Automotive Packaging Materials Collection & Handling Practices
The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) provides a forum for global automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to work together toward a shared vision of an automotive industry with positive environmental impact. SP’s Sustainable Packaging Work Group was established as a platform for companies from across the automotive value chain to collaborate to minimize automotive packaging waste and address barriers to packaging recyclability and/or reuse.
Companies in the automotive supply chain may lack information on standardized procedures for recycling packaging waste, which can lead to inconsistent and inefficient material handling and lost opportunities for material recovery.
This project aims to:
- Identify practical, implementable practices based on SP member experiences.
- Recommend voluntary guidelines for sorting, storing, transporting, and recovering materials.
- Support OEMs, suppliers, and packaging stakeholders in achieving sustainability and waste reduction goals.
Automotive Packaging Materials Collection & Handling Practices
Published July 2025
This guidance document aims to identify practical, implementable practices based on SP member experiences and recommends voluntary guidelines for sorting, storing, transporting, and recovering packaging materials.
Acknowledgements: This guidance document was produced through a collaborative process by members of the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) Sustainable Packaging Work Group. Sincere thanks to Gina McGee of RecycleMax for her leadership and contributions in spearheading the development of this document.
Disclaimer: This document sets forth various findings based on information available to the authors at the time of issuance. These findings are not intended to set forth any industry rule, requirement or standard. Each company should independently determine its own processes and practices, including, without limitation, levels, measurements, vendors, materials, equipment, energy sources, energy use, emissions, and recyclability.
This document should not be considered to contain legal advice. SP and its member companies make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document, and they will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The authors of this document reserve the right to change it at any time, as they deem appropriate within their sole discretion. SP and its member companies will not be liable for any losses, injuries or damages that may result from the use of the information contained in this document. It is the sole and exclusive responsibility of every company designing and sourcing packaging materials to undertake individual, unique analysis as it pertains to their own specific application and production process, as well as to understand and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, and individual customer requirements.
Contact: Please submit any feedback on this guidance or suggestions for future improvements to info@supplierspartnership.org.