Coca-Cola’s $11M Global Plastics Cleanup Program Is Lambasted By Greenpeace January 16, 2020: 12:00 AM EST The Coca-Cola Co., stung by criticism that it is a major global polluter, reportedly has pledged $11 million dollars over three years to help clean up nine rivers across Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. Each clean-up project will use data from the captured waste in the rivers to change human behavior and create a less polluted world. According to the company, programs in Panama, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Ecuador, Mexico, Thailand, Jamaica, and Kenya are being funded. Longtime environmental critic Greenpeace USA issued a statement saying the initiative was “foolish.”  "Coca-Cola … wants people to believe it can capture this waste before it enters our oceans. This is as foolish as it sounds.” The company has spent millions of dollars, Greenpeace said, promoting the “false notion” that recycling and cleanup of plastic pollution solves the problem. “That is a lie.” The organization said the solution to the problem is to phase out single-use plastics and move toward reuse systems.[Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company] "Choose France Summit: The Coca-Cola system announces a billion euros of investments over the next five years in support of sustainable development in France ", Coca-Cola , January 16, 2020, © The Coca-cola Company

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Danone Waters Brands Commit To Carbon Neutrality Targets December 11, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Danone announced that four of its water brands – Evian, Lanjarón, Volvic, and Font Vella – have committed to net zero carbon emissions on a staggered schedule over the next decade in a move to accelerate achievement of a corporate 2050 target. Subsidiary companies Aguas Danone Spain, Danone Waters Germany, and Danone Waters of America all pledged to meet the targets while attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid.[Image Credit: © Danone S.A.] "Danone Waters brands make pledge to advance its journey towards carbon neutrality", Danone , December 11, 2019, © Danone S.A.

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Coca-Cola Switches To Clear Bottles For Sprite in South East Asia December 3, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola has decided to convert all new Sprite bottles produced in the South East Asian region from green to clear. The decision conforms to the company’s objectives of increasing PET plastic use in a sustainable manner. Coca-Cola emphasized at a recent meeting of the U.N. environmental program SEA of Solutions (Bangkok, Thailand) that it is committed to recyclability and PET bottles as a “sustainable solution.” Colored PET bottles are more likely to contain pigments such as titanium dioxide that would contaminate the recycling process.[Image Credit: © WebWire/THE COCA-COLA COMPANY] Pearly Neo , "No green bottles for Sprite anymore: Coca-Cola seeks to increase PET recyclability in SEA", Food Navigator USA, December 03, 2019, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Dove To Be Sold In 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles By Year End November 26, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Dove said it will be the biggest brand in the world that has moved to 100% recycled packaging. Its actions include making its packing for single packs of its tablet soap plastic-free and moving to 100% recycled plastic bottles, where technically feasible, in North America and Europe by the end of 2019. All three of its ranges will be impacted: Dove, Dove Men+Care and Baby Dove. Unilever estimates the moves will reduce more than 20,500 tonnes of virgin plastic from its portfolio per year.[Image Credit: © Unilever] "Dove moves to 100% recycled plastic bottles", Unilever, November 26, 2019, © Unilever

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Coca-Cola Adopts New Multipack Packaging Technology In Europe November 20, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola and bottling partners Coca‑Cola HBC and Coca‑Cola European Partners announced they will begin to introduce a new multipack can packaging solution called KeelClip across Europe. The sustainability and merchandising benefits of KeelClip include complete coverage of can tops to keep them clean, finger holes to allow for easy carrying, and minimization of the amount of paper required. In response to the development, Coca-Cola HBC will invest $16.6 million into the packaging solution and will remove shrink wrap from all of its can multipacks in all European Union markets by the end of 2021, saving 2,000 tons of plastic and 3,000 tons of CO2 annually. Coca-Cola HBC plans to introduce KeelClip to its products early next year beginning in Ireland and Poland, then in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Romania in 2020. The new packaging will be used on all can multipacks of up to eight cans; larger can multipacks will be bound by a carton pack.[Image Credit: © Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company] "The Coca‑Cola System introduces innovative KeelClip™ packaging technology on multipack cans in Europe: a first for the NARTD industry", Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, November 20, 2019, © Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company

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Sweden Will Be First Coca-Cola Market To Adopt Fully Recycled Plastic Bottles November 19, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) announced that Sweden will be the first market where all Coke products will be packaged in fully recycled plastic bottles. The transition beginning in the first quarter of 2020, will cut the use of new plastic by 3,500 tons annually. Plastic packaging for 40 types of products, including Sprite and Bonaqua, will consist entirely of recycled material next year, except for caps and labels.  Coca-Cola was recently named the top global plastic polluter in a worldwide audit of 476,000 pieces of waste organized by Greenpeace. In Western Europe, however, Coke is two years ahead of schedule to reach a goal that at least 50 percent of its plastic packaging to consist of recycled material by 2025.[Image Credit: © Coca-Cola European Partners.] Jesper Starn, "Coca-Cola’s First Market to Adopt Fully Recycled Plastic Is Sweden", Bloomberg, November 19, 2019, © Bloomberg L.P.

