PR3 | the Global Alliance to Advance Reuse

What PR3 | the Global Alliance to Advance Reuse does

PR3 | the Global Alliance to Advance Reuse is a nonprofit standards organization operating as an initiative of RESOLVE, focused on developing and maintaining the only global standards framework for reusable packaging systems. Founded in 2019 with the Standards Panel officially launching in March 2023, PR3 has developed a six-part standards suite (RES-001 through RES-006) covering the full reusable packaging lifecycle: container design and performance, washing/inspection/packing, marking and labeling, digital tracking, system operations and performance, and collection points. The standards have received recognition from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), and are being positioned for inclusion in the Global Plastics Treaty. PR3 also maintains the trademarked Global Reuse Symbol, a universal icon adopted on every continent except Antarctica.

The organization operates through a multi-stakeholder Standards Panel comprising 60+ organizations including multinational FMCGs (Nestle, Unilever, Ahold Delhaize, Target), reuse service providers (Loop/TerraCycle, Bold Reuse, Muuse, Huskee), environmental NGOs (Oceana, Greenpeace, Zero Waste Europe), municipal governments (San Francisco, Seattle), and labor/consumer advocacy groups. PR3's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: it convenes standards development through monthly virtual panel meetings and public comment periods, advocates at UN environmental assemblies for treaty integration, and engages through industry conferences (SXSW, Sustainable Packaging Summit) and media placements (Economist, Reuters).

PR3's revenue model is primarily nonprofit: grant funding (notably the U.S. DOE's Re-X Before Recycling Prize, Phase 1 & 2 in partnership with Upstream), Standards Panel membership contributions, and a nascent certification program offering third-party verification for wash facilities, container design/manufacture, and system operations. Standards documents are distributed free as public goods via pr3standards.org and the ANSI webstore. The organization employs 5 people and is co-led by Founder & Director Amy Larkin and Co-Founder & Technical Director Claudette Juska, operating under RESOLVE's nonprofit umbrella.

Name

PR3 | the Global Alliance to Advance Reuse

Legal name

PR3 | The Global Alliance to Advance Reuse

Website

https://pr3standards.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PR3 is a nonprofit standards organization and RESOLVE initiative that develops and maintains the only global standards framework for reusable packaging systems, serving multinational FMCGs, retailers, reuse startups, governments, and NGOs across 60+ panel members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reusable Packaging Standards and Certification

NAICS

Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro primary industry

Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store) (IMALAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE), Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

Keywords

• Reusable packaging standards
• Packaging certification programs
• Circular packaging systems
• Reuse infrastructure standards
• Sustainability standards development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Standards Development & Maintenance: PR3 operates as a non-profit initiative of RESOLVE. Revenue is derived from membership contributions to the Standards Panel, government grants (DOE Re-X Prize), and partnership funding. Standards documents are freely available as public goods.
2. DOE Re-X Before Recycling Prize Funding: Phase 1 and Phase 2 funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Re-X Before Recycling Prize awarded to PR3 and partner Upstream for work creating standards for reusable packaging systems and blueprint for the multi-use economy.
3. Certification Program: PR3 Certification Program offers third-party certification for wash facilities, container design & manufacture, and system operations. Licensing fees for use of the Reuse Rose certification mark.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PR3 develops and maintains the only global standards for reusable packaging systems, delivered as a six-part standards suite (RES-001 Container Design, RES-002 Washing, RES-003 Marking & Labeling, RES-004 Digital, RES-005 System Operations & Performance, RES-006 Collection Points). It also publishes the trademarked Global Reuse Symbol, runs a third-party Certification Program for wash facilities, container manufacturers, and reuse system operators, and convenes a 60+ organization multi-stakeholder Standards Panel to drive consensus-based adoption.

Product overview

PR3 is a standards organization (RESOLVE project) that develops and maintains global standards for reusable packaging systems. The product portfolio consists of six core normative standards covering the entire reusable packaging lifecycle: RES-001 Container Design and Performance, RES-002 Container Washing/Inspection/Packing, RES-003 Marking and Labeling, RES-004 Digital, RES-005 System Operations & Performance, and RES-006 Collection Points. Additional offerings include the Global Reuse Symbol (universal icon for reusable packaging), a Certification Program for wash facilities and container manufacturers, and a Standards Panel for consensus-based standards development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RES-001 Container Design and Performance Standard Standard setting durability and material requirements to protect the ability of containers to undergo repeated use and washing while maintaining safety. Covers bottles, jars, clamshells, cups, foodware items, and containers designed for 20+ rotations.
• RES-002 Container Washing, Inspection and Packing Standard Standard providing specification for washing, inspecting, and packing reusable containers for distribution, with safety and quality requirements for wash facility operations.
• RES-003 Marking and Labeling Standard

