Kickstart: More recycling options, but only through drop-off

It's a good week for new recycling options for familiar products, but only if you're willing to drop them off.

First up, Nature Valley Granola Bars — part of General Mills — is rolling out new flexible packaging for their crunchy bars that are recyclable through the same in-store program to collect and recycle retail bags.

"Believe it or not, recycling polyethylene film is more than a sustainable, eco-friendly way to minimize our environmental footprint," Nature Valley said in rolling out the new packaging. "Your contributions to store drop-off recycling can be turned into playground sets, decking, fencing and furniture — all things that can help you make the most of your outdoor spaces."

And second, Spotlight Oral Care is working with TerraCycle for in-office drop-offs for used plastic dental aligners.

"Dental aligners are made of plastic and can take hundreds of years to decay in landfills," TerraCycle said. "They are typically not recyclable in community programs."

TerraCycle says a list of participating dental offices will be out soon.

A 20 percent jump in machinery sales might sound good, but Bill Wood, Plastics News' economics editor, says don't start celebrating just yet.

Speaking to Catherine Kavanaugh about the Plastics Industry Association's quarterly machinery sales numbers, Wood notes that while numbers were up for Q4 2020 vs. Q4 2019, there are complications to that story.

"No. 1, the machinery sector was in a recession in 2019 so the fourth quarter wasn't very good," Wood said. "No. 2, we're coming out of a situation where there's some pent-up demand due to the coronavirus. To be up almost 20 percent year over year isn't bad, but I hesitate to say, 'Wow, we're back up and running.' I'm not sure happy days are here again, but we'll take 19 percent."

And the outlook beyond the first quarter of 2021 is more complex as well, he warns. 

Sustainabable packaging gets a spotlight in the new digital edition of our sister publication Sustainable Plastics, now available for downloading.

Mark Vester, the global leader for the circular economy at Sabic, notes in a Q&A in the issue that with packaging regulations in the European Union set to change in 2025, companies need to be ready now to provide sustainable solutions.

"Up to 80 percent of a product's environmental impacts are determined at the design phase," Vester said. "Manufacturers must work together with customers to design packaging solutions which can be recycled effectively."