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Chlorophyll Water Claims New Bottles Are Fully Biodegradable In Landfills November 1, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Chlorophyll Water, maker of a purified zero-calorie and sugar-free water enhanced with plant-pigment chlorophyll, says its new 20-ounce bottles are now landfill biodegradable, thanks to a bottle mold technology that integrates an organic additive that accelerates decomposition in landfills and anaerobic digesters. The idea of the new technology is to eliminate pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and recover clean renewable energy. The organic additive is designed to attract microbial activity within the landfill: as microorganisms consume the additive material, they excrete enzymes that break down the bottle. The process results in a bottle that is 100 percent recyclable, BPA-free, non-toxic and now, landfill biodegradable in about seven years. Chlorophyll Water still recommends that its bottles be recycled; each case purchased online comes with a recycling bag.[Image Credit: © Chlorophyll Water] Emma Upshall, "Chlorophyll Water releases landfill biodegradable bottle", FoodBev Media , November 01, 2019, © FoodBev Media Ltd

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Scientists Manage To Upcycle Polyethylene Into High-Quality Liquid Products October 25, 2019: 12:00 AM EST A group of scientists has upcycled polyethylene into high quality liquid plastics, raising the prospect of plastics that are more sustainable. The scientists from a number of US universities and institutions succeeded in catalytically transforming by hydrogenolysis energy-rich polyethylene macromolecules into value-added products that could be re-purposed for motor oils, lubricants, detergents and even cosmetics. The authors of the study point out that plastics have many advantages – being strong, inexpensive and sterile – that are hard to replicate. Currently 380 million tons of plastics are produced worldwide each year (about 7% of crude oil and natural gas produced) and the plastic market is projected to quadruple by 2050 to ~1100-1500 million tons per year. With over 75% of plastics discarded after a single-use, the potential for an upcycling process is enormous.  While this study was limited to laboratory conditions, it formed the basis of two patent applications (US Patent Applications 62/796,482 and 62/892,347).[Image Credit: © stux from Pixabay] "PAPER: Upcycling Single-Use Polyethylene into High-Quality Liquid Products", ACS Central Science, October 25, 2019, © American Chemical Society

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P&G In Europe Plans To Make 300 Million Bottles From Recycled Plastic October 24, 2019: 12:00 AM EST P&G announced that its Fairy, Flash and Viakal brands will increase recycled plastic use to 9,000 tonnes per year, starting in 2020. This move is part of the company’s commitment to reducing the amount of virgin plastic in all packaging by 50% by 2030. In a press release, P&G put more emphasis on product formula changes, pointing out that a life cycle assessment found that the biggest “footprint reduction opportunity” for its home care cleaning products came when consumers used its products, which involved high use of water, often heated. Consequently, it has created formulas that wash dishes and clothes at low temperatures. [Image Credit: © Procter & Gamble] "Procter & Gamble Household Cleaning Brands Such as Fairy, Flash and Viakal Announce Plans to Make 300 Million Bottles out of Recycled Plastic Every Year", Business Wire, October 24, 2019, © Business Wire, Inc.

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Bisleri’s Plastic Recycling Program Is Meant To Be Comprehensive October 24, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Indian beverage company Bisleri’s “Bottles for Change” initiative, launched a year ago to educate citizens about the importance of recycling plastics, emphasizes that the program encompasses lighter plastic materials as well, including milk pouches, multi-layer packets, wrappers, and plastic pouches. Consumers need to know that these household materials should be collected, cleaned and segregated at home, so they can be sent for recycling rather than thrown away. Participants in the initiative include housing societies, companies, schools and colleges, hotels, and restaurants. So-called “plastic agents” – kabadiwalas, NGO partners, recyclers – collect used plastic from participants daily or weekly. In the past year, Bisleri’s “Bottles for Change” has collected 4,800 tons of plastic and recycled 1,000 tons from 500,000 consumers, 600 housing societies, 300 companies, 200 schools, and 400 hotels and restaurants.[Image Credit: © Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.] Shardul Sharma, "Bisleri’s ‘Bottles for Change’ initiative creates awareness about proper plastic waste disposal", Packaging South ASia, October 24, 2019, © IPP Catalog Publications Pvt. Ltd.

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Coca-Cola Honored For Corporate Transparency October 22, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola was recently awarded the top honor for overall corporate transparency in the first edition of the U.S. Transparency Awards that recognize publicly traded companies for the effectiveness of corporate disclosures. such as annual proxy statements, form 10-Ks, and investor relations websites of companies on the S&P 250. "It’s a huge honor to be recognized for the transparency of our disclosure, said Tim Leveridge, investor relations officer at Coca-Cola. BlackRock Inc. came in second, while Southern Company was recognized for the best proxy statement award, AIG for best form 10-K, and Altria Group for the best investor relations website.[Image Credit: © Transparency Award] "Coca-Cola Wins U.S. Corporate Transparency Award", Coca-Cola , October 22, 2019, © THE COCA-COLA COMPANY

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The 2019 Recycling Tracker Is Wrap UK’s Largest Survey Yet October 18, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The latest annual Recycling Tracker from WRAP UK is the largest survey since it was started in 2004, with almost 5,500 online interviews. The 2019 results show higher recognition of the Recycle Now ‘Swoosh’ logo to 75%, from 45% last year. It also found that 32% are now recycling items they didn’t recycle in 2018, and 34% have increased recycling of items they did previously recycle. But, it also found that 51% throw items in the general rubbish that can be collected in their area for recycling. The survey found a positive association between the recognition of the Recycle Now brand and reported changes in recycling behavior. WRAP Director Peter Maddox said that the recycling message needs to be sustained, and that small actions by many people can make a difference. Craig Stephens, Recycle Now’s Campaign Manager, wants consumers to become more involved in recycling, and said that Recycle Week can help inspire people to take it into their own hands.[Image Credit: © WRAP] "With over 5,000 participants, WRAP publishes its biggest recycling tracker survey to date", Wrap.org.uk, October 18, 2019, © WRAP

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Italy Proposes Discounts On Food And Toiletries With Plastic-Free Packaging October 11, 2019: 12:00 AM EST As part of its efforts to become a sustainable leader, Italy is reviewing proposals that would offer discounts on food and toiletry products that do not have plastic packaging. Some commentators talk of a 20% discount on goods that are plastic-free, which would likely have a significant impact on consumer spending patterns and force suppliers to make changes. The proposals are part of a broader range of measures that include offering public transport season tickets to people who stop using their cars, mopeds or scooters, investment in electric and hybrid school buses and an urban reforestation plan.[Image Credit: © kytrangho from Pixabay] Jane Dalton, "Italy proposes price cuts on plastic-free food and toiletries", Independent.co.uk, October 11, 2019, © Independent Digital News and Media Ltd.

