Seeing Plastic As An Asset, Managed By Blockchain, Could Help Solve The Plastic Problem July 24, 2019: 12:00 AM EST In a blog post from INSEAD, the authors argue that it’s still early days in the use of blockchain in the war against plastic waste and the environmental and financial costs that entails. Raising public awareness has been a start, but the solution will require a shift in consumer behavior as well as significant resources and collaboration to speed joined up innovation from a range of stakeholders. It will also require a change in perception, seeing plastic packaging as an asset rather than trash, and a market framework to manage the assets. This, the authors argue, could be based on “crypto-credits or blockchain tokens”. The technology is being developed. Plastic Bank, a Canadian company, has established schemes in a number of developing and emerging countries that enable people to drop plastic waste at a collection center in exchange for credits on a blockchain-based app. Dutch start-up Circularise has developed a blockchain platform to accurately price recycled material and identify how many time it has been recycled. Enabling technologies like RFID and NTFS will be important to help trace materials through their journeys, and blockchain can provide a way to create a “material passport” that tracks the journey and stores information about the material. The limiting factor at the moment is the current “near-zero value” of plastic packaging, which could be addressed, for example, by adopting something like the deposit-return scheme model, adding a small surcharge to the price of a product, to be redeemed when the packaging is returned[Image Credit: © pasja1000 from Pixabay] Michael Peshkam, INSEAD Executive in Residence, and David Dubois, INSEAD Associate Professor of Marketing , "How Blockchain Can Win the War Against Plastic Waste", INSEAD Knowledge, July 24, 2019, © INSEAD Knowledge

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UK Supermarket Chain Asda Stops Plastic Bags For Online Orders July 22, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The Asda supermarket chain in the UK will no longer use single-use plastic bags for online orders, eliminating some 85 million each year. The scheme has been trialed in the South-West of England and at its Dartford Home Shopping Centre, and will now be rolled out nationally from the end of July. The delivery drivers will instead offer to unload the shopping for home delivery customers and put it in a convenient place. Fresh meat and fish will still require small plastic bags. The chain stopped offering single-use bags in-store last year.[Image Credit: © ASDA] "Asda to stop offering plastic carrier bags with online grocery shopping, in latest plastic-saving initiative", ASDA, July 22, 2019, © ASDA

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UK Government Teams Up With Businesses To Seek Alternative Plastic Options July 22, 2019: 12:00 AM EST As part of the UK's Clean Growth Challenge, a joint initiative between the UK government and private business aims to invest some GBP200 million in research into alternative packaging options to help cut single-use plastic packaging. The government’s contribution is GBP60 million. The expectation is that plant-based options will replace oil-based plastics. Companies signed up to the effort include Unilever and Sainsbury’s. [Image Credit: © vedat zorluer from Pixabay] Simon Harvey, "UK sets out investment project to cut single-use plastics in packaging", just-foods.com, July 22, 2019, © just-foods.com

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Ireland Aims To Be The First EU Member To Ban Microbeads In Cleaners July 21, 2019: 12:00 AM EST New legislation introduced in Ireland’s lower house, the Dáil, means the country will, if the bill is passed, be the first in the EU to ban the use of plastic microbeads in household and industrial cleaners. The Microbeads Prohibition Bill would make it an offence to produce or sell such products, mostly used in soaps, shower gels and facial scrubs. They can also be found in some toothpaste and abrasive cleaners. It will include products that are rinsed or washed off down a drain but excludes “leave-on” or “wear-off” products. The bill will pass to committee stage to discuss amendments.[Image Credit: © ID 955169 from Pixabay.com] Marie O'Halloran, "Ireland to be first EU country to ban plastic microbeads in cleaners, Dáil told", THE IRISH TIMES, July 21, 2019, © THE IRISH TIMES

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Reuse Models Through The New Plastics Economy Lens July 13, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative published research it has conducted on how to convert some 20% of global plastic packaging into reuse models, and how this could represent a US$10 billion opportunity for business. The study looked at over 100 initiatives and interviewed more than 50 experts. The report identified six key benefits in reuse models: lower packaging and transportation from using refills in a compact form (e.g. concentrates and solids); more consumer control over the product; brand loyalty and customer retention through deposit and reward schemes; improved user experience; optimized operations, such as economies for scale in standardizing reusable packaging; and opportunities to gather information on consumer preferences by incorporating digital technologies (RFID tags, GPS, and sensors) in reusable packaging. The study also looked at four main reuse models (refill at home; refill on the go; return from home; and return on the go), and presented 69 examples, across a range of categories.[Image Credit: © ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION] "New Plastics Economy: Reuse book launched", Ellen MacArthur Foundation , July 13, 2019, © Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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Merlin And Coca-Cola Team Up To Offer Discounts On Attractions For Visitors Recycling Bottles July 11, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Merlin Entertainments is offering a 50% discount at attractions in exchange for empty plastic bottles at dedicated reversed vending machines, in a campaign run in conjunction with Coca-Cola in the UK, extending a similar campaign run last year. The attractions include Alton Towers Resort, the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures, with new attractions added like SEA LIFE in Blackpool and London, and Warwick Castle Resort. Visitors to Thorpe Park will also be able to use Coca-Cola’s Freestyle machine, where people can pre-load money to a chip in a refillable cup. [Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company] "Coca-Cola partners with Merlin Theme Parks to offer 50 percent off in exchange for empty plastic bottles", The Coca-Cola Company, July 11, 2019, © The Coca-Cola Company

