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Pizza Hut teams up with box supplier to increase pizza box recycling

Photo: Pizza Hut

November 14, 2024

Pizza Hut has partnered with pizza box supplier Smurfit Westrock to raise awareness with customers in Louisville, Kentucky, that pizza boxes can be recycled, according to a press release.

Research conducted by Smurfit Westrock has proven that pizza boxes can in fact be recycled, grease and all, when infrastructure in local communities allows. It's estimated that nearly 75% of people in the U.S. have access to recycling for pizza boxes in their communities.

"At Pizza Hut, we've always been focused on giving our customers the best pizza possible and an important part of the experience is the pizza box," Emily True, global senior manager of sustainability at Pizza Hut, said in the press release. "Once our customers are done enjoying their pizza, we want them to understand how they can play an important role in making sure boxes get a second life."

Both Pizza Hut and Smurfit Westrock have both worked to make pizza boxes more sustainable.

"Recycling corrugated material is a fairly simple, straightforward process that contributes to improving circularity in packaging," Kevin Hudson, senior vice president of forestry and recycled Fiber at Smurfit Westrock North America, said in the press release. "Awareness is a critical first step, but sustainable results can only be achieved when consumers, manufacturers, brands and communities work collectively to recycle pizza boxes, and we're grateful for the opportunity to work with Pizza Hut, haulers and local municipalities to improve circularity in the Louisville market."

Pizza Hut operates more than 19,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries.