Waste Reduction, Plastics, and Recycling: Learn about P&G’s Actions

At P&G, we support a future where materials are continually recycled and remade to remain in use instead of becoming waste. Our ambition is to design all consumer packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030.

We have compiled the top frequently asked questions about our waste initiatives. Our approach is rooted in innovation — creating superior products while ensuring our packaging and processes contribute to a more sustainable future.

1. What steps is P&G taking to reduce plastic waste?

We seek to reduce plastic waste through three levels of impact. We take action by:

• Designing product packaging made with less plastic, more easily recyclable, more recycled content, and with alternative materials (like paper). Our goal is to design all consumer packaging to be recyclable or reusable and reduce our use of virgin petroleum resin by 50% per unit of production by 2030 compared to 2017 baseline. Our team of R&D scientists are researching and developing different materials that can reduce waste and deliver a lower environmental footprint across our products’ lifecycle. They are innovating across multiple facets of materials transformation, from the use of more natural fibers to bio resins. Materials efficiency also guides how we make our products; our 100+ operations across 35+ countries send zero manufacturing waste to landfill.

• Designing product packaging that provides a positive experience and helps people reduce their environmental impact at home without compromise. For example, 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. It delights consumers with its ease of opening, appearance at shelf and full recyclability.

• Partnering to transform how packaging materials are used, reused and renewed. Collaboration helps drive scalable solutions and we’re working to catalyze developments in plastic separation, recovery technology and refillable packaging models, so we, and the industry at large, can benefit.

2. How do you measure the effectiveness of your waste reduction strategies?

P&G uses a system to track our waste and recycling rates throughout our company and across all the brands we make. By analyzing this data, we can figure out what’s working best to reduce environmental impact and make informed decisions on where and how to further improve.

3. What percentage of your packaging is made from recycled materials?

Each year, P&G uses more recycled content in our packaging, and we’re designing more packaging to be recyclable or reusable. We’re also focusing on lightweight packaging that helps reduce use of plastic overall and lowers greenhouse gas emissions during transportation. People can view our current progress at our ESG Investor Portal.

4. How do you ensure your packaging is recyclable?

P&G considers packaging to be recyclable if there is at-scale collection, sorting, processing and end markets for the material and format in at least one geography. We do not consider waste to energy and conversion to fuels as suitable end markets to satisfy this definition. We are guided by the waste management hierarchy and seek first to reduce, reuse and recycle as part of our materials management process.

5. How are you helping promote a more circular economy?

P&G’s team of designers, material scientists and innovators work together to create packaging that people love and reduces plastic, creates transportation efficiencies and reuses materials. The following principles guide our journey toward a more circular future:

• Use scientific, lifecycle thinking to inform our design decisions after studying environmental impacts of a given material, from sourcing to its ability to find new life.
• Follow the waste hierarchy, managing our materials to reduce, reuse, replace and recycle.
• Collaborate, as we acknowledge partnership is the only way to drive positive impact at scale. We are teaming up with industry coalitions and nonprofits to invent scalable solutions that help further reduce waste.

6. What challenges do you face in waste reduction and recycling?

P&G takes our approach to plastics packaging seriously, but this is a complex challenge for us and the broader industry. Fluctuating market conditions for recycled materials — namely the amount, quality and price of materials available at a given time — and the need for comprehensive consumer education persist.

For us, it’s an opportunity to apply our ingenuity to accelerate our waste reduction efforts. The size and scale of the challenges in front of us means we’ll also continue to collaborate with others to create change at scale.

7. Who are you partnering with on recycling and creating a more circular future?

P&G works with various organizations to support programs that enhance material collection, improve sorting at recycling facilities and foster innovation to minimize waste.

For nearly 10 years, P&G has partnered with The Recycling Partnership to help build better recycling systems in the U.S. Packaging is made of different types of materials, and not all of them can be recycled together. That’s why we’re working with experts at TRP to recycle more types of material, improve collection with more access to recycling and increase recycled content.

We’re also focusing on solutions that prevent plastic pollution in regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America with developing infrastructure. Here we provide startup funding through Circulate Capital’s Ocean Fund, Delterra and Alliance to End Plastic Waste. Click here to learn more about our Circularity Partnerships.

8. How do you educate people about proper recycling practices?

When people recycle the right items, it leads to more material being recovered and remade. That’s why this education is so critical. We leverage standardized labels like How to Recycle® or RecyClass provide information on our packaging to guide people on how to recycle.

9. How can people help in your waste reduction efforts?

Consumers play a crucial role. By choosing products with minimal packaging, recycling properly and supporting brands committed to sustainability, they can help ensure more materials stay in use.

10. What are your long-term goals regarding waste and recycling?

P&G will remain focused on reducing plastic use, recycling more and promoting sustainable practices across our operations and supply chain. Our ambition is to design all consumer packaging to be recyclable or reusable and reduce our use of virgin petroleum resin by 50% per unit of production by 2030 compared to 2017 baseline.

Our approach to reducing plastic waste, increasing recyclability and helping build a more circular economy guides our actions every day. We’ll continue to partner with others as we minimize waste and help maximize resource recovery at scale. Explore our ESG Investor Portal to learn more about P&G’s waste reduction efforts and progress toward our 2030 ambitions.