Strategic packaging redesign could enhance recycling rates and improve livelihoods for informal waste workers globally

A new report from The Consumer Goods Forum's Plastic Waste Coalition of Action identifies packaging design modifications as essential to improving recycling outcomes in low- and middle-income countries where informal waste workers handle approximately 60% of plastic recovered globally. Mixed materials, problematic labels, and hard-to-remove components reduce the recyclability and value of packaging, directly affecting the earnings of the millions of informal waste workers who depend on material value for income. The report recommends using compatible materials and adhesives, minimizing density, and optimizing bottle colors to increase recycling value and worker compensation.

Informal waste workers in developing nations play a critical yet often undervalued role in global plastic recovery systems. These workers, who operate outside formal employment structures, physically collect and sort discarded materials to generate income. However, packaging that combines multiple materials or includes difficult-to-separate components reduces the resale value of sorted plastics, directly diminishing worker earnings while creating labor-intensive sorting challenges.

The report identifies specific design modifications with demonstrated economic benefits. For instance, transparent PET bottles command substantially higher market prices than colored alternatives—creating significant income disparities based purely on packaging color choices. Similarly, simplifying adhesive systems and reducing packaging density makes materials easier to process while maintaining their market value, suggesting that relatively modest manufacturing adjustments could yield measurable economic improvements for vulnerable workers.