In an era where sustainability is more urgent than ever, the Carton Council is turning classrooms into climate classrooms—literally. With the launch of its 2025 Carton Recycling Grant Program, the coalition of industry giants—Elopak, Pactiv Evergreen, SIG, and Tetra Pak—is putting real power behind its commitment to a circular economy. Their focus? K-12 schools across the U.S. and Canada, where thousands of food and beverage cartons used daily are still ending up in landfills.
But that’s changing—thanks to innovation, investment, and education.
A Small Carton, A Massive Opportunity
It might be easy to overlook a single juice box or milk carton. But scale that up across an entire school system and the environmental impact becomes monumental. The average school consumes around 75,000 cartons annually, and yet only 10% of U.S. schools currently recycle them. In Canada, over 9% of landfill-bound waste in elementary schools consists of cartons.
The Carton Council's solution is simple but powerful: empower schools to recycle cartons—and support them financially to do it well. This year’s grant program offers up to $5,000 per school, giving educators and local communities the resources they need to kick-start or enhance carton recycling programs.
What the Grant Covers
Funds from the Carton Council can be used in various impactful ways:
- Collection Bins & Sorting Stations: Purchasing recycling infrastructure for classrooms, cafeterias, or central recycling hubs.
- Education & Communication: Printing posters, designing student awareness campaigns, and incorporating recycling education into the curriculum.
- Green Teams: Forming student-led sustainability clubs or task forces that lead recycling efforts and track waste reduction.
- Program Expansion: Scaling pilot programs or strengthening existing efforts to ensure long-term impact.
This isn’t just about tossing cartons in the right bin. It’s about building climate-conscious communities inside schools, where students become stewards of the environment.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2025 grant program opened on April 1 and close on May 31, 2025. The grants are available to a broad range of applicants:
- Public and private K–12 schools
- School districts or boards
- School-affiliated organizations
- Local governments or individuals supporting school recycling
To be eligible, applicants must confirm they have access to a carton recycling program through their local waste services and secure administrative approval before applying.
U.S. schools: RecycleCartons.com/schools
Canadian schools: RecycleCartons.ca
Grant recipients will be selected in June, and funds will be distributed soon after, just in time for schools to prepare for the next academic year.
Why This Matters
“By sorting empty milk, juice, and other cartons, schools contribute to ensuring these cartons are recycled into new products while reducing landfill waste,” said Jordan Fengel, Executive Director of the Carton Council. “Beyond the environmental benefits, schools may also see cost savings on waste hauling fees while providing valuable hands-on learning opportunities in sustainable practices.”
Indeed, carton recycling isn't just about environmental impact—it’s a financial and educational win. Waste disposal costs decrease, students engage in real-world learning about circular economies, and communities reduce their carbon footprints.
A Circular Vision for the Future
The Council’s initiative is a shining example of how private sector leadership can support public goods. When recycled, food and beverage cartons don’t go to waste—they are transformed into new paper products or premium building materials, such as ceiling tiles and wallboard.
This transition from waste to resource is at the core of a circular economy—a system where nothing is wasted, and everything has value. And with industry players like Tetra Pak leading the charge—committed to “Protect What’s Good™”—this program reflects a deeper, systemic shift.
Tetra Pak, a founding member of the Carton Council, is globally recognized for its commitment to food safety, sustainability, and innovation. Operating in over 160 countries with 24,000 employees, the company embodies the spirit of responsible leadership that this grant program represents.
Spotlight on Sustainability in Action
This isn’t the Carton Council’s first foray into education-based sustainability. Past grant cycles have catalyzed the launch of full-scale school recycling systems that not only reduced waste but also integrated sustainability into the heart of school culture. Whether through hallway recycling competitions or curriculum modules on material life cycles, these programs make sustainability real, tangible, and actionable.
And now in 2025, the Council is expanding that vision—bringing more schools into the fold and helping turn every juice box into a teachable moment.
Final Thoughts
In the world of climate action, no effort is too small when multiplied across thousands of students, schools, and communities. The Carton Council’s 2025 Grant Program exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking, scalable, and collaborative approach that sustainability demands today.
By putting tools in the hands of educators and students, this initiative is nurturing a generation that will recycle smarter, live greener, and lead better.
Because every carton recycled is a step toward a cleaner, more circular future—and every school that joins this movement becomes a classroom for climate leadership.
Visit RecycleCartons.com or RecycleCartons.ca to apply and learn more. Applications close May 31, 2025.
Let’s build a world where every carton counts.
Table of Contents
Thank you for reading!