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New Bill Sets Out French Government Vision For A Circular Economy, But Not Everyone Is Convinced July 11, 2019: 12:00 AM EST A new bill is to be introduced to the French parliament in September that sets out the country’s vision for a circular economy and an environmentally-sustainable society, by adopting a "repair, re-use, recycle" approach. As well as trying to eliminate built-in obsolescence in electrical and electronic goods, it would also bring in more Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. A key proposal is the “consigne” scheme: a deposit of 10-15 centimes added when buying single-use drinks containers. It appears to cover only plastic and aluminium. When the scheme ran in the 1970s, it also applied to glass bottles. The bill also addresses the need to improve plastic recycling rates, in a country in which only 26.5% of household plastic is recycled. The government wants this to be 100% by 2025, even though experts believe it’s an unrealistic target, but there is no target for reducing plastic use. Critics say the proposals, and especially the consigne arrangements, will be expensive for consumers, local councils and small shopkeepers, and it will benefit drinks companies, who will have free access to PET for recycling. One estimate suggests that local councils will lose 250-300 million euros a year from handling recycling. [Image Credit: © evelynlo from Pixabay] Alison Hird, "France drafts new chapter in the ‘war on waste’ ", RFI, July 11, 2019, © RFI

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A New First In Recyclable Toothpaste Tubes From Colgate July 11, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Colgate-Palmolive announced a recyclable toothpaste tube that has been recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers. The company says it’s the first of its kind and represents over five years of work, and will be introduced through the Tom’s of Maine brand in the US next year, with a broader rollout to follow. The company has a 2025 target for 100% recyclable tubes as part of its 100% recyclable packaging commitment. Toothpaste tubes are typically made from a laminate of plastic sheets, often incorporating an aluminum layer. Colgate’s recyclable tube uses widely-recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The plastic is rigid and not generally suited to ultra-thin laminate sheets, but the company’s packaging engineers found they could use different HDPE grade combinations to meet requirements. Although Colgate has got approval for the tube from the APR, it will also need to secure similar approval for other parts of the world. [Image Credit: © Colgate-Palmolive Company] "Colgate’s Recyclable Tube First to be Recognized by Association of Plastic Recyclers", Colgate-Palmolive , July 11, 2019, © Colgate-Palmolive Company

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Nestlé Waters Brand Valvert Introduces 100 Percent rPET Water Bottle In Europe July 10, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Nestlé Waters mineral water brand Valvert has introduced a new bottle in Belgium made entirely from recycled PET (rPET), a first for Nestlé in Europe. The innovation is a step toward meeting Nestlé's commitment to increase the rPET content in its water bottles to 35 percent globally by 2025. Only used bottles go into the making of the new bottle: no new virgin PET needs to be created. Valvert says it has secured a reliable supply of the high-quality, food grade rPET required for bottled water, allowing not only the launch of the 100 percent rPET bottle of 150 cl, but also a 50 percent rPET bottle of 50 cl. The goal is to have the 50 cl bottle also made entirely of rPET by the end of 2019. "Valvert launches water bottle made of 100 percent recycled plastic, a first for Nestlé in Europe", Nestlé Waters, July 10, 2019, © Nestlé

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100% Valvert rPET Bottle In Belgium Extends Nestlé’s Use of Recycled Plastic July 10, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Nestlé Waters’ natural mineral water brand, Valvert in Belgium, has introduced a new bottle from 100% recycled PET, It’s the company’s first 100% rPET bottle in Europe. The brand launched a 100% 150cl rPET bottle and a 50% 50cl rPET bottle, with the aim of making the smaller bottle entirely from rPET by the end of the year. In 2018, Nestlé Pure Life launched 100% rPET bottles in North America, and the US spring water brand Poland Spring says it will convert its packaging to recycled plastic by 2021.[Image Credit: © Nestlé] "Valvert launches water bottle made of 100% recycled plastic, a first for Nestlé in Europe", Nestlé, July 10, 2019, © Nestlé

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The Cif Cleaning Brand Unveils A Refill Option To Cut Plastic Use July 9, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Unilever’s Cif household cleaning brand has launched Cif ecorefill. Consumers buy a trigger spray bottle and can then buy refills of 10x concentrate. The refill uses a quarter of the plastic needed for original product and attaches to Cif Power & Shine bottles. Using concentrate cuts the amount of water being transported by an estimated 97% and the number of trucks by 87%. The refill is fully recyclable if consumers remove the plastics sleeves, and the company is aiming for the refills and bottles to be made from 100% recycled plastic by the end of next year. [Image Credit: © Unilever] "Cif innovation to dramatically cut plastic use and transport emissions", Unilever , July 09, 2019, © Unilever

