How Can Partnerships Move Us toward a Circular Future Faster?

In our quest for a more circular economy, where materials are continuously recycled and reused, collaboration is key. We seek to extend the plastics lifecycle through strategic partnerships that foster innovation, reuse and drive change. By leveraging collective expertise, we aim to unlock scalable solutions that not only reduce waste but also promote sustainability.

#1 Design: We’re Designing Consumer Packaging to be Recyclable and Sourcing More Recycled Content

Our teams of designers, innovators and material scientists are focused on finding the best packaging user experience, while benefiting the entire supply chain. They are working together to implement our strategy of reducing, reusing, replacing and recycling.

For Example:

• After identifying a tension with Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil hard-to-open, non-recyclable blister packs, the team in North America transitioned them to recyclable bottles and developed Ultra Concentrated LiquiCaps that are 25% smaller, making them easier to swallow.
• Gillette and Venus undertook a sustainable packaging upgrade to transition premium refillable razor packs to a plastic-free, recyclable cardboard box made with at least 50% recycled materials and Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC) certified paper. This more sustainable box is now available in every P&G region globally. It delights consumers with its ease of opening, appearance at shelf and is designed to be recyclable.

We’re honored to earn industry recognition for our packaging that challenges the status quo.

#2 Collection: We’re Partnering to Improve Recycling Collection Systems at Scale.

Our collaboration with Closed Loop Partners and The Recycling Partnership is expanding recycling access and engagement across the U.S., so more types of materials can be recycled at scale. More specifically, The Recycling Partnership’s Flexible Film Coalition seeks to scale a solution for flexible packaging and films — a common lightweight packaging material — with curbside collection, sorting and end-market demand for the recycled materials.

In Southeast Asia and Latin America, where more infrastructure is needed or does not yet exist, we are supporting startup funding to advance a circular economy at scale.

Delterra, an environmental nonprofit, aims to tackle plastic pollution in Southeast Asia and Latin America by developing solutions for the emerging circular plastics economy.

Alliance to End Plastic Waste, an organization with over 70 global companies working together to catalyze scalable solution models, looks to increase the collection and recycling of plastic waste to prevent it from entering the environment.

Circulate Capital, an investment management firm, invests in companies that address plastic pollution and advance the circular economy in South and Southeast Asia. Circulate Capital’s Ocean Fund provides growth capital to waste management, recycling and circular economy companies, with a focus on scalable solutions across emerging markets.

#3 Refill & Reuse: We’re Making Our Products and Packaging to Use Less Material and to be Refilled or Reused.

We’re designing our products for reuse to reduce plastic usage. For example, Dawn Powerwash enables customers to reuse the sprayer by choosing to refill with Dawn Powerwash Refill. We aim to educate consumers about how this approach not only adds value but also reduces plastic waste by avoiding purchasing a new sprayer every time. With Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap Refill Sizes, consumers can also refill their Dawn EZ Squeeze bottles to save plastic.

P&G is continuously learning on innovative solutions that promote reuse and refill models.

#4 Recycle: We’re Addressing Demand for High-Quality, Recycled Content to Help Close the Loop.

With expertise in science and cleaning, our P&G scientists invented a new dissolution technology process named VersoVita™ (meaning "second life"). It effectively cleans used plastics, removing contaminants and returning the polypropylene or polyethylene to a near virgin-like quality plastic that can be used again. We licensed this process for polypropylene to PureCycle Inc., who expects to process up to 50,000 tons of material a year. In 2024, we entered a joint development agreement (JDA) with Dow to create a new recycling technology for polyethylene.

We are also working with Closed Loop Partners to test and advance Rigid Small Format Packaging Recovery like bottle caps and closures. This partnership brings together the value chain to recover valuable small materials and ensure there is an end demand for this in addition to collections.

We are committed to furthering our partnerships to discover, implement and scale solutions that can reduce waste and increase recyclability and reuse of our packaging and materials. Together, we’ll continue to drive collective progress for systemic transformation in how the world makes, uses and renews items.