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
Materials & PackagingCircular Economy
From Seed to Recycling Center: How Companies Can Enable a Circular Economy at Every Step
From Seed to Recycling Center: How Companies Can Enable a Circular Economy at Every Step
Published on April 7, 2022
About a 5 minute read

While not every company is equipped or positioned to follow its products through their entire lifecycle, there are a few ways companies can think about participating at individual or multiple points in the circular cycle. ... View More

Article
Materials & Packaging
Bumble Bee Slips Off Plastic Film, Takes One Step Closer to Circularity
Bumble Bee Slips Off Plastic Film, Takes One Step Closer to Circularity
Published on April 6, 2022
About a 5 minute read

Since January, Bumble Bee has switched to using cardboard, instead of plastic film, to wrap all of its products. It’s just one machine, and one company; but the impact is significant — the elimination of an estimated 23M pieces of plastic waste p... View More

Article
Materials & PackagingCollaboration & Co-Creation
Green Science Policy Institute: Engaging Across Sectors to Drive Meaningful Change
Green Science Policy Institute: Engaging Across Sectors to Drive Meaningful Change
Published on March 4, 2022
About a 5 minute read

The Institute’s work includes education and cross-sector partnerships to reduce harmful chemicals in products. We spoke with Senior Scientist Tom Bruton, PhD to learn more about the organization’s history, cross-sector collaborative efforts and f... View More

Article
Supply ChainCircular EconomyMaterials & Packaging
From Shores to Shelves: Codifying Ocean Plastic Supply Chains
From Shores to Shelves: Codifying Ocean Plastic Supply Chains
Published on February 24, 2022
About a 5 minute read

Brands committed to increasing sustainability by putting ocean plastic to good use deserve the infrastructure and data they need to verify their products and meet the standards that consumers demand. ... View More

Article
Circular EconomyInnovation & TechnologyMaterials & Packaging
After Going Public, On Rightly Has Its Head in the Cloud
After Going Public, On Rightly Has Its Head in the Cloud
Published on February 23, 2022
About a 4 minute read

The Swiss company now has the funds to take its sustainability ethos to the next level — with the launch of a potentially game-changing, truly circular shoe and long-awaited subscription service. ... View More

Article
Materials & PackagingInnovation & Technology
Making a Hot Cup Recyclable: The Innovation Behind the Scenes at WestRock
Making a Hot Cup Recyclable: The Innovation Behind the Scenes at WestRock
Published on February 17, 2022
About a 5 minute read

In 2019, WestRock’s answer to a recyclable hot cup was named a winner of the NextGen Cup challenge. Here, we go behind the scenes of developing this innovative barrier technology and hear what’s next for the holy grail of the easily recycled hot ... View More

Article
Marketing & CommunicationsCircular EconomyMaterials & Packaging
‘Toxic Tours’ Shed Light on Communities Most Affected by Petrochemical Pollution
‘Toxic Tours’ Shed Light on Communities Most Affected by Petrochemical Pollution
Published on February 7, 2022
About a 6 minute read

New platform from Break Free from Plastic explores the hardest-hit frontline communities in the world, from India to Ohio. After hearing each story, viewers can choose to view another location, or take actions designed to make local and global impact... View More

Article
Materials & Packaging
After Disaster in Texas, Community and Industry Come Together to Transform Water Infrastructure
After Disaster in Texas, Community and Industry Come Together to Transform Water Infrastructure
Published on February 3, 2022
About a 5 minute read

Disasters such as the aftermath of the February 2021 ice storm that left millions of Texans without running water lay bare the urgent need for updated utility infrastructure across the US. This would involve repairing and replacing hundreds of thousa... View More

Article
Materials & PackagingCircular EconomyCollaboration & Co-Creation
Driscoll’s Working to Scale Circular Plastics Economy, from Field to Clamshell
Driscoll’s Working to Scale Circular Plastics Economy, from Field to Clamshell
Published on January 27, 2022
About a 6 minute read

Driscoll’s leads the produce industry in increasing the circularity of packaging and landfill diversion of agricultural plastics. It’s the first berry company to make public commitments and inject serious funding into innovation — with a goal t... View More

Article
Materials & PackagingCircular Economy
US Plastics Pact Unveils List of 11 ‘Problematic and Unnecessary’ Materials to Be Eliminated by 2025
US Plastics Pact Unveils List of 11 ‘Problematic and Unnecessary’ Materials to Be Eliminated by 2025
Published on January 25, 2022
About a 6 minute read

The US Pact’s brands, retailers and materials manufacturers are seek to develop immediate solutions to the 11 ubiquitous and unrecyclable materials — but the plastics industry is up in arms. ... View More