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Estonian Startup Launches Water-Soluble Plant-Based ‘Honey Balls’ July 8, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Estonian startup Decomer has developed a plant-based biodegradable packaging material. The company is now incorporated in the US. Decomer’s first product is water-soluble packages for honey, called “honey drops”. They are capsules to be stirred into hot drinks. It will be available at retail and via a dispenser for food service. The company aims to develop a B2B business, selling packaging solutions to manufacturers and is developing packages that can be blended in smoothies, flavour packets that can be dissolved in water, and detergent packs that can be added to laundry. [Image Credit: © Decomer Technology Oü] Catherine Lamb, "Decomer Makes Plant-based Water-soluble Packaging to Fight Plastic Waste", The Spoon, July 08, 2019, © The Spoon

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New Report Highlights The Cost Of Packaging To Scottish Households July 5, 2019: 12:00 AM EST A new report from Zero Waste Scotland, an organization funded by the Scottish Government and the European Regional Development Fund, says that Scotland’s consumers buy groceries that use over 300,000 tonnes of single-use packaging annually. This represents a cost to the environment, but also to households – an estimated £600 million each year, much of which is hidden in product prices. This implies each household plays £250 (7% of the average grocery bill) a year for 130kg of single-use packaging. They also have to pay some £40 million each year to local authorities for waste management. The study estimates that grocery packaging contributes 13% of all household waste in the country, of which 89,000 tonnes (29% of grocery packaging) is plastic. The report concludes that this situation can be improved by price signalling, making shoppers aware of the price they pay for packaging. [Image Credit: © ZeroWasteScot 6@ZeroWasteScot zerowastescotland.org.uk] "REPORT: The Hidden Cost of Grocery Packaging", Zero Waste Scotland , July 05, 2019, © ZeroWasteScot 6@ZeroWasteScot zerowastescotland.org.uk

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Rethinking Packaging To Reduce Plastic Use June 30, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The author highlights efforts by 16 companies in the US that are attempting to address the need to reduce packaging. Those that will have an impact on plastic use include: A laminated plant-based compostable pouch for Alter Eco’s quinoa products; compostable wrappers for BOSS Food’s vegan bars; aluminum-lined recyclable boxes for water from Boxed Water is Better; GF Harvest’s GoPack recyclable and collapsible oatmeal bowls, which are flat when bought and can popped up to add hot water; compostable trays for the ready-to-cook seafood meals from Love the Wild, with a microwaveable version due later this year; Econic compostable films, using FSC-certified wood pulp and non-GMO corn, used for wrapping Loving Earth chocolate bars and superfood bars; and six-pack rings on Saltwater Brewery’s beers - 100% biodegradable and edible by animals, using Eco Six Pack Rings technology. [Image Credit: © pasja1000 from Pixabay] "16 Companies Rethinking Packaging", Foodtank, June 30, 2019, © Food Tank

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PepsiCo Announces Changes To Eliminate 8,000 Tonnes Of Virgin Plastic June 27, 2019: 12:00 AM EST From 2020, the LIFEWTR brand will use 100% recycled PET packaging. PepsiCo also announced that bubly sparkling water will stop using plastic packaging, and the AQUAFINA® water brand will offer aluminum cans for food service customers in the US. The company expects to eliminate over 8,000 tonnes of virgin plastic through these changes. [Image Credit: © PepsiCo, Inc.] "PepsiCo Advances Circular Economy for Plastics", PepsiCo, June 27, 2019, © PepsiCo, Inc.

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L’Oréal Takes A Stake In Carbios June 26, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Carbios, a French company focusing on enzymatic bioprocesses to improve the lifecycle of plastics, has received investment from L’Oréal, through its recently-launched BOLD Business Opportunities for L’Oréal Development corporate venture capital fund. Carbios is developing technology to recycle a broader range of PET plastics and polyester fibers to create virgin-quality PET. Other companies in the Consortium include Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe. [Image Credit: © CARBIOS] "L’Oréal invests in biotech through a minority stake in Carbios", L’Oréal , June 26, 2019, © L’Oréal

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Big Beverage Companies To Urge Vietnam To Create Plastic Recycling Program June 25, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Amid growing global outrage over plastic waste in the planet’s oceans, beverage major Suntory Holdings announced collaboration with rivals Coca-Cola and Nestlé to encourage the Vietnam government to create a large-scale plastic recycling system. Japan has said it will discuss the problem at the G20 summit it is hosting this month. Suntory told Reuters it plans to switch out pure petroleum-based plastic bottles in all markets by 2030, using only recycled or plant-based materials at a cost of $467 million. Recycling plastic is a vexing problem in Southeast Asia, which lacks lacks sophisticated systems for collecting, sorting, and treating used plastic. Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said he wants his country to phase out single-use plastics by 2025 using unspecified “drastic measures.” "Japan’s Suntory joins rival Coca-Cola to push Vietnam on plastic recycling", CNBC, June 25, 2019, © CNBC LLC

