Packaging

Potato chip bags, made of seven bonded layers of plastic and metal, cannot be recycled by any U.S. system. Flexible packaging like these pouches is the fastest-growing waste material, with recycling rates below 2 percent. New state policies aim to shift costs to producers.

12 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Instapak foam cushions, produced by Sealed Air, protect fragile shipments but pose recycling challenges due to their composite materials. The company offers a dedicated return program to handle these cushions, diverting them from landfills. Reuse remains the preferred initial step for extending their life.