
Target has implemented a comprehensive recycling program to help customers recycle their plastic items. The Target Forward program is committed to reducing plastic waste and finding alternatives for plastics in their products, packaging, and operations. The company has a closed-loop reuse program for its plastic garment hangers, which are repaired or ground down to make new hangers in a waste-free loop. Target's recycling program accepts various types of plastic, including PETE (#1), HDPE (#2), PVC (#3), LDPE (#4), PP (#5), and PS (#6). Customers can recycle plastic hangers at Target by placing them in designated recycling bins near the clothing or housewares section of the store.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability | Target has implemented a comprehensive recycling program that accepts various types of plastic, including PETE (#1), HDPE (#2), PVC (#3), LDPE (#4), PP (#5), and PS (#6). |
| Plastic Hanger Recycling | Target accepts plastic hangers for recycling and has designated bins near the clothing or housewares section of the store. |
| Environmental Impact | Target aspires to reduce waste and preserve the environment by minimizing textile waste, reducing plastic use in fabrics, and increasing the use of recycled materials. |
| Commitment | Target has signed onto the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment on Plastics, partnering with over 1,000 organizations to change how plastic is produced, used, and reused. |
| Goals | Target aims to reduce virgin plastic packaging by 20% in owned brand food, beverage, beauty, and essentials businesses by 2025, with 100% of owned brand packaging designed to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable. |
| Current Efforts | Target maintains 15% post-consumer recycled content (PCR) in owned brand packaging, with a goal to increase to 20% by 2025. They are also partnering with national brands on refill/reuse strategies and are part of the U.S. Plastics Pact. |
| Plastic Hanger Description | Room Essentials™ offers 18-pack and 50-pack plastic hangers in white and gray, designed to organize and hold various clothing items with a durable and sturdy construction. |
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What You'll Learn

Target's commitment to reducing plastic waste
Target has demonstrated its commitment to reducing plastic waste through various initiatives and partnerships. Since 1994, the company has implemented a closed-loop reuse program for its plastic garment hangers, ensuring that hangers are repaired or recycled after multiple uses. This program alone helps Target close the loop on plastic waste and encourages the company to minimize textile waste and reduce plastic in fabrics.
In addition to its hanger recycling program, Target has also signed onto the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment on Plastics in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme. As part of this commitment, Target works alongside over 1,000 organizations to change how plastic is produced, used, and reused. The company has also developed a comprehensive packaging strategy to eliminate problematic plastic packaging, increase the use of recyclable materials, and pursue design opportunities to reduce or eliminate packaging altogether.
Target has set ambitious goals to reduce its environmental impact, including reducing the total volume of virgin plastic packaging by 20% in its owned brand food, beverage, beauty, and essentials businesses. The company also aims to increase the use of post-consumer recycled content (PCR) in its packaging to 20% by 2025. To achieve these goals, Target is partnering with national brands on refill and reuse strategies and is an activator in the U.S. Plastics Pact.
Furthermore, Target offers guests stylish reusable bag options and provides a five-cent discount for each reusable bag used at checkout. The company is also a founding partner of the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, which aims to identify, pilot, and implement innovative alternative designs for single-use retail bags. Target has also launched Target Zero, a collection featuring thousands of products designed to be refillable, reusable, or compostable, made from recycled content, or made from materials that reduce the use of virgin plastic.
Overall, Target is committed to reducing plastic waste and has implemented various initiatives and strategies to achieve this goal, demonstrating its dedication to environmental sustainability and responsibility.
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Target's recycling program
Target has implemented several initiatives and programs as part of its commitment to sustainability and waste reduction. The company is actively working to reduce the amount of virgin plastics used across its business operations. One notable example is their closed-loop reuse program for plastic garment hangers, which has been in place since 1994. Under this program, plastic hangers are repaired or ground down to create new hangers after multiple uses, ensuring a waste-free loop. Target also aims to reduce the use of plastic in fabrics and increase the use of recycled materials, such as recycled polyester.
In addition to hanger recycling, Target has set ambitious goals for its overall waste reduction and sustainability efforts. The company is working towards eliminating, reducing, and finding alternatives for plastics in products, packaging, and operations. They have committed to reducing the volume of virgin plastic packaging by 20% in their owned brand food, beverage, beauty, and essentials businesses. Additionally, Target aspires to design 100% of its owned brand packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025.
To achieve these goals, Target is exploring alternative materials, delivery systems, and reuse and recycle models. They are also collaborating with national brands sold at Target on refill and reuse strategies and packaging innovations. Target is an activator in the U.S. Plastics Pact, working towards ensuring that all plastic packaging is 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable. They are also taking measures to eliminate unnecessary packaging and improve recycling processes.
Furthermore, Target has implemented landfill diversion programs for construction and operational waste, achieving an 85% diversion rate for operational waste and 60% for construction waste in FY2023. They have also successfully reduced operational food waste, maintained through improved forecasting, recycling, composting, and food donation programs. Target is committed to making recycling more convenient for its customers, with select take-back programs and annual car seat trade-in events. The company is also investing in initiatives like the Shoe Waste Factory program and Accelerating Circularity U.S. trials to drive continuous improvement in waste management systems and incorporate recycled materials into new products.
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Types of plastic accepted by Target's recycling program
Target has implemented several initiatives to reduce plastic waste and encourage recycling. The company provides recycling bins in its stores, allowing customers to dispose of various plastic items properly. Target's recycling program accepts a wide range of plastic materials, making it convenient for customers to recycle.