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Carlsberg Is Working On Prototypes Of Wood Fiber Bottles October 11, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Danish brewer Carlsberg says it is developing paper beer bottles made with sustainable wood fibers and a coated interior that prevents seepage. The company is testing two prototypes for its Green Fiber Bottle: one with a thin layer of a recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic in the interior, and the other using instead a polyethylene furanoate (PEF) polymer film that is 100-percent made from natural, biodegradable sources. Carlsberg hopes to create a bottle made from 100-percent organic materials without polymers as part of a plan to achieve zero carbon emissions at its breweries by 2030. Paper is preferable to aluminum or glass, the company says, because it’s sustainably sourced and has a “very low impact on production process.”[Image Credit: © PR Newswire Association LLC] "Carlsberg Moves a Step Closer to Creating the World's First 'Paper' Beer Bottle", PRNewswire, October 11, 2019, © PR Newswire Association LLC

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Carlsberg Shows Progress In Efforts To Create Paper Bottle For Beer, New Partners Join October 11, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Since 2015, Carlsberg has been working to create its Green Fibre Bottle, the world’s first "paper bottle" for beer. It recently revealed two research prototypes, both of which are made from sustainably sourced wood fibers, are fully recyclable and have a waterproof lining. It’s the linings that create recycling issues. One prototype uses a thin recycled PET polymer film barrier, and the other a 100% bio-based PEF polymer film barrier. Carlsberg did not indicate when the Green Fibre Bottle will be ready for use, but it did say this advance was an important step. It also announced a broader set of partners with The Coca-Cola Company, The Absolut Company and L’Oréal joining Carlsberg in a “paper bottle community” – Paboco – to work together in developing the paper bottle.[Image Credit: © Carlsberg Breweries A/S] "Carlsberg issues latest Green Fibre Bottle update", Carlsberg , October 11, 2019, © Carlsberg Breweries A/S

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University Of Surrey Report Questions Companies’ Commitment to Plastic Reduction October 9, 2019: 12:00 AM EST A new report from researchers at the University of Surrey, UK, looks at the commitments food and beverage companies have been making on reducing single-use plastic. It covers 12 companies that represent some of the most well-known brands in the UK, including manufacturers and supermarket chains. Each claims to be a pioneering force for plastic reduction, but the authors, from the University’s School of Law, say the impact of these efforts remains unclear. One of authors said that they deflect attention from their contribution to the problem by using “optimistic language” that obscures the fact that companies have only scratched the surface of the challenge, and that their initiatives have been motivated by new legislation. The report also argues that strategies to tackle the problem of plastic require “transparent and meaningful evidence-based measurement”, and that’s missing at the moment.[Image Credit: © pasja1000 from Pixabay] "Are global food packaging brands committed to ditching single-use plastic?", RECycling Of Used Plastics Ltd , October 09, 2019, © RECycling Of Used Plastics Ltd

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Biodegradable Monodose Capsules Could Make Beauty Products More Sustainable, Effective October 9, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Single-dose capsules are seeming to be a more sustainable way to deliver some beauty products and also a way to ensure they are more effective. Various beauty companies are launching monodose capsules and some commentators believe they could help the industry become more sustainable.  Single-use capsules have been around at least since Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Capsules some 30 years ago. Recent innovations center on biodegradable and even vegan casings. Elizabeth Arden has released various capsule-based products and this year launched Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum, the capsules for which are vegetable- and mineral-based and dissolve in water. One upside of capsules is that by preventing exposure to air, capsules can ensure each dose is more effective. [Image Credit: © Jukka Niittymaa from Pixabay] Megan McIntyre, "Beauty Product 'Capsules' May Be the Cutting Edge of Sustainable Skin-Care Innovation", Fashionista, October 09, 2019, © Breaking Media, Inc.

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Paperboard Alternative To Plastic Cosmetics Tubes Coming To Market October 8, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Stora Enso, a Finland-based company, has developed a packaging solution that could replace plastic tubes for cosmetics with a paperboard alternative. The material is a coated, grease-resistant paperboard that can reduce plastic use in tube bodies by 70%, and it’s working on a bio-composite replacement for plastic caps and tube shoulders. Henna Paakkonen-Alvim, vice president of innovation for the company’s Consumer Board division has called the technology a “super, super exciting new alternative” and the company is hoping to collaborate with cosmetics and personal care brands, as well as companies producing tubes for these categories. https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Article/2019/10/08/Paperboard-packaging-promising-sustainable-alternative-for-cosmetic-brands Separately, L'Oréal has developed a tube for cosmetics in which plastic is mostly replaced by “a bio-based and certified paper-like material”. The company and its partner, Albéa will assess the solution for environmental impact using Life Cycle Analysis. A launch is planned in the back half of next year. L'Oréal says the collaboration is part of its pledge to improve the environmental or social impact of its entire packaging portfolio by the end of 2020. [Image Credit: © L’Oréal] "Paperboard ‘super exciting’ alternative in plastic-dominated cosmetic space: Developer", L’Oréal , October 08, 2019, © L’Oréal

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Packaging Firms Struggle With Misconception About Recyclability Of Plant-Based Cartons October 4, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Packaging suppliers are aware that an increasing number of beverage brands acknowledge the environmental benefits of carton packaging and are switching from other packaging materials. Evergreen Packaging (Memphis, Tenn.), a supplier to New Barn Organics (Healdsburg, Calif.), announced earlier this year that New Barn is transitioning its almond milk line from plastic packaging to Evergreen’s PlantCarton paper packaging. According to New Barn, customers told the company that a transition to plant-based packaging versus petroleum-based packaging is right for the brand. Evergreen’s PlantCarton packages are made with at least 70 percent renewable material; paper made from trees where responsible forestry practices are used, the company says. PlantCarton packaging is also recyclable. But a big problem remains for carton packaging companies: the misconception among many consumers that cartons are not recyclable, despite the fact that carton recycling has grown 240 percent since 2009.[Image Credit: © janjf93 from Pixabay] Jessica Jacobsen, "Cartons hit on sustainability, convenience trends", Beverage Industry, October 04, 2019, © BNP Media

