PAC Worldwide
Packaging producers and users
First Year
Key Metrics
Plastic packaging weight
Submitted to the Foundation only
Reusable plastic packaging
Reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging
100
75
50
25
%
Post-consumer recycled content
100
75
50
25
%
* Aligned: in assessing the recyclability of their portfolio this signatory has aligned with the New Plastics Economy 2021 Recycling Rate Survey results and/or the Global Commitment methodology of recyclability ‘in pratice and at scale’. This means their recyclability percentage is comparable to other signatories that also aligned with the above.
Company Details
Description
PAC Worldwide is a global leader in the manufacturing & distribution of protective packaging.
Website
Revenue band (USD)
$500 million - $1 billion
Headquarters location
United States
Regions active
America: Central America, Northern America, South America
Asia: South-eastern Asia
Europe: Northern Europe, Western Europe
Oceania: Australia and New Zealand
Products sold in plastic packaging
Other (please specify in the box below), E-Commerce Packaging
Reporting details
Data verification/assurance status
No third-party verification or assurance in place
Scope of reported data
Covers full scope of activities
12-month quantitative data time frame
From December 2019 to December 2020
Joined the Global Commitment
June 2019
Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Plastics Pact Network membership (as of 18/05/2021)
United States
Webpage or report addressing progress
https://www.pac.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2020-PAC-Sustainability-Report.pdf
Plastic packaging portfolio details
See endnotes for more information on quantitative data
Plastic packaging weight (new packaging)
Submitted to the Foundation only
Reused plastic packaging weight
0 metric tonnes
Plastic packaging categories in portfolio
| Type | Category | Proportion |
|---|
| Flexible | >A4 mono-materials PE in B2B context | 44% |
| <A4 flexibles PE | 28% | |
| <A4 multi-material flexibles | 28% |
Plastic packaging design assessment
Reusable, recyclable and/or compostable
44%
Reusable
0%
Recyclable
44%
Compostable
0%
Material sourcing
Virgin fossil-based content
88%
Post-consumer recycled content
3%
Pre-consumer recycled content
9%
Virgin renewable content
0%
Commitments
Eliminating problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Progress made over the reporting period
Examples of materials / formats / components eliminated or reduced
| Proportion elimated % of weight | Weight eliminated metric tonnes | Quantity eliminated units | Primary means of elimination | Other details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metallised films | 0.3 | - | - | Innovative elimination | - |
Activities and progress made on elimination
In 2020, we replaced our non-recyclable CoolPAC product line with a fully recyclable CoolPAC product line. CoolPAC is insulated packaging and has traditionally been multi-laminate and utilized metalized PE or PP. After multiple years of R&D and re-engineering, PAC was able to create a fully recyclable CoolPAC that is made of PE with a minute amount of blown on aluminum. This re-engineered product performs better than the traditional product and is fully recyclable in store drop-off locations. As the meal kit market continues to grow dramatically PAC feels this is the perfect time to eliminate wasteful, non-recyclable insulated packaging with fully recyclable CoolPAC insulated packaging.
Planned actions by 2025
Plastic packaging to be eliminated or reduced
| Proportion elimated % of weight | Weight eliminated metric tonnes | Quantity eliminated | Year Achieved | Other details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multilayer materials | 100% | - | - | 2025 | Our multilayer products consist of our KraftAirJacket line (which utilizes a paper exterior and bubble interior) and our multilayer food and cannabis pouches. |
Planned actions on elimination
PAC currently has identified 2 product lines that are problematic and need to be eliminated by 2025
- Pouches
- Kraft Airjackets (bubble mailer with paper on the outside)
For the pouches (multi-laminate barrier films), we are looking at compostable and recyclable films. Our goal is to have this done by 2025 For the Kraft Airjackets we are looking at an all-paper solution. Since the current version is multi-material (plastic and paper) it is not recyclable. Creating an alternative with one substrate would allow it to be fully recyclable. The all-paper solution is being launched in Q3 2021
Moving from single-use towards reuse models
Progress made over the reporting period
Share of plastic packaging that is reusable (2020)
Product applications and reuse model types
None reported
Planned action by 2025
Product applications and reuse model types to be introduced or expanded
None reported
Other 2025 reuse goals
None reported
100% reusable, recyclable and/or compostable plastic packaging
Progress made over the reporting period
Share of plastic packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable (2020)
Actions and progress made to make packaging recyclable or compostable (see previous section for progress on shifting to reusable packaging)
In 2020, 44% of our plastic packaging was recyclable and 72% was designed for recycling. Included in the 72% is our CoolPAC product line which was previously non-recyclable but has now been replaced with a CoolPAC product line that is designed for recycling.
