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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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Scientists Looking to Agave, Other Succulents as Model for Engineering Drought-Resistant Plants
Scientists Looking to Agave, Other Succulents as Model for Engineering Drought-Resistant Plants
Published on July 14, 2015
About a 3 minute read

As a punishing drought continues to grip California and other areas around the globe, scientists are exploring hardy succulents as a pathway to genetically engineer plants to use less water.Agave and other succulents such as the prickly pear, pineapp... View More

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Materials & PackagingInnovation & Technology
2015 Green Chemistry Challenge Award Winners Tackle Climate Change, Water, Biobased Materials
2015 Green Chemistry Challenge Award Winners Tackle Climate Change, Water, Biobased Materials
Published on July 13, 2015
About a 3 minute read

For the 20th year in a row, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing landmark sustainable chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk and other environmental problems into... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Nestlé Waters’ resource® Now Comes in 100% Recycled Bottles
Nestlé Waters’ resource® Now Comes in 100% Recycled Bottles
Published on July 7, 2015
About a 2 minute read

Yesterday resource® Natural Spring Water announced the debut of a remodeled bottle made entirely of recycled plastic (rPET). Part of the Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) portfolio of bottled waters, the resource brand reflects Nestle’s explorat... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
With No-Label Can, Coca-Cola Asks Us to 'Remove Labels' This Ramadan
With No-Label Can, Coca-Cola Asks Us to 'Remove Labels' This Ramadan
Published on July 7, 2015
About a 2 minute read

Coca-Cola has launched a new campaign to discourage stereotyping and prejudice. In time for the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, the beverage giant will remove labels from its soda cans throughout the Middle East.The company explained its rationale behind ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
New Bioplastic Production Process May Increase Viability as Alternative to Oil-Based Counterparts
New Bioplastic Production Process May Increase Viability as Alternative to Oil-Based Counterparts
Published on July 6, 2015
About a 3 minute read

The bioplastic known as polylactic acid (PLA) is already a part of our everyday lives — comprising items such as biodegradable drinking cups and vegetable wrapping foil — yet, it is not considered a fully viable alternative to traditional petrole... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trucost, ASBC Report Outlines #BusinessCase for Safer Chemicals
Trucost, ASBC Report Outlines #BusinessCase for Safer Chemicals
Published on July 6, 2015
About a 4 minute read

Trucost recently released a report, commissioned by the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) and the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3), evaluating the market potential of safer chemicals — as well as the business and economic ris... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Report: Biobased Products Industry Adds $369B, 4 Million Jobs to US Economy
Report: Biobased Products Industry Adds $369B, 4 Million Jobs to US Economy
Published on June 23, 2015
About a 3 minute read

A new report suggests the U.S. biobased products industry has a notable impact on the nation’s economy. It is the first research effort to quantify the effect of this industry from an economics and jobs perspective, according to U.S. Agricultural S... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
BASF, Cargill Partnership Helping Filipino Farmers Achieve Sustainable Coconut Oil
BASF, Cargill Partnership Helping Filipino Farmers Achieve Sustainable Coconut Oil
Published on June 19, 2015
About a 4 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Stanford Scientists Create ‘Designer Carbon’ That Improves Battery Performance
Stanford Scientists Create ‘Designer Carbon’ That Improves Battery Performance
Published on June 16, 2015
About a 2 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
SC Johnson First CPG Brand to Disclose Product-Specific Fragrance Information to Consumers
SC Johnson First CPG Brand to Disclose Product-Specific Fragrance Information to Consumers
Published on June 10, 2015
About a 2 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Staples, Marriott Now Requiring Suppliers to Assess 'Chemical Footprints'
Staples, Marriott Now Requiring Suppliers to Assess 'Chemical Footprints'
Published on June 9, 2015
About a 2 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Building 'a Single Version of the Truth': How BASF, thinkstep Are Scaling Sustainable Portfolio Management, Part 1
Building 'a Single Version of the Truth': How BASF, thinkstep Are Scaling Sustainable Portfolio Management, Part 1
Published on June 5, 2015
About a 11 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
How UL Environment Is Helping Industry Develop Credible Claims Around Product Chemical Safety
How UL Environment Is Helping Industry Develop Credible Claims Around Product Chemical Safety
Published on June 3, 2015
About a 3 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Coke Unveils World's First Entirely Plant-Based PET Bottle
Coke Unveils World's First Entirely Plant-Based PET Bottle
Published on June 3, 2015
About a 2 minute read

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

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Materials & Packaging
How to Invest in Municipalities to Increase Recycling in the U.S.: The Case of the Closed Loop Fund
How to Invest in Municipalities to Increase Recycling in the U.S.: The Case of the Closed Loop Fund
Published on June 3, 2015
About a 6 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Sustainable Design, Consumer Behavior Change Key to Moving Away from Wood-Based Paper, Packaging
Sustainable Design, Consumer Behavior Change Key to Moving Away from Wood-Based Paper, Packaging
Published on June 2, 2015
About a 4 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
#SB15sd Workshop Demystifies Range of Tools for Evaluating Chemicals in Products
#SB15sd Workshop Demystifies Range of Tools for Evaluating Chemicals in Products
Published on June 2, 2015
About a 4 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trending: Gold-Plated Onions and 3D-Printed Skin — the Next Wave of Human Tissue Technology?
Trending: Gold-Plated Onions and 3D-Printed Skin — the Next Wave of Human Tissue Technology?
Published on May 22, 2015
About a 4 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
How Do We Create the Sustainable Leaders That We Need? Start by Inspiring Kids to Recycle
How Do We Create the Sustainable Leaders That We Need? Start by Inspiring Kids to Recycle
Published on May 21, 2015
About a 4 minute read

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

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Study: Tech Sector Leads the Way in Conflict Mineral Reporting; Packaging, Healthcare, Energy Sectors Lag
Study: Tech Sector Leads the Way in Conflict Mineral Reporting; Packaging, Healthcare, Energy Sectors Lag
Published on May 19, 2015
About a 3 minute read

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

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