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Napolina In The UK Is Switching To Cardboard Packaging For Some Dried Pasta SKUs September 27, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Italian food band Napolina is to switching from plastic to 100% recyclable cardboard packaging for some items it sells in the UK, removing 17.5 million tonnes of plastic. It will start rolling out the new packaging on some dried pasta products from the end of October. The “fully coated folding boxboard” from Tambrite was developed in tandem with Ferrara, its pasta supplier, and adds 15% to costs. In 2018, Napolina introduced 51% rPET bottles for its olive oils. [Image Credit: © Napolina] Daniel Selwood, "Napolina to replace plastic pasta packs with cardboard alternative", The Grocer UK, September 27, 2019, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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PureCycle Technologies Is Recycling Polypropylene At Scale September 26, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Only 3% of polypropylene is recycled in the US, but that might soon change. It’s currently difficult to recycle, and its use as recycled content is limited, but John Layman, a Procter & gamble chemist, has been working on a way to purify it at a molecular level. The result, he claims, is clear and nontoxic pellets, with no odor, which can be turned into bottles that use a fraction of the energy needed for virgin polypropylene. P&G has licensed the technology via a startup called PureCycle Technologies, which ran the process at commercial scale in July this year. The company has signed deals with a number of manufacturers, including Nestlé and L’Oréal, as well as P&G, and has presold over 20 years of output from the capacity of its first plant. It aims to rollout the technology elsewhere in the US, and also Europe. The plant has been able to successfully recycle polypropylene used in almost every application, with the focus currently on recycling the polypropylene from old carpets.[Image Credit: © Monfocus from Pixabay] Emily Chasan, "There’s Finally a Way to Recycle the Plastic in Shampoo and Yogurt Packaging ", MSN, September 26, 2019, © Bloomberg L.P.

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The OPRL Recycling Label Scheme In The UK Adds P&G To Its List Of Partners September 25, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Procter & Gamble in the UK has joined the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) Scheme, during UK Recycle Week. The company said that the scheme provides consumers with “simple, consistent and recognizable recycling guidance”, and that it’s a “significant milestone” in its ‘Ambition 2030’ initiative aimed at reaching 100% of product packaging that is recyclable or reusable. P&G’s senior communications manager, Scott Popham, said that company research shows that on-pack guidance is the most important piece of recycling information for consumers, and they are looking for consistent advice. OPRL research found that 84% of consumers look at packaging for advice on recycling, but 54% throw at least one recyclable item in the trash every day. Launched in 2009, the OPRL scheme now covers over 600 brands across various sectors.[Image Credit: © Procter & Gamble] "Procter & Gamble joins OPRL Scheme", Letsrecycle.com, September 25, 2019, © Environment Media Group Ltd

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New Sustainability Report Outlines SC Johnson’s Progress On Plastic Waste Reduction September 25, 2019: 12:00 AM EST SC Johnson has provided an update on its plastic waste reduction efforts as part of its 2018/19 Sustainability Report, and has confirmed that it’s on track to meet its 2025 commitments on plastic waste. Today, 94% of its plastic packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable, up from 90% in the previous financial year, and the company continues to discuss with experts the issue of plastic in marine ecosystems. The company has also partnered with Plastic Bank to explore plastic waste solutions. SC Johnson uses 100% post-consumer recycled bottles in several product lines and this year introduced a 100% recycled ocean plastic bottle. It has also broadened its concentrated refill options on e-commerce sites in North America and the U.K., with a wider rollout planned. The company’s Chairman and CEO, Fisk Johnson, says the world is at a tipping point on plastics, with companies, governments and consumers making changes, but there are “no easy solutions”.[Image Credit: © S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.] "SC Johnson on Track to Meet Goals in Tackling Plastic Waste Crisis, Announces Results in New Sustainability Report", S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., September 25, 2019, © S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.

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PepsiCo Outlines Progress On Plastics In Its 2018 Sustainability Report September 24, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The 2018 Sustainability Report from PepsiCo highlights progress on its sustainability goals, including updates on plastic waste reduction. PepsiCo announced a new target for virgin plastic: “to reduce 35% of virgin plastic content across its beverage portfolio by 2025”. It also aims to use 25% recycled content in plastic packaging in the same timeframe, and 50% in plastic bottles within the European Union by 2030. From 2020, LIFEWTR® will be sold in 100% recycled plastic bottles in the U.S., and bubly™ will be sold in aluminum. PepsiCo also aims to avoid the use of 67 million single-use plastic bottles by 2025 through its "Beyond the Bottle" initiative, and especially the SodaStream® business.[Image Credit: © PepsiCo] "PepsiCo Releases 2018 Sustainability Report Highlighting Progress and A Renewed Focus To Help Build A More Sustainable Food System", PepsiCo , September 24, 2019, © PepsiCo

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CCEP Debuts Ad Campaign Promoting New Easily Recyclable Sprite Bottles September 24, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has launched an above-the-line (ATL) promotional campaign to support the debut of its new, easily-recyclable, clear Sprite bottles. The campaign coincides with Recycle Week (September 23-29, 2019) in the U.K. and is supported by ATL activity which will appear on more than 6,000 display panels across the country. The ads form part of CCEP’s ongoing efforts to remove virgin plastic from circulation as it aims to double the amount of recycled PET used in all its plastic bottles, across 20 brands.[Image Credit: © Coca-Cola European Partners] "Sprite to launch ‘Clear is the new Green’ campaign", Coca-Cola European Partners , September 24, 2019, © Coca-Cola European Partners