Actions and progress made on collaborating towards increasing recycling and composting rates for plastic packaging
In an effort to collaborate towards increasing recycling and composting rates for plastic packaging, PAC joined the US Plastics Pact and the Holy Grail 2.0 initiative
Additional details on recyclability
Share of plastic packaging that is recyclable (2020)
Alignment with the New Plastics Economy 2021 Recycling Rate Survey results
Yes
Optional metric — share of plastic packaging that is ‘designed for recycling’
72 % (see endnotes for more information on the packaging considered as designed for recycling)
Please note: This optional metric is not the same as the percentage of recyclable plastic packaging contributing towards the 100% target. More information on the Global Commitment recyclability definition can be found in the 2021 Progress Report.
Planned actions by 2025
2025 target
100% reusable, recyclable or compostable
Planned actions to make packaging recyclable or compostable
Our focus is on recyclability for our core mailer products and compostability for our food and cannabis packaging. PAC has currently identified two product lines that are problematic and need to be eliminated by 2025:
- Pouches
- Kraft Airjackets (bubble mailer with paper on the outside)
For the pouches (multi-laminate barrier films), we are looking at compostable and recyclable films. Our goal is to have this done by 2025. For the Kraft Airjackets, we are looking at an all-paper solution. Since the current version is multi-material (plastic and paper) it is not recyclable. Creating an alternative with one substrate would allow it to be fully recyclable. The all-paper solution is being launched in Q3 2021.
Planned actions on collaborating towards increasing recycling and composting rates for plastic packaging
In an effort to collaborate towards increasing recycling and composting rates for plastic packaging PAC joined the US Plastics Pact and the Holy Grail 2.0 initiative. In 2021, PAC is collaborating with other industry leaders on a closed loop program. As part of the FFRG, PAC is engaging with other stakeholders in elevating and promoting the store drop-off recycling program in the US
Increasing post-consumer recycled content in plastic packaging
Progress made over the reporting period
Level of post-consumer recycled content in plastic packaging (2020)
Activities and progress made on post-consumer recycled content
When increasing recycled content in our films, we need to be mindful of cost, scale, availability, film characteristics, and aesthetics. In 2020, PAC focused on increasing the recycled content (both PCR and PIR) in all of our core mailing products. This entailed working on over 200 film trials and with partners all over the world. With PCR at a premium, this also entailed looking at new collection and sortation methods. PAC was able to increase our PCR usage from 1% to 3%.
Planned actions by 2025
2025 post-consumer recycled content target
10%
Planned actions to increase post-consumer recycled content
In order to reach and exceed our target of 10% PCR by 2025, PAC is doing the following:
- In 2021 we will work with partners on a closed loop system to recapture our products and turn them back into our core products.
- In 2021 and beyond we will work with our partners on new filtrations ideas to make more use of PCR that would have otherwise been deemed to contaminated and not useful.
Investments
Total invested/committed over the reporting period towards achieving the commitments
Submitted to the Foundation only
End notes
Plastic packaging designed for recycling
Although 72% of our total plastic packaging is designed for recyclability, 28% of that is not currently recycled 'in practice and at scale' as defined by the Global Commitment Recyclability Assessment Survey definition (even though flexible PE is already being recycled at over 30,000 store drop-off locations). Even though these thresholds set a higher bar for recyclability than elsewhere, we chose to report in line with the definition to demonstrate our commitment to transparency.