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
BASF, Cargill Partnership Helping Filipino Farmers Achieve Sustainable Coconut Oil
For more than three years, BASF, Cargill and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH have worked together to promote sustainable coconut oil and improve the living conditions of coconut farmers in the Philippines. This wee... View More
Stanford Scientists Create ‘Designer Carbon’ That Improves Battery Performance
Stanford scientists have created a new carbon material that “significantly” boosts the performance of batteries and supercapacitors, according to a new study published in ACS Central Science.Zhenan Bao, senior author of the study and a professor ... View More
SC Johnson First CPG Brand to Disclose Product-Specific Fragrance Information to Consumers
In an effort to expand the transparency of its products, SC Johnson announced this week that it will disclose product-specific ingredients of its fragrances, beginning with Glade®. Other SC Johnson brands including Pledge®, Windex®, Shout® and Sc... View More
Staples, Marriott Now Requiring Suppliers to Assess 'Chemical Footprints'
Next Wednesday, June 17, U.S. businesses representing more than $50 billion in investment and purchasing power will require that their vendors, suppliers, and builders use a new assessment tool that measures usage of harmful chemicals in their produc... View More
Building 'a Single Version of the Truth': How BASF, thinkstep Are Scaling Sustainable Portfolio Management, Part 1
On Wednesday at SB ’15 San Diego, BASF and thinkstep announced their collaboration in marketing the Sustainable Solution Steering method developed by BASF for sustainable portfolio management. The two organizations have signed a licensing agreement... View More
How UL Environment Is Helping Industry Develop Credible Claims Around Product Chemical Safety
On Tuesday evening, I had a chance to speak with Dr. Angela Griffiths, Director of the UL Environment Advisory Services group in the Activation Hub at SB ’15 San Diego. She shared with me the newest research and recommended best practices for asses... View More
Coke Unveils World's First Entirely Plant-Based PET Bottle
The Coca-Cola Company today unveiled the world’s first PET plastic bottle made entirely from plant materials at the World Expo — Milan.PlantBottle packaging is Coca-Cola’s vision to develop a more responsible plant-based alternative to packagin... View More
How to Invest in Municipalities to Increase Recycling in the U.S.: The Case of the Closed Loop Fund
How do we make recycling work and be cost-effective? Bridget Croke, Director of Partnerships and Communications at the Closed Loop Fund (CLF), posed this question to a panel of three of CLF’s leading investors: Tim Carey, Senior Director of Sustain... View More
Sustainable Design, Consumer Behavior Change Key to Moving Away from Wood-Based Paper, Packaging
Jeff Mendelsohn, moderator and founder of New Leaf Paper, opened up Tuesday’s SB ‘15 San Diego panel about the use of non-wood fiber with two questions that — from a consumer’s perspective — are questions we all should embrace and act on, n... View More
#SB15sd Workshop Demystifies Range of Tools for Evaluating Chemicals in Products
Kicking off Sustainable Brands ‘15 San Diego this morning was an informative workshop on evaluating product chemicals and the most useful tools for doing so. Consumers have recently become hyper-aware of chemicals used in their products, but the wa... View More
Trending: Gold-Plated Onions and 3D-Printed Skin — the Next Wave of Human Tissue Technology?
Every day seems to bring new uses for 3D printing – earlier this week, NASA announced a competition to design 3D printing settlements for deep space. Now, L’Oréal has revealed plans to 3D print human skin. ... View More
How Do We Create the Sustainable Leaders That We Need? Start by Inspiring Kids to Recycle
Survey data indicates that, compared to older generations, younger generations are more supportive of environmental legislation and the notion that global climate change is the result of human activity, yet are simultaneously less likely to recycle o... View More
Study: Tech Sector Leads the Way in Conflict Mineral Reporting; Packaging, Healthcare, Energy Sectors Lag
Today, the Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN) released a study measuring large cap company performance on a major human rights risk and ascertained the industries both leading and lagging when it comes to conflict minerals reporting.To conduct the pi... View More
2015 Dupont Packaging Innovation Winners Feature Less Material, Increased Recyclability
The DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation are the industry's longest-running, global, independently judged recognition of innovation and collaboration throughout the packaging value chain. This year, a panel of experts evaluated almost 140 entries f... View More
MillerCoors' Trenton Brewery Upcycling Wastewater Into Fish, Animal Feed
MillerCoors’ Trenton Brewery in Ohio will now also produce fish and animal feed.Thanks to a partnership with biotech company Nutrinsic, wastewater from MillerCoors’ beer-making process will now enter Nutrinsic’s sustainable protein production f... View More
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Announces New Material Health Certificate Registry
This morning, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute launched the Material Health Certificate Registry, a new online tool for identifying and communicating the work of manufacturers toward chemically optimized products. Two pilot companie... View More
Mars Agrees with WHO, Promises to List Added Sugars in Nutritional Facts
On Friday, Mars announced it would support two important recommendations designed to help consumers limit their intake of added sugars and achieve healthier, more balanced diets.The candy giant is endorsing recommendations that people should limit th... View More
Shareholders, Interest Groups Launch Two-Pronged Assault on Kraft’s Non-Recyclable Capri Sun Pouches
At a shareholder meeting on Tuesday, a proposal to Kraft Foods Group asserting that non-recyclable packaging — particularly that of Capri Sun pouches — is wasting valuable resources received the support of 29.2 percent of shares voted, according ... View More
Method Opens First LEED-Platinum Certified Factory in Chicago
Method Products, maker of eco-friendly household, fabric and personal care products, has opened the doors of its 'South Side Soapbox' factory in the Pullman Park district of Chicago. Designed by architects and sustainable designers, William McDonough... View More
UCSD Undergrads Create First Algae-Based Sustainable Surfboard
San Diego is home to a robust surfing industry and now, thanks to a collaboration with UC San Diego’s biology and chemistry students, the city is also home to the world’s first algae-based surfboard. The prototype was publicly introduced last wee... View More
