Package Disposal Certification

Long description

To reduce greenwashing and unnecessary packaging and increase quality material adoption, recycling rates, recycling bail quality, and consumer trust we propose the creation of the “Package Disposal Certification (PDC) Program.”

This is an opt-in program for product producers. It’s a 3 pronged program that includes:

1. A ranked set of suggested material-use and disposal guidelines and standards
2. An associated iconographical system to communicate appropriate disposal to consumers
3. A product database of certified products using the system.

Participating organizations would use the correct level PDC badge (Platinum-Green, Gold, Silver, or Bronze) and the PDC disposal icons on their products to communicate that their product was made at a certain sustainability standard and to illustrate correct disposal of their product.

These icons force producers to be more explicit about the correct disposal of their packaging and products. In the example of an HDPE plastic shampoo bottle with a mixed-plastic pump, this would receive a PDC Bronze ranking and the icons would show that the bottle could be recycled, but that the pump must be thrown away.

The process of categorizing their products will educate the producer and nudge them to make more sustainable material choices. The iconography will also educate consumers and save recycling facilities time and money. Producers not using PDC will also be incentivized to prove that their products actually meet some standards of quality and aren’t just greenwashing. 

Additional Images