Material Innovations
Reinventing Plastics
from the Inside Out
America’s Plastic Makers® are pioneering new ways to make plastics more sustainable—from how they’re designed to what they’re made from.
Through innovations in recyclability and renewable materials, we’re transforming plastics to support a circular economy—helping to reduce waste, cut emissions, and strengthen American manufacturing.
Designing Plastics for Tomorrow
To recycle more plastics, we must start with better design. Across the value chain, engineers, brands, and recyclers are collaborating to create products that are easier to recycle, use fewer resources, and perform just as well—or better—than before.
Industry Snapshots:
Innovations in Designing for Recycling
- Single-material packaging replaces multi-layer formats for easier recycling.
- Recycling-ready components like tethered caps and clear labels ensure entire packages can be collected and reused.
- Simpler colors and materials are helping improve sorting and recovery.
Innovation in Action
- Coca-Cola and Berry Global introduced bottles with tethered caps to reduce litter and aid recyclability.
- Colgate converted toothpaste tubes to single-resin formats compatible with existing recycling systems.
- Aldi redesigned flexible pouches into mono-material packaging accepted by more recyclers.
- Spray top and pump redesigns are minimizing mixed-resin components.
Bio-Based Plastics: New Feedstocks, Same Function
Renewable and bio-based materials are creating new opportunities to reduce emissions and dependence on fossil resources. Scientists are developing plastics from plant-based materials, waste oils, and even captured carbon—without compromising performance.
What “Bio-Based” Means: Bio-based plastics are defined by their source—renewable carbon from sugarcane, corn residues, waste oils, or wood byproducts. They aren’t necessarily biodegradable; most are durable and recyclable, just like conventional plastics.
Guided by Principles:
America’s Plastic Makers® support scaling bio-based plastics responsibly. Our Principles for Bio-Based Plastics call for sustainable feedstocks, transparent certification, and national standards that encourage innovation while ensuring product performance.
These principles ensure renewable materials complement—and strengthen—the essential role plastics play in modern manufacturing.
Innovation in Action: Policy, Partnership & Progress
Material innovation is central to achieving America’s sustainability and manufacturing goals. By combining science, policy, and industry collaboration, America’s Plastic Makers® are scaling technologies that enable efficient recycling, lower emissions, and smarter use of resources.
How Innovation Delivers Results:
Strengthens U.S. manufacturing and supply chains
Drives investment in new materials and recycling infrastructure
Aligns with national goals for waste reduction and emissions
Creates skilled jobs in research, design, and manufacturing
Plastic makers are also partnering with universities, labs, and brands to advance materials innovation, support circular design, and inform evidence-based policy.
Meet Material Innovators: America’s Change Makers
Innovation is powered by people—scientists, engineers, and manufacturers reimagining what’s possible for plastics.
These innovators—and many others—are America’s Change Makers®, building real-world solutions that keep plastics in use and out of the environment.
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