Charter Next Generation (CNG), in partnership with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG), was named a recipient of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Recycling Leadership Awards for post-consumer recycled (PCR) utilization in the Earthgro mulch bag. The annual awards recognize individuals and organizations making meaningful progress in advancing plastics recyclability and circular solutions. 

APR honored CNG and SMG for their collaboration in driving innovation and measurable results in PCR plastic applications, demonstrating that high performance and circularity can go hand in hand. 

Together, CNG and SMG developed and commercialized a high-strength mulch bag that incorporates APR-certified PCR polyethylene (PCR-PE), representing a significant step forward in sustainable packaging design. Overcoming the challenges of incorporating mechanical PCR into a high-performance film application, the film achieves a 25% increase in film toughness properties, while maintaining excellent optics and sealability, ensuring seamless downstream converting and superior package durability. 

The film also complies with the APR Design Guide, ensuring compatibility with existing polyethylene film recovery streams. 

“Our partnership with Charter Next Generation reflects our commitment to developing innovative packaging that maintains the integrity of our products while also working to better our environment,” said Jackie Howard, Packaging Procurement Manager at ScottsMiracle-Gro. “This is another vital step forward in our pursuit of sustainable packaging solutions across our supply chain.” 

“Working with ScottsMiracle-Gro to meet the demanding specifications of their mulch packaging proved that circularity and performance don’t have to be mutually exclusive,” said Joe Glaser, Sustainability Manager at CNG. “By aligning CNG’s material science expertise with our customers’ sustainability needs and quality expectations, we’re advancing what’s possible in flexible packaging design using recycled materials.”