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Amcor triples recycled-content targets

Packaging maker Amcor plc is tripling the company's recycled content target.

The company, in conjunction with the release of a new sustainability report, revealed Nov. 17 the new goal is 30 percent — up from the previous 10 percent — by 2030.

"In ramping up our targets for recycled content, we're helping radically scale the amount of recycled content coming into the market to create a circular economy for packaging," said David Clark, vice president of sustainability at Melbourne-based Amcor, in a statement.

"We do this by not only making sure that the packaging produced is designed to be recycled, but also by boosting infrastructure and consumer awareness to ensure content gets recycled and stays in the economy," he said.

Amcor also reported more than doubling the amount of post-consumer material purchased in recent years. The company purchased 171,000 tons during fiscal year 2022, up from 61,000 tons in fiscal year 2019.

Amcor purchased a total of 3.56 million tons of raw materials in fiscal year 2022. Of that total, 76 percent consisted of polymers, 13 percent fibers, 7 percent liquids and 6 percent metals, according to the sustainability report. The company's sales mix, meanwhile, was 76 percent polymers, 14 percent metals and 10 percent fibers.

Along with using more recycled content, the company has pledged to make all products recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. A total of 74 percent of Amcor's production by weight already is designed to be recycled, the company said.

Amcor's network of operations include 220 locations in 43 countries. The firm, with $15 billion in annual sales, employs 44,000 around the world.

CEO Ron Delia, in the sustainability report, called recycled content move "a significant increase beyond our previous target of 10 percent by 2025 and will play a critical role in our responsible packaging strategy."

Publication date: 17/11/2022

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Last update: 2022-01-31