Recycling is community dependent. Girl Scout Cookie packages may or
may not be accepted by your local recycling service depending on the
types of materials it processes.
The box packaging for many of our cookies is made from paper and is
recyclable. It contains 100% recycled content, so it may have been
recycled numerous times already!
Several Girl Scout Cookie varieties are produced in soft-pack
packaging only, without a carton. The film overwrap is like the
protective wrapping found inside the packages of all cookie varieties
and is recyclable in certain markets. While the shift to film overwrap
has eliminated thousands of pounds of paperboard from the waste stream
and the reduction in packaging weight has saved thousands of gallons
of diesel fuel, the overwrap material may not be accepted by some
local recycling services.
Some Girl Scout Cookie varieties come with a plastic tray inside
either the box or soft pack and is used to protect the cookies during
transport. The material may not be accepted by some local recycling services.
GSUSA is a member of the How2Recycle® label program
(how2recycle.info). The How2Recycle label is a U.S. and Canada-based
standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling
instructions to the public. We’re leveraging How2Recycle’s
standardized labeling system on our consumer-facing packaging to
provide clear instructions on how to recycle. How2Recycle is a
project of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition®
(sustainablepackaging.org), a membership-based group that brings
together businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies
to collectively broaden the understanding of packaging sustainability
and develop meaningful improvements for packaging solutions.
We continue to work with our bakers to evaluate ways to maximize the
recyclability of the package, while maintaining quality, freshness,
and shelf life.