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Britvic Pledges To Improve Sustainability, Reduce GHG Emissions September 23, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – a partnership between nonprofit eco-charity CDP, the U.N. Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – encourages companies worldwide to set science-based targets to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enabling them to transition to a low-carbon economy. British soft drinks producer Britvic just signed a Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to minimize its environmental impact, including removing plastic from the supply chain through lightweight bottles; all of its plastic bottles, cans and glass are fully recyclable. The company aims to reduce GHG by 30 percent per kilo of milk over the next decade to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.[Image Credit: © Britvic PLC.] "Britvic commits to set science-based GHG emission reduction targets", Drinks Insight Network, September 23, 2019, © Verdict Media Limited

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Dow Partners With RB And Drukpol.Flexo To Create New Recyclable FINISH Dishwasher Detergent Packaging September 23, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Dow has teamed up with Reckitt Benckiser (RB) and Poland-based Drukpol.Flexo to develop a resealable pouch for RB’s FINISH perfume-free dishwasher detergent products. The new mono-material pouch has been “designed for recyclability and end-of-life disposal into existing recycling streams” and uses Dow’s polyethylene films. The packaging can be produced on existing equipment, enables consumer functionality like zippers to be added, and is supported by existing recycling systems. RB’s head of packaging innovation said that the company continues to look for solutions that help address plastic waste and believes packaging designed for recyclability is “the way forward”. The new packs have been trialed in Germany and received positive feedback, and Dow will be showing the packaging at K 2019, the plastics and rubber trade fair, in Dusseldorf, Germany, from October 16. [Image Credit: © Dow] "Dow, RB, and Drukpol.Flexo develop recyclable packaging for FINISH dishwasher detergents", Dow, September 23, 2019, © Dow

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CCEP Replaces Plastic Shrink Wrap Used In Multipacks With Cardboard September 19, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) announced it will replace the plastic shrink wrap used to keep cans together within multipacks with cardboard. According to the company, use of sustainably-sourced cardboard will remove approximately 4,000 tons of single-use plastic a year. The move to 100 percent recyclable cardboard will take place across its western European business, supporting the company’s Action on Packaging commitment to make all packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. In June, Coca-Cola announced that its Honest, Glaceau Smartwater, and Chaudfontaine brands in Western Europe will  be sold in bottles made from 100 percent recycled plastic (rPET), replacing 9,000 tons of virgin plastic per year across Western Europe. [Image Credit: © Coca-Cola European Partners] "Coca-Cola European Partners to remove 4,000 tonnes of single-use plastic by swapping shrink wrap for cardboard in Western Europe [1]", Coca-Cola European Partners , September 19, 2019, © Coca-Cola European Partners

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DJSI Ranks Coca-Cola HBC The Leader In European Beverage Sustainability September 14, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The 2019 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) has named bottler Coca-Cola HBC the most sustainable beverage company in Europe for the sixth time in seven years. The top ranking was given to the company for reducing carbon emissions by 25 percent since 2010 – two years ahead of its 2020 target date – lowering the amount of water used in production by 22 percent, and recovering the equivalent of 45 percent of primary packaging placed in the market for recycling. The company was given top scores in 11 categories and was also recognized for positive improvements in nine other categories. The overall score of 90 placed it second in the global ranking. Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) was also listed on the DJSI. [Image Credit: © Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company] "Coca‑Cola HBC again named Europe’s most sustainable beverage company ", Coca‑Cola HBC , September 14, 2019, © Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company

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Sustainable Skincare Brand Maiiro To Put Spotlight on Greenwashing Brands September 12, 2019: 12:00 AM EST UK-based sustainable skincare brand Maiiro has launched a new campaign that takes aim at what it sees as greenwashing by many of its competitors. Its aim is to put pressure on those brands to step up their plastic reduction programs, and to encourage consumers to be more aware of the impact of their purchases. The campaign, which Maiiro calls ‘Pack of Lies’, aims to be an information hub on the way in which brands are greenwashing. It will also give tips on how consumers can better recycle plastic. Maiiro has launched as petition too, to push for legislation to improve transparency in brands’ plastic reduction efforts. [Image Credit: © Maiiro] Olivia Atkins, "Maiiro launches new campaign to tackle beauty industry's plastic problem", The Drum Network, September 12, 2019, © Carnyx Group Ltd

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Earlybirds To Sell Its Snacking Drinks In 100% Plant-Based Packaging September 12, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Snacking drinks from UK-based Earlybirds will soon be sold in 100% plant-based packaging, including a lid made from sugarcane. The brand achieved distribution in some Sainsbury’s stores from August 2019. The drinks are high in fiber, contain no added sugar, and come in two variants: Berry Bircher and Mango & Oats. [Image Credit: © Earlybirds] "Earlybirds snacking drinks to launch plant-based packaging with sugarcane lid", Beverage Daily, September 12, 2019, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Drinks Companies In India Cooperate To Limit Scope Of Government Ban On Single-Use Plastic September 6, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The Indian government is looking at imposing a ban on single-use plastic from 2022, and drinks companies are seeking clarity on how this will impact their use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The country’s largest packaged water company, Bisleri International, uses only PET bottles. For Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, PET bottles comprise around half of annual sales of their fast-moving pack sizes. The industry claims that PET isn’t single-use plastic because it’s recyclable and it’s uniting to lobby government, arguing that a switch to glass or aluminum cans is not feasible on cost grounds. Elsewhere in India, companies in the travel and hospitality sectors have been reducing single-use. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates the country produces almost 26,000 tonnes of plastic annually.[Image Credit: © Willfried Wende from Pixabay] Ratna Bhushan, "Beverages fear pain as government steps up to push out single use plastic", The Economic Times, September 06, 2019, © Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.

