To help advance the goal of sustainably sourcing 100% of its customer-facing packaging by 2026, Wendy's is announcing a new collaboration with packaging and plastics industry leaders Berry Global and LyondellBasell.

The collaboration will support Wendy’s move from a selection of plastic-lined paper cups with limited recyclability to single-substrate, clear plastic drink cups that more consumers will be able to recycle. Based on a mass balance approach, the cups will also use 20% ISCC-certified, recycled plastic across all North America restaurants with the potential to increase the amount of recycled plastic used in the future.

As members of the American Chemistry Council and Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Berry and LyondellBasell teamed up to provide a more sustainable solution. LyondellBasell was integral in its supply of quality, advanced recycled resin. Berry then partnered with Wendy's to make the cup a commercial reality.

Berry Global, LyondellBasell and Wendy's collaborate to improve cup recyclability.

The new cup set will launch in the U.S. and Canada restaurants in early 2022 with the initial set of large cups using recycled plastics; all drink cups will use recycled plastics in 2023. This important first step is estimated to divert 10 million pounds of waste from landfills over the first two years.

"Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact of single-use waste, and we want to do our part as a leader in the quick-service restaurant industry to provide more sustainable options," commented Liliana Esposito, Wendy's Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer. "Today's announcement marks Wendy's next step toward creating packaging solutions that reduce our environmental impact."

The amount of waste diverted from landfills due to this collaboration is projected to increase as Wendy's works with Berry to expand recycled plastic use throughout its entire cup set.

“Giving our natural resources multiple lives requires commitment and collaboration across the value chain. Partnering with leading brands that actively pursue opportunities to promote innovative packaging solutions is key to accelerating a circular economy,” said Tom Salmon, Berry Global's Chairman and CEO.

To help better serve customers’ shared and increasing sustainability goals with speed, Berry and LyondellBasell have entered into a long-term supply agreement for ISCC PLUS-certified, advanced recycled feedstock resins by mass balance. Mass balance enables recycled plastic to be mixed with virgin plastic and processed in the same place, helping reduce scale-up costs and accelerate the transition to circular raw materials.

“There are many benefits of plastics, including convenience,” remarked Bob Patel, CEO of LyondellBasell. "The issue we must address is plastic waste. As such, we are proud to collaborate with Berry Global and Wendy's to co-create sustainable solutions that will allow us to continue enjoying the benefits of this material while helping to make our environment better for future generations.”

To help advance the goal of sustainably sourcing 100% of its customer-facing packaging by 2026, Wendy's is announcing a new collaboration with packaging and plastics industry leaders Berry Global and LyondellBasell.

The collaboration will support Wendy’s move from a selection of plastic-lined paper cups with limited recyclability to single-substrate, clear plastic drink cups that more consumers will be able to recycle. Based on a mass balance approach, the cups will also use 20% ISCC-certified, recycled plastic across all North America restaurants with the potential to increase the amount of recycled plastic used in the future.

As members of the American Chemistry Council and Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Berry and LyondellBasell teamed up to provide a more sustainable solution. LyondellBasell was integral in its supply of quality, advanced recycled resin. Berry then partnered with Wendy's to make the cup a commercial reality.

Berry Global, LyondellBasell and Wendy's collaborate to improve cup recyclability.

The new cup set will launch in the U.S. and Canada restaurants in early 2022 with the initial set of large cups using recycled plastics; all drink cups will use recycled plastics in 2023. This important first step is estimated to divert 10 million pounds of waste from landfills over the first two years.

"Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact of single-use waste, and we want to do our part as a leader in the quick-service restaurant industry to provide more sustainable options," commented Liliana Esposito, Wendy's Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer. "Today's announcement marks Wendy's next step toward creating packaging solutions that reduce our environmental impact."

The amount of waste diverted from landfills due to this collaboration is projected to increase as Wendy's works with Berry to expand recycled plastic use throughout its entire cup set.

“Giving our natural resources multiple lives requires commitment and collaboration across the value chain. Partnering with leading brands that actively pursue opportunities to promote innovative packaging solutions is key to accelerating a circular economy,” said Tom Salmon, Berry Global's Chairman and CEO.

To help better serve customers’ shared and increasing sustainability goals with speed, Berry and LyondellBasell have entered into a long-term supply agreement for ISCC PLUS-certified, advanced recycled feedstock resins by mass balance. Mass balance enables recycled plastic to be mixed with virgin plastic and processed in the same place, helping reduce scale-up costs and accelerate the transition to circular raw materials.

“There are many benefits of plastics, including convenience,” remarked Bob Patel, CEO of LyondellBasell. "The issue we must address is plastic waste. As such, we are proud to collaborate with Berry Global and Wendy's to co-create sustainable solutions that will allow us to continue enjoying the benefits of this material while helping to make our environment better for future generations.”