Situation

Alcoa had been working to recover the $1.2 billion worth of aluminum cans annually entering U.S. landfills but experienced only incremental improvements. How might Blu Skye streamline this recovery effort while also expanding scope? 

Goal

Facilitate more effective collaboration between value chain stakeholders to systematically increase recycling rates for all packaging and printed materials (PPM).  

Our Role

Assess

Identified key levers to overcome historical obstacles affecting collaboration and innovation, all while analyzing the systems with which to engage to improve aluminum recycling. 

Align

Designed a “System-in-the-Room” summit to catalyze broad-based value chain action and increase consumer education, incentives, and access to recycling infrastructure. 

Execute

Achieved near-term actions and drove break-through initiatives across the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry.

Results

• Aligned over 90 influential participants from 77 organizations on a goal to increase recycling of all PPM by 20 percentage points by 2015.

• Initiated four near-term high-potential projects backed by a wide range of stakeholders.

• A multimillion-dollar funding commitment to Action to Accelerate Recycling announced at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2012.

• Formed a voluntary, industry-led, and action-oriented coalition continuing project momentum to recover the $6 billion in PPM lost to landfills each year.

• Despite this work, as of 2020, the materials recycling rate for aluminum and plastics in the U.S. remains stagnant. True corporate and recycling industry alignment around a streamlined, cost-effective and pre-competitive approach is necessary to avoid customer backlash and government regulation.

 Feedback

“The Blu Skye team did an outstanding and professional job.  They held the interest of the group through the process and kept the creative juices of the attendee flowing … no easy task!”

—Dennis Sabourin, National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR)

“In my 23 years in this industry, this is the single most forward step I have seen.”

—Will Sagar, Southeast Recycling Development Council