About the Poly Coated Paper Alliance

Leadership

Co-Founders

Alliance Members

Advisors

The Challenge

For consumers, recycling means dropping materials in a recycling bin. But that’s really just the beginning of the recycling journey. The complete recycling process includes the collectors that pick up materials, sorting facilities that separate them by type, reclaimers or processors who turn the material into a commodity, and the manufacturer that makes new things using the recycled material.

Poly coated paper products are a valuable source of recyclable material. Unfortunately, these poly coated paper products are often left out of recycling collections because the collectors, sorters, reclaimers, and manufacturers aren’t all successfully coordinating to capture the value from recycling poly coated paper. 

Mission

The members of the Poly Coated Paper Alliance are collaborating toward the end goal of widespread end-market acceptance, universal adoption of design guidelines, upgraded ISRI and Mill specifications, and documented flow and recovery of poly coated paper materials.  

Strategic Priorities

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Close Data Gaps
Close Data Gaps

Document where poly coated paper is and isn’t being collected for recycling.

Where poly coated paper is being recycled, document how effectively it is being collected and sorted and processed, and whether and how it is reaching end markets.

Universal Design Guidance
Universal Design Guidance

Define guidance such as minimum fiber thresholds or acceptable coating materials.

Test designs and publicize results to encourage adoption of design standards by manufacturers of poly coated paper products.

End Markets
End Markets

Classify end markets and determine which are, or are not, accepting poly coated paper.

Identify interventions that would expand end market acceptance.

ISRI & Mill Specifications
ISRI & Mill Specifications

Demonstrate recyclability of poly coated paper products.

Create an inclusive bale grade, and ensure explicit acceptance of poly coated paper in ISRI specification.

Common Messaging
Common Messaging

Lead collaborative messaging to clarify public and industry understanding of the value of poly coated paper and the importance of collecting and recycling poly coated paper products.