Sustainable Packaging Coalition Seeks Proposals to Help Retailers Transition to Flexibles
GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition is asking for proposals by Dec. 19 that would help retailers transition to sustainable flexible packaging films with low-barrier requirements.
A request for proposals (RFP) provides details of the initiative, noting that selected suppliers of flexible films will have their submissions showcased at SPC Impact 2026 scheduled for April in Nashville.
“GreenBlue is on a mission to accelerate the transition to a regenerative, just, and sustainable materials economy,” the RFP says. “As part of this mission, GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition is leading a Retailer Forum to solve a shared sustainable packaging challenge for retailer members.”
The initiative is driven by regulatory requirements and extended producer responsibility (EPR) incentives across states, customer preferences and awareness of plastic waste, and corporate packaging and carbon goals, it also says.
“The SPC is working to improve circularity across the entire materials economy, including tackling challenges to circularity like those facing films and flexible packaging,” SPC says. “One specific problem area we have identified with our retail members is the imperative to transition to sustainable flexible packaging films with low-barrier requirements (e.g., polybags for durable goods).”
Retail private brands rely on external supply partners to provide packaging solutions at scale in a system they do not own, it explains. The “Request for R&D Submission” supports the retailers’ goal of transitioning to sustainable flexible packaging.
“For this effort, priority will be given to widely recyclable alternatives to flexible film,” it also says. “Packaging is recyclable if it can be collected, sorted, reprocessed, and ultimately reused in manufacturing or making another item. A package is only considered recyclable if there is a substantial likelihood that it can do all of those things in the majority of communities where an item is sold.” Submissions must be emailed to olga.kachook@greenblue.org. But for full details, see the pdf that explains what is required.
