Sustainable logistics in practice
Suppliers Partnership publishes latest guidance on packaging recycling
Updated packaging recycling guidance provides OEMs, tier suppliers and packaging providers with actionable strategies to recover more materials, reduce contamination and improve sustainability performance.
The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) has published updated packaging guidance for automotive companies looking to more efficiently recycle packaging materials. Automotive Packaging Materials Collection and Handling Practices has been developed by the partnership’s Sustainable Packaging Work Group and builds on the previously released packaging guidelines from SP.
The SP is a collaboration of carmakers, including Ford, GM, Honda, Stellantis and Toyota, and their tier suppliers and packaging providers. The latest paper was composed by SP members under the direction of Gina McGee, business development manager at RecycleMax, a platform for managing waste recycling and disposal services. McGee said the recommendations in the paper are based on what has been found to work on the shop floor, “providing clear, adaptable steps that can be implemented regardless of facility size or location".
The goals of the guidance are to maximise recyclable material recovery, increase implementation of leading practices across automotive facilities and identify opportunities to reduce the volume of material sent to landfill.
According to SP, the guidance provides material-specific handling and sorting recommendations, space planning considerations, signage design guidance, and implementation strategies to help automotive OEMs and suppliers maximise recyclable material recovery, reduce landfill waste and decrease contamination in recycling streams.
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“This guidance reflects practical, tested approaches our members have identified to improve the quality and value of recovered packaging materials," said Kellen Mahoney, executive director at SP. " By sharing this information openly, we hope to make it easier for companies of all sizes to pursue opportunities toward more circular and sustainable packaging systems."
The packaging materials covered include corrugated carboard and paper-based packaging, wood, plastic, scrap metal, foam and universal hazardous and special packaging waste.
"Packaging is an area where shared solutions can have an immediate impact across the value chain," said Bridget Grewal, director of packaging CI at Magna International and co-chair of the SP Sustainable Packaging Work Group. "By increasing awareness of proven collection and handling practices, we have the opportunity to reduce waste across the supply chain, improve recycling economics, and move one step closer to achieving industry circularity goals."
Read our interview with Bridget Grewal in which she details the considerations companies need to make with regard to contamination of wooden packaging used for international parts shipments. Grewal will be discussing innovative packaging strategies and best practices to drive sustainability at Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Global, being held in Michigan between September 23-25.
Also read our coverage from the recent Odette 2025 conference at which industry leaders shared practical strategies, collaborative projects and innovative technologies aimed at meeting new EU packaging requirements while unlocking operational and environmental benefits.
