PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCT), a U.S.-based company revolutionizing plastic recycling, and IPL Schoeller, a global provider of sustainable packaging solutions, today announced the development of polypropylene tubs and lids incorporating 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Cleveland Kitchen, the leader in fresh fermented foods, will unveil the sustainable container across the country starting later this month. The 24-ounce container enables Cleveland Kitchen to proactively comply with emerging recycled-content packaging mandates in New Jersey, California and other states moving forward with similar regulations.
This collaboration marks the first time a food-contact grocery container made with PureFive® resin has reached full commercial production. PureCycle’s PureFive® resin is produced through the Company’s dissolution recycling process, which removes colors, odors, additives and other impurities that degrade traditionally recycled material. The resulting recycled content is GreenCircle Certified for recycled content and also meets FDA food-contact requirements for a wide range of uses.
“Our fermented foods are living products. They deserve packaging that reflects the same commitment to health and the planet that our customers expect from what’s inside the container,” said Luke Visnic, Cleveland Kitchen Chief Product Officer. “Partnering with IPL Schoeller and PureCycle gives us a container with meaningful recycled content, full food-contact compliance, and a credible story we can put right on our label. We’re proud to be ahead of the regulatory curve and even prouder that it didn’t require any compromise on product quality.”
While state legislation is setting the legal floor, major national retailers are increasingly raising the bar on their own. Grocery chains, accounting for a significant share of domestic food retail, have begun requiring brand owners to demonstrate progress toward sustainable packaging commitments as a condition of shelf placement and contract renewal.
“This is a landmark moment for the IPL Schoeller team,” said Melissa Vettleson, IPL Schoeller Sustainability and Materials Engineer. “It further underpins IPL Schoeller’s commitment to the use of reusable and recyclable packaging. IPL Schoeller are leaders in the use of PCR across our European business, and we have been wanting to incorporate recycled polypropylene into the right product in North America for several years with our eye on the PureCycle resin due to its high quality, clarity, and broad use cases. We were just waiting for the right partner to make this a reality.”
Cleveland Kitchen and many other global brand owners rely on high-volume rigid plastic tubs and lids for food, personal care and household products. They are increasingly required to demonstrate PCR content in their packaging supply chain.
“This partnership with PureCycle will allow us to expand our sustainable packaging portfolio with products that deliver on both the environmental and performance expectations brands demand” said Julie Barnwell, IPL Schoeller, Product Manager.
IPL Schoeller has a global manufacturing footprint with 26 locations across North America, Europe and the United Kingdom, following the July 2025 Merger between IPL Global and Schoeller Allibert. PureCycle and IPL Schoeller plan to expand their collaboration to introduce PureFive® resin into other offerings in their portfolio.
“The packaging industry’s challenge has always been delivering recycled content without sacrificing food safety or shelf performance,” said Pete Dias, PureCycle’s Senior Director of Market, Application and Product Development. “PureFive® resin removes that trade-off entirely. Food safety, regulatory compliance, performance and environmental responsibility no longer have to compete with one another. This launch with Cleveland Kitchen and IPL Schoeller proves the model at commercial scale.”
New Jersey’s Recycled Content Law, which took effect in 2024, requires rigid plastic containers sold in the state to contain a minimum of 10% PCR content. In 2027, that threshold rises to 20% and an exemption for food-contact packaging expires. PureCycle’s PureFive® resin was recently granted conditional approval by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) qualifying it as “recycled content” under the law.
Beyond New Jersey, companies are facing a growing patchwork of extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation at the state and national level that includes recycled content mandates or source reduction targets. By establishing a scalable supply of PureFive®-based rigid packaging through this partnership, PureCycle and IPL Schoeller are building the commercial infrastructure needed to support brand owners as the regulatory landscape tightens across North America and internationally.