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-80% reduction in GHG emissions compared to single-use packaging
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• UpstreamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2024Joint recipients of DOE's Re-X Before Recycling Prize Phase 1 & 2. Both leading change agencies in the reuse movement. Upstream focuses on infrastructure and economics; PR3 provides standards framework.
• CSA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Formal bi-national agreement between RESOLVE and CSA Group to develop the PR3 standards in the U.S. and Canada. CSA Group is co-publishing standards with RESOLVE (e.g., RES-001:26/CSA R304:26, RES-002:25/CSA R303:25).
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRESOLVE's accreditation under operating procedures for American National Standards approved by ANSI (April 2023). PR3 standards follow ANSI requirements for balance, transparency, public engagement, and consensus.
• Standards Council of Canada (SCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPR3 Container Design and Performance standard recognized by both ANSI and SCC as an American National Standard and Canadian National Standard.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)majorTechnology or IntegrationPR3 is working with NREL to expand and enhance the blueprint for reuse infrastructure grid as part of the DOE Re-X Prize.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPR3's work highlighted in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Global Commitment 2024 Progress Report as key initiative to overcome hurdles to scaling reuse.
• ANZPAC Plastics PactmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerANZPAC report recommends utilizing PR3 standards to ensure measurement and evaluation efforts are rigorous and industry aligned.
• Green Sports AlliancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPR3 is a Leadership Advisory Board Member and contributor to the Green Sports Alliance's Reuse Playbook.
• Epigrama StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign collective from Colombia selected to design the Global Reuse Symbol through the Rebrand Reuse initiative. Symbol is now trademarked by PR3.
• RESOLVEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPR3 is a RESOLVE project/initiative. RESOLVE is a team of collaborative leaders, mediators, policy experts, scientists, and facilitators working on global environmental challenges. RESOLVE provides administrative home and accreditation for PR3's Standards Panel.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISO stated willingness to participate in intersessional work on definitions including definition of reuse. PR3 has drafted standards following ISO requirements. ISO-18603 definitions referenced in PR3's Global Plastics Treaty recommendations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• GS1: Global standards organization for barcodes, RFID, and supply-chain identifiers (e.g., Digital Link). Comparable because PR3's RES-004 Digital Standard for tracking reusable assets intersects with GS1's identification standards.
• Closed Loop Partners: Investment firm and accelerator building circular economy infrastructure, including reusable packaging platforms. Comparable as an adjacent system-builder whose portfolio overlaps with PR3's stakeholder ecosystem.
• Reverse Logistics Group (RLG): Standards and certification provider for reusable transport packaging and reverse-logistics operations across consumer goods. Directly comparable to PR3 in the reusable/returnable packaging standards space.

Direct peers

• Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI): Nonprofit certification body for compostable products, using a third-party certification mark (BPI logo) similar in function to PR3's Reuse Rose. Directly comparable as a standards-and-mark nonprofit serving packaging end-of-life outcomes.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Foundation driving the circular economy transition, including the Global Commitment signed by hundreds of FMCGs and packaging commitments PR3's standards operationalize. Highly comparable as a non-profit convening standards-adjacent initiatives for reuse and circular packaging.
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition (GreenBlue): Member-based nonprofit that develops guidance, tools, and labeling programs (e.g., How2Recycle) for sustainable packaging. Closest analog to PR3 as a collaborative nonprofit producing broadly-adopted packaging guidance and labels.
• Upstream Solutions: PR3's formal partner on the DOE Re-X Prize; a nonprofit advancing reuse policy, infrastructure, and design. Highly comparable as an advocacy plus standards-adjacent organization in the reuse space.

Broad incumbents

• The Recycling Partnership: Nonprofit improving recycling infrastructure and funding through public-private partnerships. Adjacent comparator as a nonprofit convening stakeholders and developing metrics/end-of-life standards for packaging systems.
• SCS Global Services: Established third-party certification body offering sustainability certifications across packaging, recycling, and circular economy. Comparable as a competitor in the certification program market PR3 is launching.
• ISO TC 122 / SC 4 (Packaging and Packaging Environment): International standards committees that publish packaging and reuse-related standards (e.g., ISO 18603 cited in PR3's definitions). Comparable as the broader formal international standards body whose standards PR3 references and complements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pr3standards

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about PR3 | the Global Alliance to Advance Reuse