Recycling in this country is clearly in need of an update. But how to address the many impediments to a comprehensive, fully functional recycling system? GreenBlue (a Living Principles endorser), is taking on the problem from the design perspective. The organization’s new report on paper packaging presents designers with the information they need to design recyclability into each project. As the report states:

“Often in the development of new packaging, little attention is paid to its practical recyclability, given the limitations of the current recovery systems. As a result, new packaging is released into the marketplace without an effective infrastructure for its collection and recovery, forcing recyclers to respond as best they can in an ad hoc manner. The Design for Recovery Guidelines: Paper Packaging (the Guidelines) will provide information that is necessary to assess the potential recyclability of a new type of package before it is released into the marketplace.

One of the barriers to effective communication along the packaging supply chain is the lack of informational resources explaining how design decisions affect recyclability. This document is an effort to fill this gap.”

These guidelines are essential for any packaging designer committed to creating sustainable products. Get a PDF of the report here. And check out GreenBlue’s new blog In the Loop–it promises to be an engaging new source for discussion about sustainable design.