Industry Alliance Targets Gaps in Plastic Film Recycling

Group backed by plastics industry seeks data, investment and coordination as US policy scrutiny of packaging waste grows

10 Feb 2026

Plastic film has become one of the most persistent weaknesses in the US recycling system, with most flexible packaging still ending up in landfill. An industry-backed alliance is now seeking to address that gap as regulatory pressure on packaging waste intensifies.

The Flexible Film Recycling Alliance, supported by the Plastics Industry Association, is bringing together companies across the packaging supply chain to improve how plastic film is collected, measured and processed. Its aim is to make recycling systems for flexible packaging more credible and more effective at scale, particularly as extended producer responsibility laws spread across US states.

Flexible plastic packaging is widely used because it is lightweight, relatively cheap and helps extend the shelf life of food and consumer goods. But unlike rigid plastics, plastic film is generally not accepted in curbside recycling programmes. Collection instead relies on store drop-off schemes, which remain poorly understood by consumers and attract limited participation.

That low uptake has weakened confidence in recycling claims and increased reputational and regulatory risks for consumer goods companies. Policymakers are also questioning whether existing systems are sufficient as plastic waste becomes a higher-profile environmental issue.

Rather than focusing on technical fixes alone, the alliance is prioritising coordination across the value chain. Its members include materials producers, packaging manufacturers, brand owners, recyclers and retail collection operators. Participants include Dow, Novolex and Kraft Heinz, reflecting a shared interest in improving system performance rather than pursuing individual solutions.

A central focus is data. The alliance argues that progress depends on more consistent measurement of collection and recycling rates, supported by standardised reporting and independent verification. Better data, it says, is needed to build confidence among regulators, investors and consumers.

The group is also supporting investment in recycling infrastructure capable of handling plastic film at greater scale. Expanding processing capacity and strengthening end markets for recycled film could help stabilise demand and reduce reliance on virgin plastics, an issue closely followed by sustainability-focused investors.

Environmental groups remain sceptical, questioning whether store drop-off schemes can deliver results comparable to curbside recycling. Even so, the alliance reflects a broader shift within the packaging sector towards collaboration as policy scrutiny increases.

As regulators tighten expectations, initiatives such as this may shape which packaging formats remain viable over the next decade. For companies under pressure to show progress, plastic film recycling is becoming a test of whether industry-led solutions can meet rising public and political demands.