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Improved Packaging Sustainability Is A Major Priority Of CCEP September 2, 2019: 12:00 AM EST According to Joe Franses, VP Sustainability for Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP), a major priority for the company is reducing the environmental impact of its packaging. It is working on a number of initiatives to improve the packaging sustainability, including removing unnecessary plastic and developing innovative ways to get its products to consumers. In a recent interview, Franses said the company wants to make sure all packaging is 100 percent recyclable, but the most challenging goal is to “collect a bottle or can for everyone that we sell.”  To achieve these goals Franses said the company is implementing a cross-system working model with Coca-Cola to ensure packaging sustainability. This includes: investing in new manufacturing lines at sites across Europe; increasing capacity for refillable glass bottles and resting new routes to market; and – to encourage use of refillable packaging – looking closely at the different collection and recycling schemes in place in Western Europe – including household collection schemes and deposit return schemes (DRS). [Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company] Liz Gyekye, "5 Minutes With… Joe Franses from Coca-Cola European Partners", Bio Market Insights, September 02, 2019, © Bio-Based World Ltd T/A Bio Market Insights

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Unilever Brand FAB Launches Its First 100% Recycled Plastic Bottle In Colombia August 30, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The company will permanently migrate all packaging for its FAB laundry brand’s liquid detergent portfolio in Colombia to 100% PCR plastic, reducing need for virgin plastic by over 78 tonnes per year. This move is one of the first high-density polyethylene (HDPE) 100% PCR bottles for brands that sit under its global Dirt is Good theme. Because the recycling industry in Colombia is weak, with limited infrastructure, Unilever worked with specialist recycling company Biocirculo, which centrally sorts waste plastic collected by over 80 recyclers in Bogotá, ensuring sufficient PCR plastic. FAB will also run ads on TV, online and in-store to raise consumer awareness about sorting waste, and especially plastic, at home.[Image Credit: © Unilever] "We’ve launched our first 100% recycled plastic bottle in Colombia", Unilever, August 30, 2019, © Unilever

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Consumers Are At The Heart Of Plastic Reduction Efforts, But Retailers Are Responding August 30, 2019: 12:00 AM EST According to Euromonitor, nearly two-thirds (63%) of containers for food, drinks, home, beauty and pet food are plastic, because of its durability, versatility and other characteristics. Recycling or reuse rates, however, are not high enough, partly because of consumer confusion over what can be recycled, perpetuated by a lack of standardization in packaging. Few countries have the recycling infrastructure and rates of Germany, which runs deposit schemes for plastic bottles, but the effort to increase rates is also hampered by consumers being used to disposing of items. Change is afoot. Consumers are more alive to plastic waste issues. Surveys suggest they are more willing today than two years ago to pay more for options that are better for the environment. Retailers like IKEA and UK-based Iceland are reacting to this change. IKEA is stopping the use of oil-based plastics, pledging to manufacture 100% of its products from recycled materials from August next year. It is also ending the use of single-use plastic products from stores and restaurants. Iceland has announced removal of plastic containers from private label products by 2023, using paper trays rather than plastic. [Image Credit: © mohamed Hassan from Pixabay] Alison Angus and Gina Westbrook , "Un mundo libre de plástico – A world free of plastic", Euromonitor International, August 30, 2019, © Euromonitor

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The Better McDonald’s Berlin Store Gives The Company Food For Thought August 28, 2019: 12:00 AM EST In June this year, McDonald’s opened a concept store for 10 days in Berlin aimed at exploring plastic-free options, eliciting customer feedback and starting debate. The Better McDonald’s Store offered paper straws and wooden cutlery, and edible waffle cups for condiments, wrapped sandwiches in grass-based packaging, and presented Chicken McNuggets in paper bags instead of cardboard boxes. The company said that the response was “very positive”, the grass wrapper was a “hit in terms of eco-friendliness and ease of use”, and the waffle cups were seen as a good way of replacing condiment sachets and containers. Customers were happy with the eco-friendliness of the paper straws, but less so about their ease of use and durability, and believed they wouldn’t miss lids on containers. The wooden cutlery experiment wasn’t a hit.  McDonald’s also said that it is working on other options in its normal restaurants. In Germany, in-house hot drinks are served in porcelain or glass mugs, and McCafé locations in Germany invite customers to bring their own cups in exchange for a 10 cent discount. Selected restaurants in Germany are running a 1 euro deposit system (ReCup) for reusable carry out cups. In the UK, McDonald’s will no longer sell McFlurry products with plastic lids and it is removing single-use plastic from salads, using 100% renewable and recyclable cardboard containers instead. In Canada, the restaurants are using smaller napkins, made from 100% recycled fiber, and switching McWrap® cartons to McWrap wraps. [Image Credit: © McDonald's Corporation] "What we learned from Berlin’s plastic-free McDonald’s experiment", McDonald’s, August 28, 2019, © McDonald's Corporation

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Coke and Pepsi To Leave Plastics Industry Association August 23, 2019: 12:00 AM EST PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have told Greenpeace USA of their decision to withdraw from the Plastics Industry Association. Greenpeace highlights the dichotomy of pledging to end plastic pollution at the same time as supporting bodies that lobby for continued reliance on single-use plastic. Greenpeace says that The Plastics Industry Association uses the American Progressive Bag Alliance (APBA) as a front to advocate against plastic bans in the US. Greenpeace says 15 states have to date passed “pro-pollution preemption laws”. [Image Credit: © Darko Djurin from Pixabay] Perry Wheeler, "Industry giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo ditching pro-plastics lobbying association", Greenpeace, August 23, 2019, © Greenpeace

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Coca-Cola Ireland Moves To 50 Percent Recycled Plastic Packaging August 20, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola Ireland announced that all of its 500 ml and smaller packs are now being made from 50 percent recycled plastic (rPET). “Take-home" packs, which include all bottles larger than 500ml, have moved to 25 percent rPET. The recycled material will be incorporated across Coca-Cola's full portfolio, which includes Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite. The company said the investment in recycled PET, combined with other sustainability measures across its packs, will take approximately 2,000 tons of virgin plastic from circulation in Ireland each year.[Image Credit: © THE COCA-COLA COMPANY] "Coca-Cola Ireland Moves To 50 percent Recycled Plastic In Its "On-The-Go" Packs", Hospitality Ireland, August 20, 2019, © Hospitality Ireland

