Environmental consciousness continues to be a hot topic, so naturally, industries are turning to sustainable practices to meet consumer demands and reduce carbon footprints. Recycled plastic containers are increasingly becoming the material of choice across several sectors.
From reducing waste to saving costs, these industries are seeing substantial benefits from the shift to recycled plastic containers. Here’s a look at the top five industries leading the way in adopting this eco-friendly solution and examples of the types of recycled plastic containers they use.
1. Food and Drinks Industry
In the food manufacturing sector, the commitment to sustainability is prominently reflected in the use of recycled plastic containers throughout the production process. Special care must be taken when using recycled packaging for food because standard recycled plastic is often not food grade. Coex bottles and jerry cans have a recycled plastic core sandwiched between virgin plastic, making them suitable for food and beverage use.
2. Cosmetics and Personal Care
Cosmetics and personal care brands use recycled plastic bottles in their packaging, following the example of Dove and L’Oréal reducing their reliance on virgin plastics. L’Oréal has committed to using 100% recycled plastic packaging by 2030, and Dove is already using recycled plastic body wash bottles. With international giants opting to change their processes, encouraging smaller companies to do the same, but on a smaller scale.
3. Pharmaceuticals
The pharmaceutical industry has made strides in using recycled plastics for products like medicine bottles. These containers often use materials such as recycled polypropylene, which are durable and meet the strict safety requirements for pharmaceutical packaging.
Over-the-counter medication brands increasingly turn to recycled plastic pill bottles, while liquid medication for children is often stored in recycled plastic bottles with child-proof caps. Pharmaceutical companies reduce waste by switching to recycled plastics while maintaining product safety and regulatory compliance.
4. Cleaning Products
In cleaning, recycled plastic bottles and containers rapidly grow as brands seek to reduce their environmental impact. Recycled plastic bottles are ideal for packaging cleaning solutions like disinfectants, surface cleaners, and detergents, meeting home cleaning brands’ needs and ensuring product safety and usability.
For industrial cleaning, recycled plastic buckets are perfect for storing and mixing larger quantities of cleaning agents. The buckets are tough and reusable, helping reduce plastic waste while providing a practical, sustainable option for bulk storage.
5. Automotive Industry
For the automotive industry, recycled jerry cans are great for packaging fluids like oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluids. They reduce environmental waste and maintain the structural integrity required for handling hazardous materials.
A More Sustainable Future
These five industries are leading the charge in integrating recycled plastic containers into their operations, offering a blueprint for sustainability. As consumer and regulatory pressures push businesses toward eco-friendly practices, B2B partnerships with packaging suppliers specialising in recycled plastics will become increasingly important. Companies like Invopak are working with these sectors to create innovative solutions that meet sustainability goals while maintaining product safety and integrity.