Working Towards More Sustainable Packaging Solutions

How Is P&G Working Towards More Sustainable Packaging Solutions?

P&G is actively working toward more sustainable packaging solutions by developing superior packaging that not only protects our products but also minimizes plastic waste and enhances the user experience. By doing this, we aim to create a circular value chain where more packaging materials are recycled and reused, rather than discarded.

Designing Innovative Consumer Packaging for Recycling and Reducing Virgin Petroleum Plastic

As of fiscal year 2024, 80% of our consumer packaging is designed to be recyclable or reusable, up from 55% in 2020, moving us closer to our goal of 100% by 2030 (see details here). We've also made significant strides in reducing our use of virgin petroleum plastic by 21% per unit of production and 14% in total since fiscal year 2017. This progress is part of our goal to reduce virgin petroleum plastic in our consumer packaging by 50% per unit of production by 2030 (from a fiscal year 2017 baseline).

Our progress is driven by innovative, sustainable packaging solutions, including:

• Alternatives to Plastic Packaging: We’ve introduced consumer-preferred paper packaging for products like Gillette and Venus razors.
• Lighter Weight Packaging: Our Head & Shoulders BARE bottles use 45% less plastic compared to the traditional 300mL Head & Shoulders bottle.
• Improving Packaging Recyclability: We’ve removed all EPS (expanded polystyrene styrofoam) from our Oral-B packaging to improve recyclability.
• Increasing Recycled Content: Since fiscal year 2018, we have doubled the amount of recycled resin used in our plastic packaging.

Click here for the latest updates on our Packaging Waste Reduction Goals.

Expanding Change Through Investments and Partnerships

The development of scalable and cost-effective recycling infrastructure is an industry-wide challenge that no single company can tackle alone. P&G is making significant strides in areas where we can have the most impact through investments, innovation and partnerships. For example, P&G scientists have created a dissolution process to clean and recycle more types of plastics. We've licensed this process to companies like PureCycle and Dow to help meet the demand for more high-quality recycled materials for our packaging and other industries.

There are also industry-wide challenges to overcome in recycling small packaging (less than 2 inches x 2 inches) and flexible materials. P&G is actively working on scalable solutions for small packaging as part of a coalition that includes companies, non-profits and universities through Closed Loop Partners. Additionally, we are collaborating with The Recycling Partnership and the Film & Flexibles Recycling Coalition to improve the collection and sorting of flexible films while building demand - ultimately enhancing their circularity.

The Path Forward

P&G is committed to ongoing innovation and collaboration to drive meaningful changes in packaging design and recycling infrastructure. We want to help build a circular future where more materials are recycled and reused rather than ending up as waste. While we can’t solve every challenge alone, we are dedicated to accelerating progress for everyone — P&G, our consumers and the entire industry.