The types of plastic accepted by Target's recycling program include:
- Plastic bags: Target accepts plastic bags for recycling, which is particularly beneficial as they can take hundreds of years to decompose and are harmful to the environment.
- Plastic bottles: Target has been accepting plastic bottles for recycling at their in-store kiosks since 2010.
- Plastic car seats: Target launched a car seat trade-in program, allowing customers to recycle car seats and receive deals on new baby gear.
- PETE (#1), HDPE (#2), PVC (#3), LDPE (#4), PP (#5), and PS (#6): These plastic types are commonly used in everyday items such as bottles, containers, and packaging materials.
- Ink cartridges: Target has partnered with various ink cartridge recycling programs, providing designated bins in the electronics department or at the customer service desk.
- Plastic hangers: Target has a closed-loop reuse program for plastic garment hangers. After multiple uses, hangers are repaired or ground down to create new hangers in a waste-free loop.
Target is committed to reducing virgin plastic use and increasing recycled content in its packaging. The company aims to design 100% of its owned brand packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025. Additionally, they are working with national brands to develop refill/reuse strategies and packaging innovations to reduce plastic waste.
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Proper disposal of recyclable items at Target
Target has implemented a comprehensive recycling program to help customers recycle plastic items. The company is committed to reducing waste and preserving the environment through its Target Forward initiative, which includes eliminating, reducing, and finding alternatives to plastics in products, packaging, and operations. As part of this program, Target has set specific goals, such as reducing the volume of virgin plastic packaging in its owned brand food, beverage, beauty, and essentials businesses by 20%, and designing 100% of owned brand packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025.
Target's recycling program accepts various types of plastic, including PETE (#1), HDPE (#2), PVC (#3), LDPE (#4), PP (#5), and PS (#6). These plastics are commonly used in everyday items such as bottles, containers, and packaging materials. The company also accepts plastic hangers for recycling, which can be placed in designated bins usually located near the clothing or housewares section of the store.
To ensure proper disposal, it is important to separate recyclable items from non-recyclable waste and to look for recycling bins labeled with the appropriate recycling symbol. Target also offers ink cartridge recycling, with designated bins in the electronics department or at the customer service desk.
In addition to its recycling initiatives, Target is also committed to reducing the use of virgin plastics across its business. Since 1994, the company has been using a closed-loop reuse program for its plastic garment hangers, where hangers are repaired or ground down to make new hangers in a waste-free loop. Target is also working to reduce plastic waste in fabrics, such as those containing synthetic fibers like recycled polyester. Through partnerships with organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Global Fashion Agenda, Target is actively contributing to industry-wide efforts to transform the way fashion is produced and consumed.
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Target's collaboration with the Global Fashion Agenda
Target has been committed to reducing the amount of virgin plastics used across its business. Since 1994, the company has been using a closed-loop reuse program for its plastic garment hangers. Target has also been working to minimise textile waste and reduce the use of plastic in fabrics, like those containing synthetic fibers such as recycled polyester.
As a strategic partner to the Global Fashion Agenda, Target supports its efforts to mobilise the international fashion industry to transform the way fashion is produced and consumed. The Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is a non-profit organisation that fosters industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion to accelerate impact. It works to drive action by mobilising, inspiring, influencing, and educating all stakeholders. GFA has been leading the movement since 2009 and presents the renowned international forum on sustainability in fashion, the Global Fashion Summit, in core industry regions around the world.
Target's collaboration with GFA is in line with its commitment to sustainability and responsible resource use. Through this partnership, Target is working to minimise textile waste, reduce the use of plastic in fabrics, and increase the use of recycled materials. In 2018, Target signed onto the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment on Plastics, working with over 1,000 organisations to change how they produce, use, and reuse plastic. The company has also invested in data collection and measurement to identify opportunities to eliminate problematic plastic packaging, move towards more recyclable materials, and increase its use of post-consumer recycled content.
As part of its Target Forward work, the company has committed to reducing the total volume of virgin plastic packaging by 20% in its owned brand food, beverage, beauty, and essentials businesses. They also aim to design 100% of owned brand packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025. Additionally, Target is partnering with national brands on refill/reuse strategies and other packaging innovations, as well as being an activator in the U.S. Plastics Pact, working towards ambitious targets by 2025, including ensuring all plastic packaging is 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
Through its collaboration with GFA, Target is helping to drive the fashion industry towards a more sustainable future, influencing decision-making at a strategic and operational level, and contributing to the creation of industry standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Target has implemented a comprehensive recycling program that accepts various types of plastics. You can recycle your plastic hangers at Target by locating the recycling bins designated for hangers, usually near the clothing or housewares section.
Target's recycling program accepts PETE (#1), HDPE (#2), PVC (#3), LDPE (#4), PP (#5), and PS (#6). These plastic types are commonly found in everyday items such as bottles, containers, and packaging materials.
Target is committed to reducing plastic waste and has set several goals as part of its Target Forward initiative. They aim to reduce virgin plastic packaging by 20% in their owned brand food, beverage, beauty, and essentials businesses. Additionally, they plan to design 100% of their owned brand packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025.
Target has partnered with national brands to develop refill and reuse strategies and explore alternative packaging innovations. They are also an activator in the U.S. Plastics Pact, working towards ambitious targets by 2025, including eliminating problematic packaging and ensuring all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
Yes, Target has a closed-loop reuse program for plastic garment hangers. After multiple uses, hangers are repaired or ground down to create new hangers in a waste-free loop. They are also working to reduce plastic in fabrics and increase the use of recycled polyester.











































