically recyclable, they often face real-world barriers like inconsistent collection, limited sortation, or weak end-market demand that prevent them from being recycled at scale. Packaging design is just one piece of the puzzle. Under the How2Recycle® system, recyclability is assessed across five pillars: applicable law, collection, sortation, reprocessability, and end-market availability—all of which can shift based on local policies, infrastructure, or broader market trends.

To help brand owners navigate these dynamic conditions, the Task Force will develop clear, actionable guidance focused on improving recyclability beyond design alone. Its initial focus will be on PE squeeze tubes (currently labeled “Not Yet Recyclable”) and PET thermoforms (labeled “Check Locally”). By uniting expertise from across the packaging and recycling value chain, the Task Force aims to equip companies with the tools needed to move these formats—and others in the future—toward broader acceptance and higher recyclability classifications.

The Task Force is building on years of progress —led by companies like Colgate-Palmolive, Haleon, and others—to advance recyclability for these formats.

“The only reason we’re able to take on this challenge in a meaningful way is because of the years of work companies have already put in,” said GreenBlue Executive Director Paul Nowak. “Thanks to their leadership and collaboration, we now have the foundation to push these formats even further.”

The Task Force will draw on two leading industry tools—the How2Recycle® recyclability assessment framework and The Recycling Partnership’s Pathway to Circularity Framework—to develop its guidance for brand owners. The Task Force will assess packaging formats to pinpoint barriers to higher effective recycling rates, acceptance in more local programs, and reaching a higher How2Recycle® recyclability category.

“Improving recyclability requires more than just good design—it takes collaboration across the entire packaging ecosystem,” said Jonathan Quinn, CEO of the U.S. Plastics Pact. “This Task Force brings together the right expertise to create practical solutions that work at scale.”

The findings will inform a comprehensive guidance document aimed at helping companies consider and navigate the many factors related to recyclability. Elements will include:

• Action steps brand owners can take to close gaps in recyclability beyond design
• Minimum thresholds required across key recyclability criteria
• Direction on which organizations to engage in their process
• How to verify that necessary recyclability thresholds have been met

By addressing the full spectrum of what makes packaging truly recyclable, the Packaging Recyclability Advancement Task Force aims to accelerate progress toward a more circular packaging system. Each participating organization brings its unique expertise—from design guidance and recyclability labeling to infrastructure, policy, and end-market development—ensuring that solutions reflect the realities of the entire packaging and recycling value chain.

The resulting guidance will serve as a roadmap not only for PET thermoforms and PE squeeze tubes, but as a scalable model for improving recyclability across more packaging formats in the future. This collaboration will help ensure that innovation keeps pace with the realities of recycling while empowering brands to make lasting change.

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About GreenBlue

GreenBlue is an environmental nonprofit on a mission to accelerate the transition to a regenerative, just, and sustainable materials economy. GreenBlue is the parent nonprofit of seven projects, including the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, How2Recycle, and the Recycled Material Standard. Through these projects and their hundreds of members, GreenBlue strives to be the most reliable and accurate source of truth compelling the packaging value chain to construct environmentally regenerative, socially responsible systems. Learn more at https://greenblue.org/.

About How2Recycle

How2Recycle is the leading labeling program for packaging disposal instructions with the most recognizable on-pack label across the United States and Canada. Launched in 2012, How2Recycle started as a Sustainable Packaging Coalition working group aimed at providing consumers with clear, standard, and accessible on-pack disposal instructions. Today, with its more than 800 participating organizations, How2Recycle and its members are on a mission to make sure that consumers have the information they need to get waste into the right streams. Learn more at https://greenblue.org/projects/how2recycle/

About U.S. Plastics Pact

The U.S. Plastics Pact is a solutions-focused initiative uniting stakeholders across the plastics value chain to eliminate plastic waste and accelerate the transition to a circular economy. As part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global Plastics Pact Network, the U.S. Pact works toward a shared vision with measurable, time-bound targets. Learn more at https://www.usplasticspact.org

About The Association of Plastic Recyclers

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 post-consumer recycled content. Visit plasticsrecycling.org for more information.

 About The Recycled Materials Association

The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) represents more than 1,700 companies in the U.S. and 40 countries around the globe. Based in Washington, D.C., ReMA provides advocacy, education, safety and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycled materials play in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. Learn more at www.isri.org.

About The Recycling Partnership

The Recycling Partnership is a team of experts, practitioners, and thought leaders who are deeply invested in delivering on our mission of building a better recycling system. We work alongside communities, companies, and policymakers to enact meaningful change across the entire recycling industry to deliver the economic and environmental benefits of recycling. To truly unlock these benefits, The Partnership believes in the importance of collaboration across the industry, highlighted by initiatives like the Circularity Council, which is comprised of organizations representing materials, brands, government, MRFs, NGOs, retailers, and trade groups that form a powerful, aligned network to accelerate real system change.  Learn more about The Partnership at https://recyclingpartnership.org/.