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Personal Care Startup By Humankind Offers Refillable Options For Your Bathroom June 25, 2019: 12:00 AM EST New York-based By Humankind, a personal care direct-to-consumer subscription startup, is looking to reduce its use of plastic by introducing refillable products, including a shampoo, deodorant and mouthwash. The refillable containers come with a lifetime guarantee, but can also be recycled. The company calls the refills “"kindfills", which are in pods made from biodegradable paper and shipped in envelopes made from recycled material. The shampoo (solid bar) and mouthwash (tablets) are heavily concentrated to reduce packaging. The deodorant is available unscented or with eucalyptus.[Image Credit: © By Humankind, Inc] "By Humankind wants to banish single-use plastic from your bathroom", Dezeen, June 25, 2019, © Dezeen Limited

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Brown Paper Bags Will Replace Plastic Bags At Boots In The UK June 24, 2019: 12:00 AM EST UK health and beauty retailer Boots will from next year phase out plastic bags, replacing them with unbleached brown paper ones, starting immediately with 53 stores across the country. It will also move to unbleached paper bags for prescriptions. It will charge for the new bags, even though they are not covered by the plastic bag tax. Instead, profits from the bags will go to the BBC Children in Need charity. Boots cites its own research to demonstrate the extent to which consumers support moves to address the problem of plastic waste. The bags are from Forest Stewardship Council certified recycled brown paper, easily recycled at home, and display the On-Pack Recycling Label. [Image Credit: © The Boots Company PLC] "Boots UK to replace plastic carrier bags with unbleached paper bags in all stores", Boots UK, June 24, 2019, © The Boots Company PLC

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The Mr Muscle® Line In The UK Extends SC Johnson’s Expansion Of Refillable Options June 24, 2019: 12:00 AM EST In August this year, UK consumers will see the first concentrated refill for SC Johnson’s Mr Muscle® cleaning products. The refills will be available on Amazon, and will allow consumers to add tap water to the concentrate in the reusable trigger bottle. The bottle should be refillable “dozens of times”. The Windex® concentrated refills were the company’s first foray into refillable products, in 2011, since when it has added brands including Pledge®, Shout® and Scrubbing Bubbles®. SC Johnson has also recently announced it will expand its concentrate options globally, including in Mexico, in July, and China and Japan, in September.[Image Credit: © S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.] "SC Johnson to Launch Its First-Ever Concentrated Refill in the U.K., Reinforcing Commitment to Plastic Waste Reduction", SC Johnson, June 24, 2019, © S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.

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P&G Is Looking To Lead Sustainability In The Consumer Goods Arena June 21, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Procter & Gamble is aiming to raise its profile as a standard bearer for corporate sustainability, led by its CEO, David Taylor. Last year, he and P&G co-founded the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a coalition aiming to invest $1.5 billion in appropriate schemes. He has also elevated the role of vice president of sustainability to chief sustainability officer and led the launch of a program called Ambition 2030, which aims to link creating value for shareholders and consumers with a positive impact on the environment and society, to develop P&G as a force for good and growth together. Ambition 2030 will help drive the transition of packaging for its major brands to be 100% recyclable or reusable, introduce more sustainable innovations, and develop other environment-focused initiatives.[Image Credit: © Procter & Gamble] Dale Buss, "P&G CEO Taylor Embraces Sustainability Thinking in C-Suite and Beyond", Chief Executive, June 21, 2019, © ChiefExecutive.net

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Which? Study Finds UK Supermarkets Could Do Better To Help Improve Recycling Rates June 22, 2019: 12:00 AM EST A study from Which?, the UK consumer campaigning group, found that almost half of packaging in items sold (primarily online) by the UK’s 11 supermarket chains can’t be easily recycled. Morrisons fared worst, and Tesco and Waitrose had the most items that could be recycled easily, but improvement was needed from all. It also found that recycling labels could be better, and 42% of packaging was either labeled incorrectly or not at all. Which? says that it’s not only about the use of plastic, but the type of plastic used: black plastic containers are not recyclable, and clear plastic bottles are more easily recycled than Tetra Paks. Many pizzas are still sold with non-recyclable polystyrene bases, and grease contamination of the cardboard packaging means that can’t be recycled either. Which? has made five key recommendations: make labeling clear and accurate; avoid unnecessary single-use plastic packaging; eliminate the use of black plastic PET trays; provide in-store plastic bag collection points; and offer products loose, where possible.[Image Credit: © Which?] Vicki Crowe , "Almost half of supermarket packaging isn’t easily recyclable, Which? Finds", Which?, June 22, 2019, © Which?

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McDonald’s UK & Ireland Makes Further Plastic Use Reductions June 21, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The McFlurry’s ice cream range at McDonald’s in the UK and Ireland will be sold without the single-use plastic lids from September this year. McDonald’s will also use 100% renewable and recyclable cardboard packaging for all main meals and side salads, replacing the plastic containers. The cardboard will contain 50% recycled content. The company says that the changes will reduce plastic waste by nearly 500 million tonnes a year. Its global commitment is to use only renewable or recycled packaging by 2025 and it has started replacing plastic straws with paper straws. [Image Credit: © McDonald's] "McFlurry gets a makeover in McDonald’s UK latest sustainability drive", McDonald’s UK , June 21, 2019, © McDonald's