Article
Materials & Packaging
How to Fuel a Sustainable Future for Packaging
How to Fuel a Sustainable Future for Packaging
Published on January 17, 2022
About a 5 minute read

Solving the ongoing packaging conundrum demands a significant shift in how businesses think — moving from a linear to a circular model of operation to improve the amount of packaging that can be reused, recycled and returned to the value chain. ... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyMaterials & Packaging
Enterprise-Wide Engagement Unearths Sweeping Solutions for Reining in SO2 Emissions
Enterprise-Wide Engagement Unearths Sweeping Solutions for Reining in SO2 Emissions
Published on January 14, 2022
About a 2 minute read

The team at Vestolit — part of polymers, materials and infrastructure leader Orbia — worked closely with the corporate sustainability team to find modifications to plant operations that promise significant reductions in the entire enterprise’s ... View More

Article
Materials & PackagingCircular Economy
Lidl, Swiss Scientists Developing Circular Food-Preservation Solution
Lidl, Swiss Scientists Developing Circular Food-Preservation Solution
Published on January 13, 2022
About a 3 minute read

New cellulosic bio-coating for fresh produce greatly reduces both packaging and food waste by coating the produce with, well, produce. ... View More

Article
Materials & PackagingCircular Economy
PCR & Ocean-Bound Plastic Both Have a Place in Sustainable Beauty
PCR & Ocean-Bound Plastic Both Have a Place in Sustainable Beauty
Published on January 5, 2022
About a 7 minute read

Big Plastic (and Big Oil) have a five-decade lead and massive economies of scale that will take a little longer to match in terms of costs and simplicity. But working with the right partners and openness to shaking up the status quo is paying off for... View More

Article
Finance & InvestmentMaterials & Packaging
Improving the Sustainability of Wet Processing: An Investment Pot of Gold
Improving the Sustainability of Wet Processing: An Investment Pot of Gold
Published on January 4, 2022
About a 5 minute read

In the textile industry, one area ripe for investment is making wet processing more sustainable. As with most pots of gold, it’s not without its challenges — but data indicate that the returns are well worth the effort. Investors keen to seize th... View More

Article
Organizational GovernanceCircular EconomyMaterials & Packaging
Water Wins: When Sustainability Becomes Part of the Company Culture
Water Wins: When Sustainability Becomes Part of the Company Culture
Published on January 3, 2022
About a 2 minute read

“Sustainability is best played together. It's validating to see what we started and see it grow first across the other teams in our plant, and eventually across Lubrizol.” — Kalli Stull ... View More

Article
Materials & PackagingOrganizational Governance
Widespread Engagement at Heart of Dow’s Mission to Transform Into a 125-Year-Old Sustainability Leader
Widespread Engagement at Heart of Dow’s Mission to Transform Into a 125-Year-Old Sustainability Leader
Published on December 15, 2021
About a 8 minute read

Today, Dow considers its sustainability strategy and business strategy to be one and the same; employees understand that the two can no longer be separate. But, as Global Sustainability Director Haley Lowry explains, this didn’t happen overnight. ... View More

Article
Circular EconomyMaterials & Packaging
Full-Circle: AZEK Disrupts PVC Recycling by Revolutionizing Takeback
Full-Circle: AZEK Disrupts PVC Recycling by Revolutionizing Takeback
Published on December 3, 2021
About a 3 minute read

AZEK’s FULL-CIRCLE PVC Recycling program helped it collect approximately 400M pounds of recycled product for reuse in 2020 — with the hope that this entire value-chain approach can disrupt the plastic waste paradigm meaningfully, as AZEK continue... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyCircular EconomyMaterials & Packaging
This Industry-First Online Marketplace Is Helping Companies ‘SourceGreenPackaging’
This Industry-First Online Marketplace Is Helping Companies ‘SourceGreenPackaging’
Published on November 24, 2021
About a 3 minute read

The newly launched B2B marketplace helps connect companies with vetted, sustainable, plastic-free packaging options, as well as education on materials and the evolving regulatory landscape. ... View More

Article
Circular EconomyMaterials & Packaging
Meeting Your Corporate Circularity Commitments: Welcome to the Age of Advanced Recycling
Meeting Your Corporate Circularity Commitments: Welcome to the Age of Advanced Recycling
Published on November 17, 2021
About a 5 minute read

We believe that the solution to stopping plastic waste is understanding that the material is too valuable to be lost in landfills. We can change what is traditionally considered waste and transform it into a valuable, sustainable resource through adv... View More

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