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Materials & Packaging

The latest developments in materials, feedstocks and processes that are transforming the way many conventional products are made and packaged — and eliminating their negative impacts

Article
PFAS-Removal Solutions for Consumer Products Show Promise But Remain Costly

In light of new EPA guidance and increased consumer awareness, remediation strategies for the so-called ‘forever chemicals’ are coming under increased scrutiny. ... View More

Article
As Forests React to Climate Change, Can Genetically Modified Trees Stand in the Gap?

In the lab, Living Carbon’s GM poplars accumulated biomass up to 53% faster, trapping as much as 27% more carbon than non-engineered poplars. But skeptics aren’t convinced they’re seeing the forest for the trees. ... View More

Article
Trending: Retailers Embrace Reuse, Credits in Ongoing Fight Against Plastic Waste

rePurpose Global helps Thrive Market achieve plastic neutrality for its own-brand products, while The Body Shop expands its refillable offerings in the US. ... View More

Article
How to Select Sustainable Textiles for the Built Environment

Acknowledging that many textile manufacturers are vague about their products, with little to no proof of sustainability or misrepresenting their claims, can be disheartening. But there are a few key ways to identify a greenwashed product. ... View More

Article
ChemSec Approaches Complex Chemistry Discussions with Collaboration and Humor

ChemSec works to eliminate toxic chemicals in products by engaging with companies and policymakers across cultures, industries and governments; ED Anne-Sofie Bäckar says trust, transparency — and sometimes, keeping things light — are key. ... View More

Article
Allbirds Reveals World’s First Zero-Carbon Shoe

Made from a number of carbon-negative materials, M0.0NSHOT could be a giant leap for the shoe industry; Allbirds is open-sourcing the toolkit used to create the shoe and inviting others to follow in its footsteps. ... View More

Article
Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize Winners Offer Viable, Marine-Safe Solutions to Thin-Film Waste

The three winners are sourcing and scaling biobased and degradable alternatives to traditional, thin-film plastic made from fossil fuels. ... View More

Article
Crate Uplevels Sustainable Packaging with World’s First Label-Less Wines

Crate aims to shake up the industry — where most of the sustainability discussion is about the impact of plastic in packaging, but little acknowledgement that paper labels are also part of the problem. ... View More

Article
New Guide Details Tangible Solutions for Retailers to Move ‘Beyond the Bag’

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. ... View More

Article
3 Material Innovators Using Algae to Paint Greener Picture for Fashion

Living Ink, Algaeing and Mounid are changing the game with carbon-negative, fast-to-produce alternatives to carcinogenic, petroleum-based inks, dyes and textiles. ... View More

Article
McKinsey: Circular Economy for Cement Could Be Worth €110B by 2050

The concrete industry is responsible for 8% of all global carbon emissions; and 30-40% of today’s solid waste is created through the construction and maintenance of the built environment. ... View More

Article
Red Carpet Fashion Needs to Be Green

Imagine if, the day after the Oscars, discussion of the best (and worst!) dressed attendees focused as much on the sustainability characteristics of their choices as on how they looked. ... View More

Article
Truly Closing the Loop: The ‘Recyclable’ vs ‘Circular’ Distinction

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. ... View More

Article
Apparel Brands Drive Circular Fashion Future with Recyclable, Renewable Fabrics

Pangaia and Filippa K are the latest to unveil collaborations with circular textile innovators — fueling progress toward closing the loop on fabric waste. ... View More

Article
Algae May Be a ‘Brilliant’ Solution for Capturing Carbon at Gigaton Scale

By controlling and replicating natural processes, Brilliant Planet’s technology can permanently sequester CO2 from the air while also deacidifying the ocean. ... View More

Article
Store Shelves of the Future: Packaging for a Circular Economy

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. ... View More

Article
Alaska’s Move to Eliminate Inflight Plastic Reveals Issues Within US Recycling Infrastructure

The airline quickly hit a roadblock in the unrecyclability of paper cups with an integrated plastic lining necessary for beverage service. ... View More

Article
‘Clean Beauty’ Is Just a Pipe Dream If Sustainability Gets Left Behind

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. ... View More

Article
Tech Titans Embrace Responsible Forestry

While many companies focus sustainability efforts on their products and other consumer touch points, two of tech’s largest companies are including large facility construction and remodel projects as a foundation to their efforts having a ‘nature-... View More

Article
2023 Design Trends: Balancing the Beautiful with the Responsible

The balance between luxury and sustainability has set a new bar for luxury packaging, making us all stop and think about how we can do things differently. ... View More

Upcoming Events

October 13-16, 2025
SB'25 San Diego
US Event
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March 18-19, 2025
SB'25 Tokyo Marunouchi
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April 9-10, 2025
SB Member Network: Accelerating Good Growth Spring Member Meeting
Member Event
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