It can be done!

In the USA alone, we consume about 13.9 lbs. per person annually of HDPE bottles (milk jugs, pharmaceutical, cleaners, etc.), yet the recycling rate is hovering around 30%.

Werner & Mertz the company behind the “Emsal” brand teamed up with bottle producer Alpla-Werke Alwin Lehner gmbH & Co KG and The Green Dot to develop bottles made from 100% HDPE recyclates from the "Yellow Bag". The Yellow bag is 100% post-consumer plastic material collected in Germany.

Emsal 100% Recycled HDPE Bottles

The bottles won last year’s World Packaging Award. It is a great example that recycled materials can produce high quality packaging.  Color haze in the bottles could be prevented, using white and translucent granules. There is also no downside to the quality of the bottles and no compromising product safety (compared to bottles made of virgin material).  

Reinhard Schneider, owner of Werner & Mertz did comment that "with this development of HDPE packaging from post-consumer recyclates, we have shown what genuine recyclability looks like and have produced results where other companies claim to have visions or only make promises."  I can only concur – it can be done; technology is not a barrier.    

Congratulations & Cheers