About The Solid Waste Association of North America

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is a member-based association of professionals from across the waste and resource management industry. Committed to advancing from waste management to resource management, we are empowering our members to deliver essential services to communities today and anticipate their needs for tomorrow. SWANA serves industry professionals through technical education, publications and research, and a large offering of technical training courses and credentialing to create a highly skilled workforce. Learn more about SWANA at https://www.swana.org.

(CHARLOTTESVILLE April 7, 2025) — The GreenBlue Board of Directors has elected two new members, Jeffrey Fielkow, CEO of Circular Action Alliance, and Jennifer Ronk, Senior Sustainability Manager at Dow. With their combined experience in sustainability research and industry collaboration, Jennifer and Jeffrey will serve as strategic advisors advancing GreenBlue’s mission of building a regenerative, just, and sustainable materials economy. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jennifer and Jeffrey to GreenBlue’s Board of Directors,” said GreenBlue Board of Directors President Joe Kofler. “Jennifer has spent her career at the forefront of initiatives driving a circular plastics economy, and Jeffrey brings visionary leadership forged from decades of experience in packaging and sustainability. Their combined expertise will be invaluable as we continue to advance our industry’s sustainability goals.”

Members of GreenBlue’s Board of Directors are stewards of the environmental nonprofit and its seven projects, including The Sustainable Packaging Coalition and How2Recycle. GreenBlue and its projects comprise more than 1,000 member organizations. Now, GreenBlue’s Board comprises 12 independent members who bring expertise from a diversity of roles across industries and the value supply chain.

The GreenBlue Board of Directors strategically supports the organization’s mission of accelerating the transition to a regenerative, just, and sustainable materials economy. GreenBlue advances this mission through its members, providing them with the trustworthy and compelling information they need to prioritize sustainable materials progress over any one organization’s agenda. 

“With experience at a sustainability research NGO and now a materials science company, I’m a firm believer that science, courageous collaboration, and tangible action are essential for accelerating the transition to a regenerative, just, and sustainable future,” Jennifer said. “I’m thrilled to join the GreenBlue Board, where I can leverage these experiences to advance the organization’s mission.”  

Jeffrey added, “Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by the belief that system-wide collaboration is essential for building a truly circular and sustainable economy. Today, I’m honored to join the GreenBlue Board of Directors, where I can contribute to an organization that’s aligned with my own values and professional journey. I’m a strong believer in GreenBlue’s mission of advancing a regenerative and just materials economy, and I look forward to helping guide the organization as it fulfills its bold ambitions.”

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About Jennifer Ronk

Jennifer Ronk, North America Packaging & Specialty Plastics Senior Sustainability Manager at Dow, joined the company’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics Division in 2018. In her role, she fosters collaboration across the entire value chain to advance sustainability. Jennifer also serves on the boards of AMERIPEN and Houston Wilderness, and works on the Sustainability Committees of The American Chemistry Council’s Plastic Division and The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS). 

Before joining Dow, Jennifer was a Senior Research Scientist and Program Director for HARC, a sustainability research hub, where she led the Environmental Science and Energy Efficiency Programs. She has also served as the Deputy Director for the Renewable Energy and International Law (REIL) Network and as the Vice-President of Applied Environmental Solutions. Jennifer earned her Master of Environmental Management degree from Yale University. 

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About Jeffrey Fielkow 

Jeffrey Fielkow is the CEO of Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the Producer Responsibility Organization tasked with implementing packaging and paper Extended Producer Responsibility in four U.S. states. He is a seasoned executive and four-time CEO whose career has centered on sustainability, packaging, and corporate leadership. Jeffrey also serves on the Board of Directors for TriMas Corporation, as the Chair of the organization’s Compensation Committee and a member of TriMas’s Audit and Governance & Nominating Committees. 

With decades of experience in packaging and sustainability, Fielkow has held leadership roles at Tetra Pak, Waste Management, ReCommunity, and ID Images. His leadership philosophy centers on the intersection of purpose and profit, and is driven by innovation, accountability, and sustainable business transformation. Fielkow holds an MBA from Marquette University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

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About GreenBlue 

GreenBlue is an environmental nonprofit on a mission to accelerate the transition to a regenerative, just, and sustainable materials economy. GreenBlue is the parent nonprofit of seven projects, including The Sustainable Packaging Coalition, How2Recycle, and The Recycled Material Standard. Through these projects and their hundreds of members, GreenBlue strives to be the most reliable and accurate source of truth compelling the packaging value chain to construct environmentally regenerative, socially responsible systems. Learn more at https://greenblue.org/.

At GreenBlue, we’re on a mission to advance sustainability alongside our partners and members because we believe that together, our work can build a stronger, safer natural environment for generations to come. 

We’ve found that, for our organization, being fully remote is one of the key ways we advance our mission. As a dispersed organization, we can hire and support the best person for a role no matter where they live—and with staff spanning two continents, we can connect with our broad network of members and stakeholders in their own communities. Being fully remote also empowers our team to both skip commutes and maintain their roots, bringing the full power of their personality and expertise to our work. 

