CPG Giants Join Forces on Sustainable Paper-Based Packaging

Global consumer goods companies Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever have launched The PaperFlex Consortium to accelerate the development of paper-based alternatives to flexible plastic packaging. This initiative has been established by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and environmental consultancy (Re)Set.

The consortium aims to develop responsibly designed paper-based alternatives that are recyclable or biodegradable, addressing the lack of collection and recycling systems in markets where flexible packaging is widely used. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business, small-format flexible plastic packaging is one of three key systemic barriers to tackling plastic waste.

The consortium will fund and conduct collaborative trials in areas such as biodegradable coatings and other technologies that offer product protection, shelf life, and consumer usability. These innovations are expected to improve how paper-based materials perform on manufacturing lines and help scale promising solutions faster and at a lower cost.