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Swedish Startup Introduces The Veggio Reusable Bag For Fruit And Veg June 21, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Carrinet, a Swedish startup, has developed a machine-washable, reusable drawstring bag, called Veggio, made from 100% recycled PET bottles, for fruit and vegetables. Each bag can hold up to 10kg and the netting design allows the produce to be rinsed while still in the bag. 2Tech is distributing the bags in the UK. It says the bags give consumers an alternative to using the free plastic bags provided in supermarkets, and it aims to persuade supermarkets to stock the Veggio bags.[Image Credit: © Allmänna villkor] Flora Southey, "Start-up tackles packaging waste with bags made from 100% recycled bottles", Food Navigator , June 21, 2019, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Three Of Coca-Cola Europe’s Brands To Be Packaged In rPET Bottles By 2020 June 18, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola Western Europe announced that three of its brands will be sold in 100 percent plastic (rPET) bottles in several markets on the continent beginning in 2020. According to the company, the adoption of the new bottles for the Honest, GLACÉAU Smartwater, and Chaudfontaine brands will save about 9,000 tons of virgin plastic a year across Western Europe. The company also said it will change the packaging for its Sprite brand from a green PET bottle to a clear PET pack, which it claims is easier to recycle. The changes are part of Coca-Cola’s pledge to ensure that at least half of the plastic used in its PET bottles across Western Europe will come from recycled sources by 2025. Martin White, "Three Coca-Cola brands to adopt 100 percent rPET bottles in Europe", FoodBev Media , June 18, 2019, © FoodBev Media Ltd

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Coca-Cola Great Britain Announces New Sustainable Packaging Initiatives June 18, 2019: 12:00 AM EST 100% recycled PET will be used in GLACÉAU smartwater bottles sold by Coca-Cola Great Britain, removing over 3,000 tonnes of virgin plastic each year, and the unit also expects to double to at least 50% the recycled content of all of its plastic bottles, across the 20 brands, by early next year. These moves should reduce the volume of virgin plastic it uses by over 23,000 tonnes each year. Coca-Cola is also replacing the green Sprite bottle with clear packaging to ease recycling into new bottles. General Manager of Coca-Cola Great Britain, Jon Woods, said that more needs to be done to address the problem, but more packaging needs to be collected and recycled to support the move towards higher rPET content. He said the company is supporting calls for “a well-designed deposit return scheme for drinks containers.” [Image Credit: © THE COCA-COLA COMPANY] "Coca-Cola Great Britain continues sustainable packaging drive with move to 100% recycled plastic in all GLACÉAU smartwater bottles", Coca-Cola , June 18, 2019, © The Coca-Cola Company

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John Lewis & Partners Trails Recycling Initiative With Its Customers June 17, 2019: 12:00 AM EST John Lewis & Partners, one of the UK’s leading department store chains, is testing a beauty packaging recycling scheme that gives its loyalty program members £5 discount on any beauty purchase if they return make-up and skincare packaging for recycling. It’s being conducted in partnership with waste management company, TerraCycle. The program is being called BeautyCycle, and TerraCycle will separate the empty containers into metals, plastics and fibers, to be recycled, composted or turned into plastic pellets for re-use in items like plastic benches or lumber. All packaging is being accepted except aerosol cans, and fragrance and nail varnish bottles. The retailer says it wants to make being sustainable as easy as they can for consumers. The scheme will be trialed from mid-June for a month in the 36 John Lewis stores with a full-line beauty service.[Image Credit: © John Lewis plc] "John Lewis & Partners Launches ‘Beautycycle’ Recycling Trial", John Lewis & Partners , June 17, 2019, © John Lewis plc

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Consumer Acceptance Is Key In Raising PCR Levels In Plastic Packaging June 13, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Melissa Craig, senior manager of packaging sustainability at Unilever North America, says that the company is working towards 100% packaging recyclability, with the main challenge being “flexibles”. Its Hellmann's mayonnaise containers in US will move to 100% rPET by the end of 2019. However, Craig admitted there must be some degree of compromise, such as slightly tinted plastic, or black specks, and consumer acceptance might be an issue. The company has pledged a global target of 25% post-consumer resin in total packaging by 2025, but the North America business is aiming for 50% by the end of this year. [Image Credit: © Unilever UK] Jim Johnson, "Sustainability requires at least some compromise, Unilever says", Plastics News, June 13, 2019, © Crain Communications, Inc.

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Danone Waters NA Wins B Corp Certification As PBC June 12, 2019: 12:00 AM EST White Plains, N.Y.-based Danone Waters NA announced it has achieved B Corp Certification and is now a public benefit corporation (PBC). The certification indicates that the company has proven its commitment to meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, the company said. It plans to use the B Corp Certification and PBC status to engage business partners, stakeholders, and consumers in this “important movement." Danone is the U.S. and Canadian importer and distributor of Evian natural spring water, Badoit sparkling natural mineral water, and Volvicnatural spring water, "Danone Waters Of America Becomes A Certified B Corporation And Announces Reincorporation As A Public Benefit Corporation", PR Newswire , June 12, 2019, © PR Newswire Association LLC

