Spotlight: Customer Collaboration is Key to Bringing Circular Solutions to Market Faster

In 2019, we launched our Impact 2025 strategy, pledging to increase our global company’s positive environmental impact through products, performance, and partners by the year 2025. That same year, Berry helped launch the Alliance to End Plastic Waste as a founding member and joined Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy working group as a Global Commitment signatory. 

In 2023, we sent a letter to each of our impacted customers announcing the next stage of the roadmap to achieve our Impact 2025 sustainability goals, which entailed eliminating non-recyclable products from our portfolio that contain dark colored polyethylene terephthalate (PET), carbon black, and mixed materials. This was a bold move demonstrating our role as a sustainability leader and underscoring our environmental commitment to working with our customers to advance a circular economy. 

Sustainability has increasingly become embedded into the way we operate our company and do business with our customers and other partners. Around 86% of our product portfolio is currently reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and circular plastics now make up nearly 10% of total resin consumed. In addition to communicating regularly about how we are delivering on our commitments, Berry hosts internal sustainability webinars and external, full-day masterclasses with various customers throughout Europe focused on circular design and product innovation.

For instance, we recently held a series of “Sustainability in Beauty Days” with key customers across several of our European beauty factories aimed at helping us all “speak the same language” when it comes to sustainability. Through an open-forum approach, a team of design and material science experts across the industry listened to our customers’ most pressing beauty packaging challenges. Together, we navigated the complexities involved in designing for circularity without compromising on aesthetics or performance.

Thierry Bernet, Berry Global’s Vice President of Circular Economy and Innovation for the Consumer Packaging International Division has been instrumental in driving significant progress toward our Impact 2025 goals. He is passionate about bringing solutions toward a circular economy to market faster and believes innovation in packaging design is key to driving progress. Thierry will soon be retiring and we are grateful for all he has done to challenge and support our internal innovation teams and collaborate closely with customers to help them meet and exceed their sustainability goals, navigate the changing regulatory environment, and so much more. 

Personal Passions Driving Positive Change 

I want More Reducing because Berry owes it to people and the planet. As a sustainability leader in a global market, it's our responsibility to minimize the greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of our products. I’m proud of our innovation teams for leading this exciting journey by steadily and methodically working with our customers and partners to implement the rules of the circular economy!”

Thierry Bernet, Vice President, Circular Economy and Innovation, Consumer Packaging International Division, Berry Global

“I want More Recycling because we need to change the world of plastic by closing the loop and stopping the waste. Recycled plastics are key to advancing a circular economy. It’s a win-win that keeps materials in use and decreases.” carbon emissions.”

Mégane SATIS, Circular Economy Manager, Consumer Packaging International Division, Berry Global

“I want More Recycling to advance the circular economy and help our customers drive toward their sustainability goals. Berry’s ability to drive impactful change through circularity leadership continues to inspire me and sets us apart from others – from offering a value proposition for fully recyclable products to investing in infrastructure for the recovery and recycling of valuable waste materials.”

Jonathan Pitt, Global Product Management Leader, Consumer Packaging International Division

“I want More Reuse systems, so less waste is created and ending up in the environment. Forward thinking, uniform and effective legislation, such as the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan, gives me hope –  especially across Europe, where each country currently has its own laws. The clean waste streams created by reuse systems simplify high-quality recycling and can be an important component of the circular economy.”

Ellen Seyda, Circular Economy Manager, Berry Global

“Just 15 years ago, sustainability was rarely part of discussions with our customers. Now, as a result of Europe’s progressive regulations, consumer attitude shifts, the warming of the planet, and more, it’s every day every minute. Thankfully, the push to make the most of our resources is not subsiding or going away. I want More Reducing because it’s not only good for people and the planet, it’s also a growth driver and opportunity for our business.”

Eric Chavent, Executive Vice President of Global Accounts, Consumer Packaging International Division, Berry Global

Achieving More Together

• 86% of our product portfolio is reusable, recyclable, or compostable
• 91% of our portfolio is recyclable or has replacement validated recyclable solutions available
• Circular plastics make up 9.7% of total resin consumed
• Post-Consumer Recycled Resin (PCR) makes up 3.6% of total resin purchases

We are listening for the next opportunity to act. Share your personal sustainability passion here and let’s accomplish more together!