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
2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back: LEGO Is Latest Company to Disclose Sustainability Setback
The world’s largest toymaker acknowledged the issues it encountered in pursuit of a more sustainable alternative to its oil-based plastic bricks, illustrating the still-circuitous path to sustainable solutions. ... View More
Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Accelerator Backing Seaweed to Replace Oil-Based Films
Convened by Lonely Whale, the program aims to accelerate scaling and market adoption of seaweed-based alternatives to thin-film plastics made from fossil fuels. ... View More
6 Principles Driving Circular Innovation at Eastman
Learn about how we're transforming recycling to create a circular economy in this six-part series. ... View More
These 3 Plant-Based Serviceware Brands Are Deliciously Diverting Plastic Waste
Loliware, Uuvipak and Twiice have created rapidly biodegradable (and even edible) bio-based products that completely upstage their petroleum-based, single-use plastic-polluting counterparts. ... View More
bluesign Continues to Clean Up Fashion with Expansion into Denim, Footwear
Partnerships with brands including Madewell and Vibram will help adapt bluesign’s existing standards and guidelines for two untapped industries. ... View More
Consumers Want More Sustainable Packaging But Struggle to Identify It
Retailers continue to refine what packaging they find acceptable to answer consumer demand for more sustainable solutions — and consumer goods companies must keep innovating to keep pace. ... View More
New Insulating Paints Reduce Energy, Costs, Emissions, Discomfort in Extreme Temperatures
The paints, developed by Stanford researchers, can reduce the need for both heating and air conditioning in buildings, as well as refrigerated cargo spaces such as trains and trucks. ... View More
Royal Society of Chemistry Task Force Aims to Make Liquid Polymers ‘Benign by Design’
The Sustainable Polymers in Liquid Formulation (PLFs) Task Force will collaborate to innovate throughout the value chain and across sectors including cosmetics, water treatments, lubricants and agricultural products. ... View More
Beyond Bioplastics: Agricultural Waste Streams Becoming Next-Gen Packaging Materials
By upcycling agricultural waste, these three startups are replacing plastic with a new wave of packaging materials that ‘make no compromises along the supply chain.’ ... View More
On the Importance of Made-to-Scale, Sustainable Chemicals for Products
Consumers deserve access to functional, sustainable and affordable products without having to sacrifice quality or their health. Scalable, bio-based chemicals hold tremendous promise in accomplishing these goals. ... View More
Textile Additive Expedites Breakdown of Stubborn, Synthetic Fibers
Despite its potential to address microplastic pollution on a number of fronts, the makers of CiCLO stress they don’t want to enable more unnecessary plastic consumption justified by ‘biodegradability.’ ... View More
Change the Product, Not Just the Packaging: A Crucial Step Towards a Sustainable Food Future
A growing industry solution to plastic packaging pollution is to create food products that are more stable and compatible with more minimal and sustainable packaging materials. ... View More
Industry of All Nations’ Undyed Cotton Initiative Shows Proof of Concept for a More Natural End Product
The popularity of the company’s undyed apparel collection proves the business case and consumer demand for more consciously produced, less toxic clothing. ... View More
Could This Circular Textile Put Conventional Leather Out to Pasture?
Modern Meadow’s Bio-VERA™ is a high-performance, upcycled alternative to traditional bovine leather with significantly lower environmental and supply chain impacts. ... View More
What Plastic Pollution? These Companies Are Making Packaging Disappear
As innovators such as Notpla and B’ZEOS continue to prove, the potential uses for seaweed — including as plastic alternatives that are truly compostable and biodegradable — are endless. ... View More
Global Fashion Houses, NGOs Call on Industry to Commit to Deforestation-Free Leather
The Deforestation-Free Call to Action for Leather calls on brands and retailers to ensure sourcing of bovine leather from deforestation-free supply chains by 2030 or earlier. ... View More
These Fermented Oils Could Be a Game-Changer for Human, Planetary Health
Along with being sub-optimal for human health, many conventional cooking oils contribute to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and soil and water pollution. Fermented oils could save both the environment and our diets. ... View More
Closed-Loop, Reusable Distribution System Saves Spirits Producers Costs, Emissions, Materials
EcoSPIRITS’ EcoTOTE system replaces traditional, 1.75-liter liquor bottles with reusable glass containers that reduce emissions by 60-90% while maintaining product quality. ... View More
Next-Generation Beauty: How Nature-Inspired Biotech Is Evolving Ethical Skincare
Modern Meadow’s Bio-Coll@gen offers a solution to a long-standing cosmetic and skincare challenge: finding a safe, sustainable and scalable replacement for animal-derived collagen. ... View More
Cornell Researchers Upcycling Polyester Textile Waste into Functional Coatings
A new method chemically breaks down old fabric and reuses polyester compounds to create fire-resistant, anti-bacterial or wrinkle-free coatings that can then be applied to new clothes and fabrics. ... View More