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Coca-Cola In Belgium Asks Consumers Not To Buy Its Products Unless It Plans To Recycle Them June 10, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola in Belgium is trying an ambitious approach to raising awareness of the need to recycle plastic, with a summer campaign that asks consumers not to buy Coke products if they aren’t willing to help the company recycle. Some 85% of Coca-Cola packaging in the country is currently recycled, but the company says this rate is not high enough. The campaign is also being adopted in the Netherlands, on TV ads as well as activations in towns and at festivals. Although the campaign ends in September, it will be incorporated in other advertising.[Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company] "‘Don’t buy Coca-Cola if you’re not going to help us recycle!’ Coca-Cola launches recycling campaign", Beverage Daily, June 10, 2019, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Aldi UK Replaces Plastic Checkout Bags With Paper Or Compostable Options June 10, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Aldi in the UK will from July this year replace plastic bags in half of its stores with paper bags, and biodegradable bags at the other half. After the trial, Aldo will choose the most popular. The Bioplast 100% compostable bags will cost 6p. Aldo is charging 19p for the paper bags. [Image Credit: © Aldi Stores Limited] Sarah Young, "Aldi announces plans to reduce traditional plastic bags with paper and compostable versions", Independent UK, June 10, 2019, © Independent Digital News and Media Limited

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Brazil’s Ambev Brewing Company To Spend $36M On Solar Plant Construction June 10, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Brewing company Ambev SA is collaborating with four partners to create a “distributed generation” system in Brazil that includes construction of solar plants to supply clean energy to the brewer’s 94 distribution centers by the end of March 2020. The company will pay $36 million over 10 years to its partners, which in turn will spend about $13 million to build the 31 facilities. More than 50,000 solar panels generating 2,600 megawatt hours (MWh) a month will be built, saving 2,900 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Ambev, of which Belgian AB InBev owns 62 percent, operates in 16 countries in the Americas, including Argentina and Chile, where its breweries are powered by either wind farms or a mix of wind farms and solar plants. "Brazilian Brewer Ambev Signs $36m Deal To Build Solar Plants", Hospitality Ireland, June 10, 2019, © Hospitality Ireland Magazine

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Organic Farming Has A Plastics Problem Too June 7, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Organic farming, like traditional farming, has hit an obstacle caused by the move to limit single-use plastic, which is used as mulch to suppress weeds, improve irrigation and water conservation, and support plant growth. Plastic film to cover acres of arable land represents miles of film, which is disposed of in landfills after one use. There are as yet no feasible alternatives. Biodegradable plastic, for example, is disallowed under existing organic rules in the US, and natural mulches are expensive and labor-intensive. Manufacturers of biodegradable options, including BASF, have been calling on the USDA's National Organic Program to change the rules, but the long-term impact has yet to be identified. [Image Credit: © Siggy Nowak from Pixabay.com] "Organic Farming Has A Plastic Problem. One Solution Is Controversial", NPR, June 07, 2019, © NPR

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ProAmpac Develops FDA-Compliant Flexible Pouch With 25% Post-Consumer Recycled Content June 5, 2019: 12:00 AM EST ProAmpac collaborated with purveyor of flavored nut butters, Justin’s, to develop a plastic pouch made of 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) that is FDA-compliant. PCR is used for 40% of the sealant film, which equates to 25% of the total packet. The pouch will be used for a new line of almond butter covered almonds and cashew butter covered cashews. The packaging ensures product freshness with high oxygen- and moisture-barrier properties. ProAmpac overcame hazy printing common with use of high PCR by combining flexographic inks and coating technologies, and changing the lamination processes.[Image Credit: © Business Wire, Inc.] "JUSTIN’S® and ProAmpac Pioneer Sustainable High-Barrier FDA-Compliant Flexible Pouch Using Post-Consumer Recycled Content ", Business Wire, June 05, 2019, © Business Wire, Inc.

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Suntory To Switch To Bottles Made From Renewable Plant-Based Resins By 2030 May 28, 2019: 12:00 AM EST As companies globally increase efforts to reduce plastic waste, Suntory Holdings says it plans to make all of its plastic bottles from renewable materials like resins and other plant-based components by 2030. Suntory’s bottles now are made from 10 percent PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin from recycled plastic bottles. It will raised that to 60 percent to 70 percent by 2030, and make up the remainder with plant-based resin from pine trees and sugarcane residue. To meet its goal, Suntory is investing $457.5 million in a U.S. factory with Anellotech of New York. Mass production will begin in 2023, with soft drinks in bottles made from 100 percent plant matter available in 2024.[Image Credit: © Suntory Holdings Limited] "Suntory to make all plastic bottles from 100 percent renewable materials", Nikkei Asian Review, May 28, 2019, © Nikkei Inc.

