The Foodservice Packaging Institute Inc. (FPI) has founded the Paper Recovery Alliance (PRA), a group of organizations working to create solutions for the recovery and processing of used paper foodservice packaging.

Today, most paper foodservice packaging items are destined for landfills mainly because of limited infrastructure and lack of end markets for the recovered materials. The PRA will set up pilot projects that include all parts of the value chain to understand and overcome the existing challenges to paper foodservice packaging recovery.

The PRA’s founding members include Tim Hortons, YUM! Brands Inc., Eco-Products Inc., Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP, HAVI Global Solutions, International Paper, MeadWestvaco Corp., Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging, RockTenn, Solo Cup Co. and Starbucks Coffee Co.

Additional members are sought from other paper recycling mills, fiber raw material suppliers, manufacturers of foodservice packaging products, retailers, foodservice operators, waste haulers, material recovery facilities, composters and waste-to-energy facilities. In addition, the PRA will collaborate with other associations, non-governmental organizations, colleges/universities and governmental officials with knowledge of paper and packaging recovery.

“Through these pilot projects, we hope to identify best practices and ultimately develop economically viable recovery strategies for all used paper foodservice packaging in North America,” said FPI president Lynn M. Dyer in a press release. “Our industry is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our products. Many of our member companies have already launched recovery initiatives. However, now is the time to take their efforts further by building scale and developing sustainable solutions for the entire value chain.”

The PRA is a member-funded project within the FPI. A similar initiative related to plastic foodservice packaging will be launched in early 2012.