Plastic IQ Target Submission & Leaderboard FAQs

The first edition of the Plastic IQ Leaderboard was unveiled in November 2021 to showcase the commitments of user companies dedicated to enacting change, increasing industry transparency, and inspiring a ripple effect of action throughout their supply networks. We are inviting you, our partners in packaging circularity action across the US, to join these leading companies and demonstrate your leadership.  

There is no target submission window. Your company may submit targets at any time throughout the year. You may request that your targets be updated after utilizing the multi-year progress tracking feature by emailing info@plasticiq.org. 

To qualify for public recognition on the Leaderboard, a company using the Pro version of Plastic IQ must reach the set thresholds within each of the four target categories and submit targets at the company level. 

• Gold Leader = medal gold in 3 of 4 target categories

• Silver Leader = medal silver or higher in 2 of the first 3 target categories

• Adopter = submit new strategy but there is no minimum threshold

1. Virgin plastic reduction

2. Recycled and bio-based content

3. Design to enhance recyclability

4. Collaborative action

See Section 11. Target-Setting and Medals Methodology in the Methodology Document for specific calculations.

No, however, you are highly encouraged to submit your company-level targets and medal level for recognition to help maintain industry transparency and encourage peer-to-peer action. Lite version users do not have the option to submit targets for public recognition. 

If you choose to publish, your company name, overall medal, and target year will be shown on the Leaderboard. Pro user company names will also be shared with our Advisory Council, listed on the home page of plasticiq.org.  

Pro users can opt to join the Leaderboard from the Home Screen in two ways: 1) by submitting custom targets or 2) by submitting through the active strategy section. This information will show on the Leaderboard as the company’s name, target year, and overall medal. 

The following information is shared with The Recycling Partnership as part of the target submission (only available in Pro version): 

• Company name, target year, overall medal 
• Information per target category and associated medal (ex: 25% virgin reduction and 50% absolute plastic reduction, 50% recycled or bio-based content, and 100% design to enhance recyclability, reuse, or compostability) 

No baseline information from Screens 1-2 or other specific data from the strategy development sections on Screens 3-5 is submitted to The Recycling Partnership. 

For more details about data use in the Pro version, please review the Plastic IQ Terms and Conditions. 

Once your targets are submitted, your company will receive a badge of your overall medal to display on your social media channels and on your website.  

Using the 2020 or 2021 baseline data entered on Screens 1 and 2, strategy building takes place on Screens 3, 4, and 5 to address less packaging, better packaging, and a better system. Strategy setting is a main function of Plastic IQ, whereby a user determines how they want to meet their 2030 (or earlier) targets by adjusting variables within their control. These variables include reuse, minimization or elimination, packaging material, feedstock, enhanced recyclability design, and voluntary investments in initiatives or organizations to improve the overall system.  Users can also model how their new strategy will perform under conditions that they cannot control on Screen 6, called External Scenarios. Variables that can be adjusted in scenarios include producer responsibility fees, effectiveness of policy, cost of PCR content, and material losses. 

 Submitting targets means that your company is committing to meet the percentages stated in the target section by the chosen target year (default is 2030 but a different year can be entered before formal submission). The percentages for each of the four target categories are developed during strategy building on Screens 3, 4, and 5. Targets can only be submitted for the Leaderboard at the company level, not at the brand level. Once you have chosen the targets and clicked “submit,” the strategy matching the targets you chose to submit will show up on the Home page of your Pro account with a lock icon. This means you cannot edit the strategy once it has been submitted. 

New feature: custom targets 

The updated home screen in the Pro version now allows users to visualize progress toward custom targets, which are not associated with a strategy you have developed or plan to develop in Plastic IQ. Rather, custom targets are those figures and categories your company wants to meet by a specific year; these targets may already be set by your company, may have already been publicly announced, or you are using Plastic IQ to develop targets for the first time. By entering custom targets, you can track progress in achieving them over time. Learn more about target thresholds in Section 11 of the Methodology Document.  

New feature: active strategy 

With the ability to now track progress against your strategy year-over-year with the new multi-year progress tracking feature, company Pro users must select the “active strategy” they wish to submit for recognition on the Plastic IQ Leaderboard (select from 2020 or 2021). 

Yes, your company can request to be removed from the Leaderboard via email sent to info@plasticiq.org. We kindly ask that your company then remove the badge from your website, social media, or other locations.

The leaderboard will be updated quarterly.