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Suntory Pursues “Bottle-To-Bottle” Plastics Project August 19, 2019: 12:00 AM EST After China’s 2017 decision to stop importing other countries’ plastic waste, Japan needed to quickly find alternative destinations for its waste in regions like Southeast Asia. However, Malaysia and the Philippines have followed China’s lead and vowed to turn away shipments of plastic waste, unwilling to serve as dumping grounds for first-world garbage. Japanese leaders are considering a number of potential solutions to the growing problem, including boosting the capabilities of incinerators to burn plastic refuse as fuel for generating energy, and increasing the recycling of soft drink bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Suntory has become the first major Japanese beverage company to move toward closed-loop recycling when in May it announced an initiative to use PET drink bottles made completely from old containers. It is partnering on the project with Kyōei Industry, which has developed a method for creating high-quality PET resin from recycled plastic bottles. The bottle-to-bottle movement gained momentum after a 2009 study showed that manufacturing PET bottles from used plastic emits 63 percent less CO2 than using petroleum does.[Image Credit: © SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED] Miyake Reiko, "Refuse to Resource: Suntory’s Bottle-to-Bottle Initiative to Reshape Plastic Recycling", Nippon.com, August 19, 2019, © Nippon Communications Foundation

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Kimberly-Clark Outlines Its Efforts To Reduce Plastics Use August 17, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Kimberly-Clark’s global sustainability lead for products and packaging, Daniel Locke, discussed the company’s Sustainability 2022 strategy, launched in 2016. The goals included diverting 150,000 metric tonnes of waste materials from landfill by recycling or upcycling, without specifying composition of the waste. Locke said that the company used to focus on packaging efficiency and light-weighting but, although that remains a laudable aim, it is moving to making it more recyclable, degradable or reusable. The company has not yet issued a specific “multi-pronged plastics strategy”, but it has created a dedicated UK Plastics Pact team in the UK, tasked with finding non-recyclable packaging and developing formats that are lightweight and made from recyclable plastics or alternative materials. In the UK, it’s scaling its ‘RightCycle’ scheme, launched in the US in 2011, that enables business clients to recycle disposable hygiene products, such as gloves and shoe covers, into inflexible plastic items, like plant pots. The effort to improve recyclability is being matched by on-pack messaging to help consumers better recycle. But, Locke argues, recyclability isn’t enough, and a circular economy will also need other options, such as refills and reuse. It recently launched its first refillable product, for its Huggies wet wipes. [Image Credit: © Shirley Hirst from Pixabay] "Inside Kimberly-Clark's plastics packaging strategy", edie newsroom, August 17, 2019, © Faversham House Ltd

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Unilever Japan To Use Recycled Plastic For New Products August 16, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Unilever Japan announced that, for new products, instead of using virgin PET it will start using 95% recycled plastic packaging in the second half of 2019 and 100% recycled plastic by the end of 2020. It will start with new products from three brands Lux, Dove and Clear. The move is part of the company’s focus on LBN-P (Less / Better / No-Plastic) as a way “deplasticize,” and part of the company’s broader goal to make 100% of its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, and to ensure at least 25% of plastic used comes from recycled sources. Unilever said the effort excludes plastic that is currently technically difficult to convert due to additives such as colorants.[Image Credit: © Unilever] "Unilever Japan to shift all packaging to 100% recycled plastic by end 2020", Unilever , August 16, 2019, © Unilever

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DASANI Announces Series Of Plastic Reduction Initiatives August 13, 2019: 12:00 AM EST DASANI’s owner, The Coca-Cola Company, has pledged to make its bottles and cans with an average of 50% recycled material by 2030. In support of this goal, DASANI announced a “robust pipeline” of efforts to lower its plastic footprint. Its HybridBottle, which is made with a mix of up to 50% plant-based renewable and recycled PET, will be available nationally in 20-ounce bottles in mid-2020. It will rollout up to 100 additional DASANI PureFill water dispensers, starting in fall 2019. DASANI will also introduce new aluminum cans and new aluminum bottles. The cans will be introduced in the Northeast this fall with both available nationally in 2020. Other initiatives include adding “How2Recycle” labels to all DASANI packages and ongoing “light-weighting” across its product portfolio.[Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company] "DASANI® Takes Steps to Reduce Plastic Waste Through Increased Use of Recycled Materials, Expanded Package Innovation", Coca-Cola , August 13, 2019, © The Coca-Cola Company

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UK Government Backs c – Edible, Plastic-Free Drink Packaging August 13, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Oohos – containers for drinks up to 100ml – are made entirely from Notpla, a seaweed extract that fully biodegrades in four to six weeks. Ooho manufacturer, also called Notpla, received funding from the UK Government to bring the innovation closer to commercialization, with a broader aim of developing a vending machine for use in gyms or restaurants. It envisions the machine could dispense up to 3,000 Oohos a day, with consumers selecting the drink. Notpla is working closely with Lucozade Ribena Suntory. It sampled 36,000 Lucozade Sport Oohos at the 2019 Virgin Media London Marathon and LRS is working to include Lucozade Sports as an option for the Ooho drink dispenser.[Image Credit: © Notpla Limited] "Lucozade-Backed Edible Packaging Gets Government Funding ", Lucozade Ribena Suntory , August 13, 2019, © Lucozade Ribena Suntory

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Pressure To Cut Plastics Use Sways Coke Toward Aluminum Cans For Dasani August 13, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Under pressure to reduce plastic use in packaging, Coca-Cola Co. will start selling Dasani in aluminum cans in the U.S. Northeast next month, and in other parts of the country in 2020. PepsiCo Inc. said recently it would try selling its mainstream water brand Aquafina in cans at restaurants and stadiums. Aluminum cans generally contain more recycled material than plastic bottles and are less likely to float away in the ocean. Dasani and Aquafina are the top two bottled brands in the U.S., with combined sales north of $2 billion. Coke also plans to introduce a “hybrid” Dasani bottle, with half of the materials from a combination of plants and recycled plastic. [Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company] Craig Giammona, "Coke Putting Dasani Water in Cans Amid Backlash Against Plastic", Bloomberg, August 13, 2019, © Bloomberg LP