But every pro has a con, and being fully remote comes with the opportunity cost of losing valuable in-person bonding with our teammates. That’s where our retreat comes in. Once a year, we all get together in person and make space to share ideas, open the floor to feedback, embrace learning opportunities, and discuss topics like diversity and conservation—and of course, we strengthen bonds and reconnect with old friends. 

This year, in Charleston, we gathered to reap the benefits of in-person time with our team, and along the way, we learned more about ourselves, each other, our shared history, and the world we want to build. Let’s dive into what our team learned and gained during the GreenBlue staff retreat in Charleston, South Carolina. 

We Learned About Ourselves During Our Staff Retreat

At my first staff retreat, I quickly realized that GreenBlue isn’t just invested in us as employees. The organization is invested in us as whole people—people with relationships, passions, and responsibilities completely outside of work.

This realization manifested largely in our work with the lifestyle consultancy led by Saya Hillman and Pete Aiello, Mac & Cheese Productions℠. Throughout our first morning, Saya demonstrated how we can better structure and organize our lives in ways that play to our own individual strengths. She did this by discussing frameworks for setting personal and professional goals, methods for monitoring and achieving those goals, and encouraging us to identify our own actionable takeaways. 

One of the most memorable moments of learning about ourselves took place during the “blueprint” session. In this session, we identified a goal that we wanted to achieve—be it more exercise, more down time, more creative writing. Then, we had to think about the steps needed to achieve that goal. From there, we were tasked with visualizing those steps and our eventual success, scrapbooking with magazines to build a “blueprint” for achieving our goal.

Of course, the time spent working on what felt like arts and crafts was a great mental reset—but the magic of the exercise amplified when we broke into small groups to share our blueprints with one another. 

We Got to Know the Person Behind the Screen

To have a goal is to acknowledge that you’re not satisfied with a situation. Whether your goal is to sleep more or run a marathon, when you name a goal, you’re naming an area of your life that you want to change. In sharing our goals with each other at the retreat, we were forced to be vulnerable—to share what we hope to change in our lives. And together, we broke down the walls that divide our work selves and our personal lives, inviting our teammates to see another side of ourselves. 

While sharing these blueprints with the team was a great way to break the ice, so much bonding took place in less formal settings throughout the retreat. Be it the meals we shared together, the walks around town, or the relief of re-entering air conditioning, these little moments made all the difference. Because at the end of the day, an organization is as strong as the relationships and the people it comprises. When we can get together to see the person behind the computer screen, we create bonds that strengthen the fabric of our organization and increase our chances of accomplishing our mission. 

We Learned About the Systems That Shaped Our Lives

Throughout our time in Charleston, we weren’t just optimizing our lives in the hotel—we were exploring the city and its history. We started that exploration with a walking tour of Charleston, exploring its downtown to build a foundational understanding of the city’s history. 

To build on that foundation, we met with authors of Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery, Herb Frazier and Joseph McGill. Together, they helped share the stories of rebellion and resilience that define the history of slavery in Charleston. 

This learning began by tracing the trail of the Stono Rebellion, the largest, most significant slave rebellion before the American Revolution. We also visited the Caw Caw plantation, where we saw the lasting environmental impact hundreds of enslaved people had on the land, having turned a barren swamp into fertile rice fields. Lastly, we visited the memorial of Denmark Vasey, a freed man and community leader who died because of his revolutionary plans to free enslaved people. 

In these tours, we were reminded of the relationship between black Americans and environmental injustice—the legacy enslaved people left on shaping the land into wellsprings of profit that they never saw. Today, of course, we still see descendant communities suffering from environmental justices, from experiencing the extreme weather of climate change first and worst to communities like Cancer Alley in New Orleans. The city’s history and its legacy of injustice served as a stark reminder for us to continue using these lessons as we advance just solutions for our environment. 

We Saw the Ecosystems that Depend on Work Like Ours

I’m sure you’ve heard the stats around marine pollution, like that plastic pollution makes up 80% of all marine pollution, and that hundreds of marine species—from turtles to tarpon—have been impacted by plastic pollution. But if we continue to improve sustainability and reduce pollution, the impact of our work could span farther than I’ll ever travel and last longer than any one generation. 

As part of our retreat, we got to visit one of the thousands of ecosystems whose health hinges on our ability to reduce pollution: Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. One of Charleston’s natural wonders, the refuge spans 22 miles of barrier islands with sinuous waterways and thriving salt marshes. 

We marveled at the birds, dolphins, horseshoe crabs, and other critters that depend on the fragile salt marsh ecosystems of Cape Romain. As we walked together along the pristine shoreline—free of straws, cans, bags, or caps—I thought to myself: This is part of what mission accomplished looks like. 

At the GreenBlue staff retreat, I remembered why I joined GreenBlue and why so many of us do this work: because if we as an organization can continue advancing sustainability, we can build a cleaner, safer world for the people, places, and ecosystems that depend on us—today and tomorrow. 

By: MK Moore, Communications, Content & Design Manager