Alternative Materials

As part of efforts to help advance more sustainable packaging, fibre-based flexible packaging is being explored as an option, particularly in low-and middle-income markets where flexible plastics are often not collected or recycled, and infrastructure for paper recovery is more established. 

To help navigate the complexity of systemic challenges that may impact the scaling coated flexible packaging, a group of companies within the Plastic Waste Coalition of Action is evaluating existing best practices and external guidelines. This effort aims to support informed decision-making and address key stakeholder concerns around functionality, responsible sourcing, and recyclability, to provide a practical starting point for companies evaluating coated or laminated fibre-based flexible packaging. This work is currently focused on collaboration within the Coalition membership, with broader engagement to be considered in the future.

Three external guidelines have been identified as especially useful for guiding responsible innovation and deployment, and these inform the Coalition’s work:

• The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition’s Paper, Pulp, and Packaging Roadmap: Offers tools and guidance for responsible sourcing of fibre-based packaging, with a focus on forest-positive practices and landscape-level transformation.
• The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials Core Principles: Provides a rigorous sustainability framework for bio-based and circular materials, including social safeguards and traceability standards.
• 4Evergreen Circularity by Design Guidelines: Recommends design strategies to improve recyclability of fibre-based packaging in paper mills, emphasizing fibre content and compatibility with recycling infrastructure.

These guidelines promote transparent, evidence-based decisions that reflect local conditions and align with broader packaging and waste strategies. While fibre-based flexibles are not a silver bullet solution, they may contribute to help reducing packaging waste when developed responsibly and in collaboration with local stakeholders.

Ongoing learning, innovation, and cross-sector cooperation will be essential to advancing more circular and affordable solutions for lower-income consumers. The CGF and its member companies welcome continued engagement from industry and civil society to help refine the guidance and co-create an enhanced path forward, grounded in transparency, evidence, and collaboration.