PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCT), a pioneering force in plastic recycling based in the U.S., alongside IPL Schoeller, a prominent global supplier of sustainable packaging solutions, has revealed their collaboration to produce polypropylene tubs and lids containing 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. This innovative sustainable container will be launched nationwide by Cleveland Kitchen, a leader in fresh fermented foods, starting later this month. The new 24-ounce container positions Cleveland Kitchen to effectively adhere to upcoming recycled-content packaging regulations in states such as New Jersey and California.
This partnership signifies a milestone as it represents the first full commercial production of a food-contact grocery container utilizing PureFive® resin. The resin is manufactured using PureCycle’s unique dissolution recycling technique, which eliminates colors, odors, additives, and other impurities often found in conventional recycled materials. The recycled material not only meets FDA requirements for food contact but has also received GreenCircle Certification for its recycled content.
“Our fermented products are alive and deserve packaging that mirrors the same dedication to health and environmental sustainability that our customers expect from our offerings,” stated Luke Visnic, Chief Product Officer at Cleveland Kitchen. “Collaborating with IPL Schoeller and PureCycle has enabled us to achieve a container with significant recycled content, ensuring full compliance with food safety standards and providing a credible narrative to feature on our label. We take pride in leading the charge on regulations without compromising our product’s quality.”
As state laws establish a minimum standard, major national retailers are also elevating their own sustainability expectations. Grocery chains, which hold a substantial portion of the domestic food retail market, are now requiring brand owners to show measurable advancements in sustainable packaging initiatives to secure shelf space and renewal of contracts.
“This represents a significant achievement for the IPL Schoeller team,” noted Melissa Vettleson, Sustainability and Materials Engineer at IPL Schoeller. “It underscores our dedication to reusable and recyclable packaging. We have been eager to integrate recycled polypropylene into suitable products in North America for several years, particularly focusing on PureCycle resin due to its superior quality and versatility. We were simply waiting for the right partnership to bring this vision to fruition.”
Cleveland Kitchen, along with many global brands, increasingly depends on rigid plastic tubs and lids for food, personal care, and household products. There is a growing demand to prove PCR content within their packaging supply chains.
“This collaboration with PureCycle allows us to enhance our sustainable packaging offerings in a manner that meets both the environmental and performance requirements demanded by brands,” remarked Julie Barnwell, Product Manager at IPL Schoeller.
With a broad manufacturing presence across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom, following the merger of IPL Global and Schoeller Allibert in July 2025, IPL Schoeller and PureCycle are planning to extend their partnership to integrate PureFive® resin into additional products in their lineup.
“The ongoing challenge in the packaging industry has been how to incorporate recycled content without compromising food safety or product performance,” explained Pete Dias, Senior Director of Market, Application, and Product Development at PureCycle. “PureFive® resin eliminates this compromise. Food safety, compliance with regulations, performance, and environmental accountability no longer have to be at odds. This initiative with Cleveland Kitchen and IPL Schoeller demonstrates the model’s viability at a commercial level.”
The Recycled Content Law established in New Jersey, effective from 2024, mandates that rigid plastic containers sold within the state must comprise at least 10% PCR content. This requirement is set to rise to 20% by 2027, with the exemption for food-contact packaging coming to an end. Recently, PureCycle’s PureFive® resin received conditional approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), designating it as “recycled content” according to the law.
Beyond New Jersey, businesses are contending with an increasingly complex landscape of extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation at both state and national levels, which includes requirements for recycled content and targets for source reduction. By creating a scalable production model for PureFive®-based rigid packaging through this alliance, PureCycle and IPL Schoeller are establishing the essential commercial infrastructure to support brand owners as regulatory pressures increase across North America and beyond.
