NLCRC In The News

Introducing the NLCRC Packaging EPR Series

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is reshaping how packaging is managed across the value chain, bringing opportunities and challenges for brand owners, private packagers, and beyond.

The NLCRC’s Packaging EPR Series dives into the key aspects of EPR, including its importance, practical applications, and NLCRC's role in supporting businesses. Whether you are looking to understand EPR basics, explore its value chain impacts, or learn how to prepare for reporting, this series has you covered.

Read the NLCRC’s Packaging EPR Series.

On the Edge (of Our Seats)
Legislative and regulatory bets hedged, momentum slowed in run-up to presidential election

The fast pace of legislative and regulatory changes that impact the lubricants industry hasn’t changed much over the past year. However, when the U.S. presidential election was still several weeks away during this story’s reporting, those in the industry expected a period of waiting as results were sorted out and a new administration prepared to take the reins.

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Cross Connections - EPR Striving for a Sustainable Path Forward

This year marks a pivotal year for the National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC). First, the NLCRC completed an industry-first collection and recycling pilot program to explore the feasibility of building a sustainable model in the U.S. market.

The results of this program were published in a report that includes an in-depth review of the complexities of the collection and recycling of petroleum packaging.

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Advancing Recycling Rates: NLCRC’s Role in Transitioning to a Circular Economy

Read Environmental Leader + Energy’s article addressing reducing recycling rates and how this challenge presents a compelling opportunity for industries to actively contribute to the improvement of plastic waste reprocessing.

Featured is the NLCRC’s role in transitioning to a circular economy.



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Collective Effort - As EPR Laws Expand, Collaboration Is Critical

Proactive work on several fronts is needed to advance packaging goals.

Read about the NLCRC in the April 2023 Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association Magazine article.

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Packaging of the Past, Present and Future

There is a never-ending effort to improve motor oils. Companies and organizations year-round work to identify the benchmarks needed to meet the demands of the modern engine, then formulate a product that meets or exceeds those specifications. Scores of groups are also working on the materials that contain those lubricants. The design needs of lubricant packaging ranges from ergonomics to sustainability to cost-saving measures. 

How far have we come, where are we now, and where are we going with lubricant packaging?

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Cross Connections - Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association

NLCRC Launches Industry-First Collaborative Atlanta Recycling Pilot Program.


Read about the NLCRC’s Atlanta Lubricant Container Recycling Pilot in the December 2022 Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association Magazine Article.

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Circling Back to Sustainability - Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association

Proactive work on several fronts is needed to advance packaging goals.

Read about the NLCRC in the July 2022 Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association Magazine article.

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The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition Announces Atlanta Lubricant Container Recycling Pilot

BRADENTON, Fla., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC) is launching an industry-first collaborative recycling pilot program that focuses on consumer plastic packaging for engine oil and other petroleum-based products.

The recycling pilot is a one-year project involving over 40 locations in Atlanta, including retail stores and auto care centers, instant oil change locations, and several commercial facilities. The pilot aims to assess and measure the economic and market drivers for post-consumer recovery and recycling, better understand consumer waste disposal behaviors, and define parameters for model development and future scalability. Project partners include retail companies, commercial entities, Safety-Kleen, and Nexus Circular.

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The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition Welcomes New Principal Member Chevron

The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC) announced today that Chevron U.S.A. Inc has joined the group as a principal member. Along with other principal members Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil, Quaker State, Graham Packaging, Plastipak Packaging and Berry Global, Chevron will contribute to the NLCRC's vision to create end-of-life solutions for plastic lubricant containers.

“We are delighted to have Chevron join the NLCRC as a principal member. The recovery and recycling of lubricant containers aligns well with their focus on achieving a more sustainable future. We welcome their leadership and purpose to delivering change in the petroleum packaging recycling industry,” said Tristan Steichen, director of NLCRC.

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The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition Welcomes New Principal Member Berry Global Inc.

BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC) welcomes new principal member Berry Global Inc.

The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC) is an industry-led technical coalition established by a committed group of industry leaders in lubricant and plastic packaging manufacturing, focused on establishing solutions for post-consumer recovery and recycling of plastic lubricant containers. Joining founding members Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil - Quaker State, Graham Packaging, and Plastipak Packaging, Berry Global will contribute to the NLCRC's vision of building a sustainable future for the recycling of plastic lubricant containers.

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The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition Welcomes New Associate Member Petroleum Packaging Council

BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC) welcomes new associate member Petroleum Packaging Council.

The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC) is an industry-led technical coalition, established by a committed group of industry leaders in lubricant and plastic packaging manufacturing, focused on establishing solutions for post-consumer recovery and recycling of plastic lubricant containers. Joining members Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil - Quaker State, Graham Packaging, Plastipak Packaging, and Berry Global, the Petroleum Packaging Council will contribute to the NLCRC's vision of building a sustainable future for the recycling of plastic lubricant containers. Continue Reading

New Coalition Aims to Promote Post-Consumer Recovery and Recycling of Plastic Lubricant Containers in the US

BRADENTON, Fla., March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading lubricant manufacturers and plastic packaging manufacturers have come together to form The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition or "NLCRC."

The goal of this industry-led technical coalition is to establish a market-sustaining program in the United States that drives the recovery and recycling of plastic packaging used to transport lubricants for commercial and consumer use.

Founding members include Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil - Quaker State Company, Graham Packaging, and Plastipak Packaging.

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New Coalition Forms to Address Postconsumer Plastic Packaging

A group of plastic packaging manufacturers and lubricant manufacturers has formed The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC). The coalition’s goal is to address the challenges involved in recovering postconsumer plastic lubricant containers for recycling. NLCRC aims to establish a market-sustaining program that drives the recovery and recycling of plastic lubricant containers.

The idea for the coalition came about in early 2020 but its founders delayed its establishment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NLCRC’s founding companies include Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil – Quaker State Company, Graham Packaging, and Plastipak Packaging.

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Coalition Promotes Recycling of Plastic Lubricant Containers

Leading U.S. lubricant manufacturers and plastic packaging manufacturers have come together to form The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC).

The goal of this industry-led technical coalition is to establish a market-sustaining program in the United States that drives the recovery and recycling of plastic packaging used to transport lubricants for commercial and consumer use.

The coalition will initially focus on designing and initiating pilot projects to explore optimum methods of collection, aggregation, and processing with the long-term ambition of creating sustainable market-driven solutions throughout the plastic lubricant container value chain.

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