Paragon Films receives an Honorable Mention from the Association of Plastic Recyclers for leadership in recycling innovation.
Paragon Films, a top manufacturer of high-performance, sustainability-focused stretch films, has been recognized with the Recycling Leadership Honorable Mention by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) for exceptional use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.
In 2026, Paragon Films was the only stretch film producer to earn this distinction. The award highlights the company’s Beyond PCR machine stretch film, which incorporates 25% certified domestic post-consumer recycled material in a 39-gauge format.
The Beyond PCR 39-gauge film matches the performance of thicker 55- to 65-gauge machine films while cutting virgin resin usage by more than half. This reduction translates to an estimated 490 metric tons of CO₂ emissions avoided per million pounds of film produced. This ultra-thin film is part of Paragon’s Sustainability Without Sacrifice™ line, designed to help customers reduce plastic use and support circular packaging practices.
The APR Recycling Leadership Awards celebrate individuals and companies that make significant contributions to advancing plastics recycling. The awards were launched to mark the 30th anniversary of the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability, which provides essential guidance for designing recyclable plastic packaging.
Steve Alexander, APR President & CEO, said, “We are proud to recognize innovators who are making meaningful changes throughout the plastics value chain. The APR Design® Guide is a global benchmark for recyclable packaging design, and these awards honor those driving progress in the industry.”
About Paragon Films
Founded in 1988 and based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Paragon Films specializes in ultra-high-performance stretch films with a strong focus on sustainability. Its Sustainability Without Sacrifice™ philosophy emphasizes creating durable, cost-effective packaging solutions while helping customers meet their environmental goals.
About APR
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is the only North American organization dedicated solely to improving plastics recycling. APR offers tools and resources to help companies design recyclable packaging, overcome recycling challenges, and maintain stable markets for post-consumer recycled content.