Flexible Film Recycling and California's EPR Law: Why End Markets Will Make or Break the System

The article explores how California’s EPR law (SB 54) is driving major changes in flexible packaging recycling, pushing brands to redesign materials and invest in systems that can meet recyclability and recovery targets. It highlights the complexity of flexible films and the need for coordinated solutions across design, collection, and end markets, with insights from industry leaders including Anne Johnson of Resource Recycling Systems (RRS). Overall, the piece emphasizes that scaling flexible packaging recycling will depend on strong end-market demand, infrastructure development, and collaboration across the entire value chain.

“We’ll need all of it… because the system isn’t monolithic, and neither are the materials.”

Written by:

Matt Reynolds, Chief Editor