Stories About Plastics
Found 584 stories. Page 1 of 30.
The Problem with Recycling, Part 3: Reducing Confusion and Boosting Consumer Confidence
WASTE NOT - This is the third in a three-part series covering key opportunities to turn ‘the plastic-recycling problem’ into a sustainable, circular plastic economy. In parts one and two, we reported how the plastic-recycling system is broken and how to improve it; and how to increase the use of recycled plastic materials in new products.
New Study Uses Norway as Test Case for Achieving Circularity, Net Zero by 2040
THE NEXT ECONOMY - Norway is the first country to scrutinize such a comprehensive scope of plastic sectors, making this study one of the most holistic views of a national plastic system ever presented.
Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize Winners Offer Viable, Marine-Safe Solutions to Thin-Film Waste
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING - The three winners are sourcing and scaling biobased and degradable alternatives to traditional, thin-film plastic made from fossil fuels.
New Guide Details Tangible Solutions for Retailers to Move ‘Beyond the Bag’
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION - Playbook highlights solutions from the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag that drive near-term, positive environmental impact and cost savings from eliminating single-use plastic bags.
The Problem with Recycling, Part 2: Increasing Recycled Content in New Products
WASTE NOT - This is the second in a three-part series covering key opportunities to turn “the plastic recycling problem” into a circular economy for plastics.
Truly Closing the Loop: The ‘Recyclable’ vs ‘Circular’ Distinction
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING - The term 'recycling' has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, but the nuances between ‘recyclable’ and ‘circular’ are often misunderstood. Understanding the distinction between the two is crucial in achieving a sustainable future.
The Problem with Recycling, Part 1: How Can We Fix the Broken Plastic-Recycling System?
WASTE NOT - This is the first in a three-part series in which we break down key barriers and opportunities to turn ‘the plastic recycling problem’ into a circular plastics economy.
Tomorrow’s Circular, Low-Carbon Economy Is Being Built Today
FROM PURPOSE TO ACTION: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TOGETHER - The supply of recycled plastics must be more robust to meet global demand. A mix of mechanical and advanced recycling technologies can provide tangible solutions, create efficiencies and increase scale.
Store Shelves of the Future: Packaging for a Circular Economy
FROM PURPOSE TO ACTION: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TOGETHER - We recently gathered leaders from McKinsey, Unilever and Colgate-Palmolive to ponder what consumer products and their packaging will look like in 2035 and beyond.
Alaska’s Move to Eliminate Inflight Plastic Reveals Issues Within US Recycling Infrastructure
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING - The airline quickly hit a roadblock in the unrecyclability of paper cups with an integrated plastic lining necessary for beverage service.
England’s Partial Single-Use Plastic Ban Greeted with Lukewarm Response
WASTE NOT - Starting in October, the country will phase out a variety of single-use plastic products; but most think it does not go far enough to tackle pollution and waste.
‘Clean Beauty’ Is Just a Pipe Dream If Sustainability Gets Left Behind
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING - Every year, 3B trees are turned into paper packaging for the products we buy — including for many ‘clean’ beauty brands. These brands must take the same holistic approach to their packaging as their ingredients.
Moving Toward a Circular Economy for Packaging
WASTE NOT - A circular economy for plastics is achievable in our lifetime, though it will require consumers and manufacturers to work together. Whether companies decide to keep it in-house or partner with like-minded third parties, an investment in our future now will lead to more profitable operations and create relentless forward progress.
Panasonic, Samsung Unveil Latest Sustainability Innovations at CES 2023
CLEANTECH - The electronics giants announced a series of innovations including personal-care device recycling, smart home energy-efficiency improvements, and a new laundry cycle and filter designed to eliminate microplastic pollution from synthetic materials.
The New Reuse Economy: What’s Working (and Not Working) on the Quest for a Packaging Waste-Free Future
WASTE NOT - While recycling and lightweighting packaging strategies are helpful, they still align more with a linear rather than circular economy. Here, Upstream CEO Matt Prindiville lays out his organization’s vision for a truly plastic waste-free future.
Stella McCartney to Pilot Mixed-Textile Recycling Venture
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING - Protein Evolution’s technology can turn unused polyester and nylon fabrics from Stella McCartney’s previous collections into good-as-new, infinitely recyclable fibers — and could present a new circular solution for the fashion industry.
Opinion: Why Some Big Brands ‘Aren’t Convinced’ by Plastic Credits
THE NEXT ECONOMY - 80M tons of plastic waste will end up in the environment just in the next 10 years. Without voluntary, global producer responsibility programs to unlock capital towards infrastructure and bridge the policy vacuum, how else do polluters suggest for us to tackle this massive financing gap in the meantime?
A Completely Different Definition of ‘Waste’: 5 Key Takeaways from the Sustainability Next Summit
FROM PURPOSE TO ACTION: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TOGETHER - Last month, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics and Fast Company co-hosted the virtual summit to convene policy experts, industry leaders and innovators with the expertise and resources to drive real progress toward a circular economy.
6 Principles for Building a Pathway to Circularity for Plastics
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING - Developing and optimizing a fully circular plastics value chain is a complex challenge that can’t be achieved with any single solution. We challenge our peers and other key stakeholders to be courageous and take risks, to explore new possibilities and partnerships, and persist until we have solutions.
As 2022 Season Closes, World Surf League Reports Progress of ‘We Are One Ocean’ Initiative
WALKING THE TALK - In 2021, WSL launched WAOO to protect and conserve surf ecosystems around the world. Over the 2022 tour season, it collaborated with community organizations, indigenous groups, surfers and others on activations including replanting native coastal vegetation in Hawaii, removing plastic pollution from Indonesian waterways, and restoring coral reefs in Tahiti.
