Maya Ellison
Gerber baby food containers have been a topic of discussion for their recyclability. The containers are made of #1 Polyethylene or PET and #6 Polystyrene or PS layered plastic, with an inner layer of Polyethylene and an outer layer of Polystyrene. This multi-layer structure, including foil and aluminium, poses challenges for recycling. While some sources indicate that these containers are non-recyclable due to the difficulty of separating the different materials, others mention local recycling initiatives and Gerber's partnership with TerraCycle to offer a free national recycling program for its packaging. The company has also introduced a single-material baby food pouch made of polypropylene, which is more recyclable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability | Gerber baby food containers are not easily recyclable due to their multi-layer plastic composition. However, Gerber has partnered with TerraCycle to create a free national recycling program for its packaging. |
| Recycling Process | Consumers can send their used Gerber baby food packaging to TerraCycle for recycling. TerraCycle cleans and separates the materials, recycling them into raw formats that can be used by manufacturers to create new products. |
| Incentives | Consumers earn TerraCycle points for their shipments, which can be redeemed as donations to schools, charities, or non-profits of their choice. |
| Future Plans | Gerber is working to improve the recyclability of its packaging and reduce the amount of single-use packaging it creates. The company is exploring emerging consumer preferences for natural and fresh products to reduce its reliance on plastic and packaging. |
| Pouch Recyclability | Gerber introduced a new recyclable baby food pouch made from mono-material polypropylene, which simplifies the recycling process and promotes better recycling infrastructure. |
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What You'll Learn
Gerber's recyclable baby food pouch
Gerber has introduced a new recyclable baby food pouch, which is the first single-material baby food pouch in the industry. The pouch is made from mono-material polypropylene, which provides transparency so consumers can see the product inside. This design is intended to increase the recycling value and promote the development of better recycling infrastructure. The company has partnered with TerraCycle to create a free national recycling program for its baby food packaging. The program allows users to download a free shipping label to send in their Gerber baby food packaging for recycling.
The previous Gerber baby food containers were made with #1 Polyethylene or PET and #6 Polystyrene or PS layered plastic, which made them difficult to recycle. When melted down, the two plastics do not mix and cannot be reformed into films without structural weaknesses. However, these containers are still accepted by some local curbside recycling programs or municipal recycling drop-off locations. In some areas, they can also be brought to Whole Foods for recycling.
Gerber has been working towards making 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. The company has also been conducting trials with Gualapack, a global supplier of premade spouted pouches, to bring the industry's first mono-material pouch to market. The new recyclable pouch will initially be available for Gerber's Organic Banana Mango Puree, with plans to expand to other products in the future.
The introduction of the new recyclable pouch is a positive step towards creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly baby food industry. It remains to be seen whether other companies will follow Gerber's lead and introduce similar initiatives to improve the recyclability of their products.
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TerraCycle and Gerber's free recycling program
Gerber baby food containers are made with #1 Polyethylene (or PET) and #6 Polystyrene (or PS) layered plastic. The inner layer is Polyethylene, and the outer layer is Polystyrene. When melted down, the two plastics do not mix, which makes it difficult to recycle them together. However, Gerber has partnered with TerraCycle to create a free national recycling program for its baby food packaging and small and large hook baby clothing hangers.
Through this program, you can recycle Gerber baby food packaging that is not municipally recyclable. To participate, simply sign up on the Gerber Recycling Program page and mail in your packaging using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, TerraCycle will clean and melt the packaging into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. This program is an easy and responsible way for families to divert waste from landfills and demonstrate their respect for the environment.
You can also earn TerraCycle points by recycling with them. These points can be redeemed for donations to schools, charities, or nonprofits of your choice. TerraCycle has raised millions globally through its recycling programs, and the company works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard-to-recycle waste streams into their products and packaging.
Gerber's partnership with TerraCycle is part of its broader sustainable packaging efforts and its commitment to giving babies a healthy and happy future. The company is also committed to reducing energy use, water use, and carbon emissions in its factories.
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Multi-layer plastics being reprocessed
Gerber baby food plastic containers are made with #1 Polyethylene (PET) and #6 Polystyrene (PS) layered plastic. The inner layer is Polyethylene, and the outer layer is Polystyrene. Due to the two different plastics being layered together, they cannot be recycled using traditional methods as when melted down, the two plastics do not mix. This results in structural weaknesses that render the films useless. However, it seems that multi-layer plastics are being reprocessed. They are being made into some other useful material even if they can't be used to make packaging film again. For example, they can be heat-treated and converted into a composite material with wood/plastic-like properties.