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RB Pushes Gray As Greener August 8, 2019: 12:00 AM EST This summer RB is launching a tub for its Finish Quantum Ultimate that is made from 30% recycled polypropylene (rPP) content. Unlike PET, which has a well-established recycling infrastructure and which can be recycled in light colors that are close to virgin PET, rPP is the ‘ugly duckling’ of plastic recycling. rPP comes from a wide range of polypropylene uses – bottle caps, ketchup bottles, yogurt pots… –  is difficult to process and comes out gray. Veolia worked with RB to develop rPP to several strict technical criteria. Instead of using masking pigments or additives, RB says it wishes to make a statement and is using this color as a point of difference and saying it is “proudly grey.” It claims to be the first FMCG company using rPP at scale. This move is part of RB’s commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable and for it to contain at least 25% recycled content by 2025.[Image Credit: © Reckitt Benckiser Group plc] "From black to grey – all part of our commitment to going green", Reckitt Benckiser, August 08, 2019, © Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

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Unilever’s Magnum Ice Cream Launches Some Plastic Jars Made With Recycled Plastic August 8, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Magnum said it would be the first ice cream brand to use recycled polypropylene plastic for its packaging. In a limited trial it will launch 600,000 new Magnum jars in Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, then release over 3 million in 2020 as it goes worldwide. Recycled polypropylene (rPP) has been used before for beauty and hygiene care applications but not for food packaging. To develop a solution, Unilever has worked with chemicals company SABIC since early 2018. Unilever did not indicate the percentage of plastic that is recycled, but acknowledged it uses a ‘mass balancing’ approach. It proclaimed the effort as part of its plan to ensure that by 2025 25% of plastic used in its packaging is recycled.[Image Credit: © Unilever] "Magnum launches the first recycled plastic jars", Unilever France, August 08, 2019, © Unilever

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Lidl Introduces Reusable Bags For Fruit And Vegetables August 8, 2019: 12:00 AM EST To help prevent use of flimsy disposable plastic bags used to hold fruit and vegetables, Lidl has introduced reusable bags that cost 69p (~$1) for two. It claims to be the first supermarket in the UK to introduce such bags. The effort is part of Lidl’s plan to reduce plastic packaging by 20% by 2022. The move follows similar action by other retailers such as Morrisons and Sainsbury’s that have removed plastic bags for loose fruit and vegetables, encouraging consumers to use their own bags.[Image Credit: © Lidl Great Britain Limited] "Lidl Becomes First Uk Supermarket To Introduce Reusable Fruit And Veg Bags Nationwide ", Lidl , August 08, 2019, © Lidl Great Britain Limited

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Proposed Legislation In California Addresses Public Concern But Meets Industry Resistance August 8, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Three proposed pieces of legislation in California seek to support the state’s struggling recycling industry and shift pressure to manufacturers that use plastic. Recyclers are battling with the consequences of China’s decision to restrict imports of unsorted paper and certain plastics, which has caused oversupply of recyclable material and lowered the price of recycled materials in the US. Also, low gas prices mean plastic is relatively cheap to produce and reduced California State subsidies mean recycling is becoming uneconomic. In one illustration of the difficulties the industry faces, rePlanet, a large collector of beverage bottles and cans, announced it would close its 284 collection centers in California, due to deteriorating economics. Two of the proposed bills would require manufacturers to reduce waste from packaging as well as certain plastic products, while the third would require manufacturers to progressively boost minimum recycled content in plastic beverage bottles over the next decade or face substantial penalties that rise with how much they miss the target.  Industry groups, including the American Beverage Association, the American Chemistry Council, and the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association, are working to oppose or change the legislation, raising concerns about the impact on consumers of plastic bans or excessively restrictive regulation.  Public opinion looks to be on the side of stricter rules. A survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found 72% of Californians see plastics and marine debris as a big problem on their nearest beaches.[Image Credit: © rePlanet, LLC] Rachel Becker, "Tired of plastic junk? California’s recycling bills propose dramatic new rules", CalMatters, August 08, 2019, © CalMatters

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Beth Newhart KDP Ups Its Recyclability Targets For Next Six Years August 6, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Keurig Dr. Pepper (KDP), in its first corporate responsibility report since the merger with Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper Snapple Group last year, says it wants to make all its K-Cup pods recyclable in the U.S. by 2020, converting to 100 percent recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025, and sending zero waste to landfills by 2025. The firm also wants to improve its water use efficiency by 20 percent by 2025 and obtain 100 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2025. In 2018, KDP succeeded in making its Canadian K-Cup pods 100 percent recyclable. “We’ve set ambitious goals to ensure we are making a positive impact every day,” said CEO Bob Gamgort.[Image Credit: © Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.] "One year into its merger, KDP sets fresh sustainability goals", Beverage Daily, August 06, 2019, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Survey Shows UK Consumers Have Poor Understanding Of Film Recycling August 5, 2019: 12:00 AM EST A survey of over 1,000 consumers in the UK by bpi protect, a manufacturer of plain and printed flexible packaging, found that just half were aware that plastic film could be recycled. Recycling plastic film is possible but somewhat problematic and needs special processing. Although 47% thought it could be recycled at their council recycling centre, only one in 10 local authorities actually recycle plastic film and only 18% recycle carrier bags. Yet 93% said they would like to be able to recycle plastic films more easily. The survey highlighted general confusion about which plastics can be recycled and how, and which can’t. It also surfaced the importance of packaging in consumer choice, with over half saying they’d prefer to purchase a product with recyclable or with recycled content over one that didn’t.[Image Credit: © RPC bpi group] "Research shows consumers’ understanding of plastic film recycling has a long way to go", RPC bpi protect, August 05, 2019, © RPC bpi group

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