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Coca-Cola Again Tops List Of Most-Chosen FMCG Brands May 23, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Kantar’s annual Brand Footprint report ranks Coca-Cola as the most-chosen fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) brand in the world for the seventh year in a row, with Pepsi and Nescafe in the top 10 at number six and seven. Sprite again came in at number 17, while Fanta was No. 33, and Lipton was No. 48. In households where the brand was purchased at least once, Coca-Cola reached 41.9 percent penetration, Pepsi 22.7 percent, Nescafe 22.7 percent, and Sprite 24.8 percent. Kantar measures brands using Consumer Reach Points (CRP), a combination of penetration, population and consumer choice. Out-of-home (OOH) purchases had a significant impact on the success of major soda brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi because of consumer impulse purchases, according to the researcher. Beth Newhart , "Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nescafe top Kantar’s Brand Footprint rankings", Beverage Daily, May 23, 2019, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Bisleri Says First Year Of “Bottles For Change” Recycling Initiative Has Been A Success May 20, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Indian bottled water company Bisleri says its “Bottles for Change” initiative to educate people about the importance of recycling plastic has conducted more than 200 plastic recycling awareness and collection drives in the country. The program has conducted workshops in corporate offices, housing societies, schools, colleges, malls, festivals, and other events. The company itself has recycled more than 4,800 tons of plastic. A Bisleri spokesman says “Bottles for Change” has made “tremendous progress in one year alone” and the company plans to introduce new platforms to spread awareness and “reach out and engage more citizens.” "Bisleri ‘Bottles for Change’ generating awareness around plastic", Indiantelevision , May 20, 2019, © Indiantelevision Dot Com Pvt Ltd

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Poland Spring 100% rPET Bottled Water Goes Nationwide Beginning In May April 25, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Nestlé Waters NA brand Poland Spring is making its bottled spring water available nationwide for the first time. Poland Spring ORIGIN will be packaged in “ergonomic” 100 percent food-grade recycled plastic (rPET) bottles. According to Nestlé Waters, ORIGIN's 100 percent natural spring water has been sustainably sourced from the White Cedar Spring in Maine, filtered by 10,000-year-old glacial sands. It contains no additives other than the minerals that come from the earth, including naturally occurring electrolytes. The product will be nationally available on Amazon.com in a 12-pack of 900 ml bottles, and via delivery by ReadyRefresh Nestlé. From May 2019, Poland Spring ORIGIN will be available in select retail locations in Florida and Texas with plans for national retail expansion in 2020. Meanwhile, litigation over the sources of Poland Spring water continues to churn in courts in Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.[Image Credit: © Nestlé Waters North America] Matt Reynolds, "Poland Spring, Nestlé Waters debut ergonomic rPET bottle", Packaging World, April 25, 2019, © PMMI Media Group

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At Google’s Cafés, Chefs Pay Close Attention To Food Waste April 24, 2019: 12:00 AM EST At its headquarters in Mountain View, California, Google operates several cafés that serve 200,000 free meals a day. In 2014, Google started working with Leanpath, a company that provides equipment to measure and track food waste, and it coaches chefs on how to use that data. Google’s chefs carefully weigh ingredients that can’t be used to determine exactly how much food is wasted. They cook in batches to avoid preparing too much food, and adjust through the meal. By using these methods, Google says, it has kept more than six million pounds of food from going to landfills or compost. “The reality is that the act of measurement is, in and of itself, a very profound intervention,” says Andrew Shakman, CEO of Leanpath. [Image Credit: © Free-Photos from Pixabay] Adele Peters, "How Google saved over 6 million pounds of food waste in its cafés", Fast Company, April 24, 2019, © Mansueto Ventures, LLC

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New York Enacts Law To Reduce Food Waste, Feed The Needy April 16, 2019: 12:00 AM EST New York State has enacted first-of-its-kind food waste legislation designed to direct more healthy food to disadvantaged New Yorkers while reducing climate pollution around the state. The Food Donation and Food Scrap Recycling Act, effective in 2022, will require large food generators – including supermarkets, colleges, hotels, and sporting venues – to donate leftover edible food. Remaining scraps must be prepared as animal feed or compost if a recycling facility is within 25 miles. However, most food generators covered under the law are exempt from this provision because they're more than 25 miles from a recycler. Proponents of the food waste requirements expect that the language in the recently adopted state budget will encourage businesses to open organic recycling facilities in the next two and a half years.[Image Credit: © pasja1000 from Pixabay] David Lombardo, "New York aims to curb food waste", Times Union, April 16, 2019, © The Hearst Corporation

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Meat Companies May Be Misleading Consumers By Claiming Products Are “Natural” April 11, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Although American consumers want “all-natural” meats – with no antibiotics, hormones, or preservatives – the USDA says that in meats and poultry “natural” only means no artificial ingredients and minimal processing. Major meat companies, meanwhile, are catering to consumer desires by claiming or implying in advertising that their products are natural. Those claims are legal, as long as they follow USDA guidelines, even if they mislead shoppers. That was basically the ruling of the D.C. Superior Court when on April 8 it dismissed a lawsuit by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) alleging Hormel was misleading consumers. But in statements disclosed in the court filing, a Hormel executive said the same pigs it uses to make its famous Spam brand meat product are also used in Natural Choice pork products. Those pigs are often given antibiotics and are rarely allowed outdoors. An ALDF attorney said Hormel was engaged in “a massive attempt to manipulate and dupe the consumer to purchase something they have no intention to purchase.” [Image Credit: © Lloyd's Barbeque Company, LLC] Richard Binder, "Hormel lawsuit reveals that 'natural' meat might not be", Law.com, April 11, 2019, © ALM Media Properties, LLC