Multi-layer plastics are widely used in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) as they combine the functionalities of distinct materials. They can enhance properties such as resource-use efficiency and barrier performance, leading to benefits like prolonged shelf life. However, they present a challenge for existing recycling systems due to the chemical incompatibility of their different layers.
Currently, there is no mainstream solution for recycling multi-layer plastics in the next 5-10 years. While chemical recycling (feedstock) is gaining traction as a potential solution, there are concerns about its costs and genuine environmental benefits. Additionally, there is a lack of advanced sorting technology for post-consumer waste.
To address the challenge of recycling multi-layer plastics, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new solvent-based recycling process called Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation (STRAP). STRAP uses a series of solvent washes guided by thermodynamic calculations of polymer solubility to separate the different polymers in multilayer plastics. This process has been successful in separating three representative polymers (polyethylene, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and polyethylene terephthalate) from a commercially available multilayer film.
The team at UW-Madison hopes to use the recovered polymers to create new plastic materials, demonstrating the potential to close the recycling loop. They aim to develop a computational system to identify solvent combinations for recycling different multilayer plastics while also considering the environmental impact of the solvents used.
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Curbside recycling for the pouch
Gerber has partnered with TerraCycle to create a free national recycling program for its baby food packaging. This program includes supporting curbside recycling for its new baby food pouch. The pouch, which is made from a single material, simplifies the recycling process and promotes the development of better recycling infrastructure.
The current pouch is a multi-material structure made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), foil, and polyethylene (PE). This structure uses two outer layers of plastic that sandwich an aluminum barrier layer. The new pouch, made from mono-material polypropylene, provides transparency so consumers can see the product inside.
The Materials Recovery for the Future (MRFF) pilot program in Pottstown, PA, is the first curbside recycling program in the US to accept flexible plastics. The goal is to expand the program across the country.
Gerber is also reducing the amount of single-use packaging it creates and exploring technologies to replace or manage difficult-to-recycle packaging. The company's efforts to reduce and recycle packaging are part of its broader sustainability mission, which includes responsible agriculture and a responsible supply chain.
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Reducing single-use packaging
Gerber baby food containers are recyclable through the Gerber Free Recycling Program, which allows consumers to send in their packaging to be recycled and earn rewards. However, some consumers have expressed concerns about the recyclability of these containers, and they are encouraged to reuse them for other purposes. This reflects a broader issue with single-use plastics, which have become deeply ingrained in our daily lives, and the challenges of shifting towards more sustainable alternatives.
To reduce the environmental impact of single-use packaging, several strategies can be employed. Firstly, consumers can opt for reusable alternatives whenever possible. This shift can be challenging due to financial and infrastructural constraints, but it is crucial for a healthier planet. Additionally, when single-use products cannot be avoided, consumers should aim to reuse or repurpose them multiple times before disposal, reducing their environmental impact.
Businesses also play a significant role in reducing single-use packaging. Companies like Amazon are working to eliminate unnecessary packaging, optimize packaging size and weight, and increase the recyclability of their packaging. They are also exploring sustainable alternatives, such as paper- and cardboard-based packaging, to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. Amazon has reported avoiding 9,100 metric tons of plastic packaging in India by adopting these alternatives.
Furthermore, the development of tailored approaches at the local level is essential. Geographical and social contexts, production requirements, reusability, waste management infrastructure, and education all influence the success of proposed alternatives. For example, the ''unpackaged movement' aims to decouple from single-use plastics by exploring new market and consumer arrangements. Reusable packaging systems, such as returnable containers, can also help reduce single-use packaging and its associated carbon emissions.
Overall, reducing single-use packaging requires collective effort from consumers, businesses, and policymakers. By promoting reusable alternatives, reusing and repurposing single-use items, and developing sustainable packaging solutions, we can collectively minimize the environmental impact of single-use packaging.
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Frequently asked questions
Gerber has introduced a new recyclable baby food pouch, which is made from a single material. This simplifies the recycling process and promotes better recycling infrastructure.
The pouch is made from mono-material polypropylene, which provides transparency so consumers can see the product inside.
Gerber has partnered with TerraCycle to create a free national recycling program. You can recycle your Gerber baby food packaging through your local curbside service, municipal recycling drop-off locations, or by sending it to TerraCycle.
TerraCycle collects the packaging, cleans it, and separates it by material type. The materials are then recycled into raw formats that manufacturers can use to make new products.
Gerber is also working to reduce the amount of single-use packaging it creates. For example, they have converted their infant formula products from plastic tubs to tin cans and removed plastic from several baby food products. They are also exploring emerging consumer preferences for natural and fresh products to further reduce their reliance on plastic and packaging.
