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

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prAna’s Responsible Packaging Movement Aims to Foster Sea Change in Fashion

Leading by example, the sustainable fashion brand has pledging to eliminate plastic from its consumer packaging by 2021, the use of Ancient and Endangered Forest by 2022, and to eliminate virgin forest fibers by 2025. ... View More

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The Future of Fashion Is in Biomaterials and Circularity

The circular economy is here to stay — and no industry is better positioned to take on this challenge than fashion. The designers, innovators and business people in this industry are starting a revolution that ensures doing good never goes out of s... View More

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Going Green (and Blue): Three Lessons Learned from a Circular Partnership

As CHEP and Ice River Springs have worked together in pursuit of a stronger circular economy, we’ve learned a number of lessons. We want to share a few with you, in hopes that they’ll spark inspiration for your own operations. ... View More

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How a Classic Brand Is Tackling the Marine Plastic Problem

Zipper giant YKK Group has used recycled PET yarns in the woven tape of its Natulon® zippers since 1994. But when it wanted to help address the challenge of ocean plastic, the company saw it as an opportunity to get creative. ... View More

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BASF to Release Carbon Footprint Data for Its 45K Products

The chemical giant has been a leader in innovative approaches to quantifying the impacts of its diverse product portfolio. ... View More

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6 Tips for Avoiding Recycled Materials Supply Chain Disruptions

Don’t wait until a breakdown happens to explore alternatives. Start evaluating your supply chain today and expand your recycled plastic sources to keep things humming no matter what the world throws at you. ... View More

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Trending: Returnity, Venetian Resort Working to Cut Out COVID Waste

Surgical mask upcycling and antimicrobial, reusable packaging solutions are some of the latest initiatives aiming to clean up some of our COVID-fueled, plastic-covered mess. ... View More

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From the Source: New System Offers Brands Data on Sustainable Cotton-Growing Practices

The US Cotton Trust Protocol provides measured and verified data about US cotton; which allows fashion and textile brands and retailers to track annual progress toward their targets, and help them tell their sustainability stories. ... View More

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US Retail Giants Convene to Reinvent the Plastic Retail Bag

Leading retailers CVS Health, Target and Walmart — joined by Kroger and Walgreens, and NGOs Conservation International and Ocean Conservancy — unite to tackle retail bag waste and invite others to join the effort. ... View More

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Recycled Plastic Certifications Are Stifling Innovation

Recycled plastic certification makes sense. Manufacturers need confidence that the raw materials they’re acquiring meet their requirements and are truly recycled. But more certifications likely means higher costs and thus less recycled plastic. ... View More

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Diageo Announces World’s First 100% Plastic-Free, Paper-Based Spirits Bottle

Looks like Johnnie Walker scotch could be first to market with a paper-based packaging solution, made from sustainably sourced wood pulp, early next year. ... View More

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Trending: Meet the Innovators Hell-Bent for Plant-Based Leather

While companies such as Amadou and MycoWorks are charging ahead with mushroom-based leather, here we see the material made from eggplant, cacti and apples — and taking a bite out of food waste at the same time. ... View More

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‘About the Box’ Thinking: A Brewer's Sustainability Story

Watch what happens when a sustainable hard kombucha brand teams up with WestRock for packaging that reflects its brand values. ... View More

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Regenerative Agriculture the Linchpin for a Sustainable Fashion Future

New report reveals how emulating nature’s lessons in the fashion industry can enhance ecosystems to boost biodiversity, build soil, support communities, and clean up existing pollution. ... View More

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Trending: Reports Examine Corporate Progress on Tackling Plastic Pollution

New reports from As You Sow and WWF dig into action taking place around corporate commitments to eliminate plastic waste in their operations and environment — along with ways to effectively trudge forward. ... View More

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Ambitious Vision for Manmade Cellulosic Fibers Promises Greater Resilience for Textile Industry

New report highlights the huge potential of manmade fibers such as viscose, modal and lyocell to create a more sustainable future, and outlines a sector-wide vision that could revolutionize multiple industries. ... View More

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Circularity, Human Rights, Regeneration Pillars of Natura &Co’s 2030 ‘Commitment to Life’ Strategy

“We are confident that we will be able to reach these targets by 2030, but we are ambitious to get there sooner; because that is what the planet needs and what our consumers are asking for.” — Christopher Davis, The Body Shop ... View More

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Stella McCartney, Telus Join Initiative to Tackle Paper Packaging Problem

Participation in Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative to keep the world’s ancient and endangered forests out of packaging supply chains doubles, with the addition of 11 new companies. ... View More

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Biomimetic Cooling, Housing Solutions Take Top Honors in Youth Design Challenge

The Biomimicry Institute’s third annual Youth Design Challenge engaged 6,000 students across the US; and yielded ingenious designs for solutions to problems in cities and nature alike. ... View More

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Report Outlines Critical Actions for Beauty Brands to Sustainably ‘Make Up the Future’

A new report published this week by sustainability consulting group Quantis maps the urgent actions that cosmetics and personal care brands must address to achieve sustainability in today’s fast-changing world. ... View More

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