Waste Not
The latest in the growing number of efforts directed at reducing, repurposing and ultimately eliminating waste in all its forms.
Composting Consortium Aims to Advance Recovery of Compostable Packaging, Food Scraps
Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. The new Consortium — which includes Closed Loop Partners, PepsiCo, the NextGen Consortium, the US Plastics Pact and other value chain players — aims to pilot industry-wide solutions and map tech and infrastructure investment to advance the circularity of compostable packaging in the US.
Conquering E-Waste Will Take More Than Certifications
Companies that are truly invested in building proper circular processes shouldn’t just rely on recyclers’ certifications. There are steps companies can take to strengthen their processes, instead of assuming that recycling is being handled in the right way.
Dramatically Decarbonizing Our World: A Blueprint for Global Circularity
Cross-Posted from From Purpose to Action: Building a Sustainable Future Together. With specific investments, partnerships and innovations all directed at the various steps of the plastics system, Dow’s approach provides a blueprint for how industry can build a foundation for a circular economy and the reduction of emissions.
How Companies Are Joining Forces, Closing Loops, Optimizing Outputs in Complex Supply Chains
Cross-Posted from Supply Chain. At SB’21 San Diego, innovators in the agriculture, electronics, food and plastics industries shared lessons learned from a variety of initiatives aimed at closing loops and optimizing value chains for a circular, regenerative future.
Starbucks, McDonald’s Direct $10M More to Accelerate Circularity of Foodservice Packaging
Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. The NextGen Consortium and its partner brands are expanding their work to advance reusable packaging systems, strengthen recycling and composting infrastructure, and scale foodservice packaging innovation.
Clearing the Way for Action: The Need for Coordination, Consistency to Close the Loop on Plastics
Cross-Posted from From Purpose to Action: Building a Sustainable Future Together. Dow aims to not only provide more sustainable products, but to share our expertise to support people and our planet’s wellbeing. For that expertise to reach its highest potential, it must be backed by international cooperation at every level.
OPLN: Experiential Learning for the Win (or, How to Really Turn the Tide on Global Plastic Pollution)
Cross-Posted from Collaboration. 2019’s Ocean Plastics Leadership Summit transformed not only its host organization and its 165 participants — it catalyzed action around plastic waste at an unprecedented scale. We caught up with Ocean Plastic Leadership Network founder Dave Ford to learn more.
Large-Scale Study from H&M, IKEA Shows Safer Path Forward for Recycled Textiles
Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. On completion of a two-year, collaborative industry study, the two companies will share the findings to understand potentials and challenges with recycled textiles from a chemical-contamination perspective and to impact circular economy legislation.
Fairphone Forges Ahead with Longer-Lasting, E-waste-Neutral Smartphone
Cross-Posted from Product, Service & Design Innovation. Still striving to greatly improve the sustainability of the industry, Fairphone’s new model embodies the company’s commitment to better materials, better mining practices and a longer product lifecycle.
In the Loop: Sustainable Development Models, Extending Product Lifecycles Furthering a Circular Future
Cross-Posted from From Purpose to Action: Building a Sustainable Future Together. Through Dow’s ‘Looped In’ series, sustainability experts across the company connect with industry leaders to discuss initiatives and partnerships that work toward building a more circular economy and explore what we can learn from the results.
ReGrained Shares Key Ingredients for a Deliciously Sustainable Food Future
We spoke with ReGrained co-founder Dan Kurzrock to learn more about the upcycling process, the role such technology can play in helping to fix the food system, and why brand collaboration is so important when it comes to scale.
Circularity Doesn't Need to Be Overwhelming: 3 Ways Retailers Can Close Loops in eCommerce
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. For retailers, the logistical challenges of returns are overwhelming. Without circularity in operations, returned items often end up in landfills. But retailers can take small, immediate steps to set themselves up for becoming more circular — and more successful.
Loop Expands Into Brick-and-Mortar Stores Worldwide
Cross-Posted from Product, Service & Design Innovation. The reusable packaging platform’s transition from ecommerce to in-store marks the conclusion of its hugely successful pilot and the beginning of Loop’s next phase of growth, which will see it available in-store across five countries and on four continents.
New Report Sees Home Furnishings Recommerce Eclipsing Traditional Retail
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. As circular business models continue to increase in popularity, Chairish’s report finds the resale furniture industry projected to grow by 54% over the next five years; two-thirds of consumers surveyed think resale will play a significant role in the future of sustainability.
Tackling the Unseen Climate Costs of a Plastic Planet
Whether it’s using the carrot of incentives or the stick of regulations, change is possible — and strongly desired. So, what can brands do? Be proactive and make the extra effort to find and choose recycled plastic whenever possible.
SC Johnson, Liverpool FC Team Up to Repurpose Fan Plastic Waste
In its latest partnership with a professional sports team, SCJ will collect empty plastic bottles from each game for recycling into new Mr Muscle® bottles; as well as promote sustainability, health and hygiene.
30-Year-Old Entrepreneur Putting Africa Front and Center in Global Circular Economy
Ray Onovwigun and his startup, Romco Metals, have seized the opportunity to build the capacity and infrastructure Africa needs to become a global player in the recovery and recycling of valuable metals.
How the Tourism Industry Can Help Fight the Plastic Pandemic
When COVID hit in 2020, tourism frantically tried to carry on, with hygiene at the crux — often by wrapping everything in plastic. As travel struggles to regain its footing, responsibility and sustainability must once again be given priority to futureproof the industry.
First-of-Its-Kind Methodology Provides Standard for Measuring Food Waste Across Hotel Chains
Cross-Posted from New Metrics. Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott International collaborated with WWF and Greenview on the industry-wide waste-measurement methodology.
Partnering Across the Value Chain in India: New Opportunities to Close the Loop
Cross-Posted from From Purpose to Action: Building a Sustainable Future Together. Although progress is being made to advance a circular economy, converting difficult-to-recycle flexible plastics and films, such as plastic bags, into new products has largely been untouched by recycling innovators. Dow, Circulate Capital and Lucro Plast-e-cycle are partnering to change that.