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British Food Waste Recycler Tells Foodservice Industry How To Cut Waste April 10, 2019: 12:00 AM EST ReFood, the U.K.’s leading food waste recycler, believes the country should be ranked higher than 24th in the world in reducing food waste. The British foodservice industry is producing a million tons of unnecessary food waste annually at a cost of $3.2 billion a year. Research suggests 75 percent of this waste is completely avoidable. The country’s pubs, restaurants and food outlets can implement several ReFood strategies to reduce waste: be sensible with stock, storage and stock rotation; use accurate temperature control to prevent growth of harmful pathogenic bacteria and minimize spoilage; label all stored food clearly; review portion sizes to prevent uneaten food from being wasted; link up with a local charity and donate leftovers; mix up the menu to give customers more choice about what’s on their plate; and expand food safety training to include food waste training.[Image Credit: © Free-Photos from Pixabay] Philip Simpson, "Is your restaurant throwing away its profits? Seven ways to cut food waste", BigHospitality.co.uk, April 10, 2019, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Rhode Island City Expands Leftover Food “Sharing Tables” To All Schools April 10, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Pawtucket, R.I., has begun implementing a plan to cut down on food waste and make sure hungry children are properly fed. The plan is based on the concept of “sharing tables,” once an informal way for students to take food discarded by classmates. The method is being expanded to more schools this year. Beginning in April, foodservice provider Aramark will add ice packs and soft-shell coolers, allowing more items to be saved and given to students who need or want them. Company representatives will also be able to track exactly how much waste is being reduced by weighing poundage thrown away. Incorporating coolers, ice packs, signage, and training of staff will help make sharing tables a “routine staple of what we do.” An Aramark rep said.[Image Credit: © Mabel Amber from Pixabay] Ethan Shorey, "‘Sharing tables’ taking off, reducing waste", Valley Breeze: Pawtucket Edition (Rhode Island), April 10, 2019, © Breeze Publications, Inc.

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Three Federal Agencies To Work Together To Reduce Nation’s Food Waste April 9, 2019: 12:00 AM EST The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have joined forces to create an interagency strategy to address food waste. At an event held at EPA headquarters, state, local and community leaders and others shared ideas on how all levels of government can cooperate to reduce food waste. The “Winning on Reducing Food Waste Strategy” includes six priority areas the agencies will focus on over the next year: enhance interagency coordination; increase consumer education and outreach efforts; improve coordination and guidance on food loss and waste measurement; clarify and communicate information on food safety, food date labels, and food donations; collaborate with private industry to reduce food loss and waste across the supply chain; and encourage food waste reduction by federal agencies in their respective facilities. “Our nation’s agricultural abundance should be used to nourish those in need, not fill the trash,” said USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. [Image Credit: © USDA] "USDA, EPA, and FDA Unveil Strategy to Reduce Food Waste", USDA, April 09, 2019, © U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Company Seeks Quick Commercialization Of Onsite Food Waste Processor April 9, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Micron Waste Technologies is expanding a collaboration with BC Research Inc. (BCRI) to rapidly commercialize the company's second-generation food waste processing system, dubbed the Organivore 2.0. The equipment is designed for onsite waste processing by commercial producers of food waste, including supermarkets and food processors, producers and distributors. Innovations developed for the Cannavore system, which Micron and BCRI built for the cannabis industry, will be incorporated into Organivore 2.0. Market readiness is anticipated in the second half of this year. Micron says the Organivore reduces air and water pollution by, among other things, using an aerobic process with patented microbes and enzymes to break down food waste without producing methane; and treating organic waste onsite into clean water and reusable biosolids, resulting in diversion of up to 95 percent of the waste sent to landfills.[Image Credit: © Micron Waste Technologies Inc.] Waste360 Staff, "Micron Waste to Commercialize Organivore System for Food Waste", waste360.com, April 09, 2019, © Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC.

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Campus Education Programs Alone Won’t Cut Waste At All-You-Can-Eat Buffets April 8, 2019: 12:00 AM EST According to a University of Illinois study, diners at all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurants or university dining halls have little incentive to pile less food on their plate. The result? They tend to overindulge, but don’t necessarily consume all that they heap on their plates, and a lot of food is wasted. A food waste-reduction campaign might serve as a low-cost way to extol moderation at the buffet line. Unfortunately, however, such campaigns don’t seem to work. Consumer economist Brenna Ellison suggests that for greater waste reduction, education campaigns should be combined with environmental changes such as removing the flat-fee pricing structure or pre-portioning food items.[Image Credit: © University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] Phil Ciciora, "Study: Impact of Food Waste Campaigns Muted, But Point Toward Right Direction", Phys.org, April 08, 2019, via University of Illinois System-Urbana-Champaign , © Phys.org

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Community Refrigerators Reduce Food Waste While Helping To Feed The Needy April 6, 2019: 12:00 AM EST A British environmental charity is turning to community refrigerators set up in public spaces as a way to reduce food waste and foster more nutritious eating.  The refrigerators, set up in community centers and churches, for example, would give restaurants, supermarkets, home cooks, and others a place to drop off excess food as a donation and ensure it remains fresh. The food would then be picked up by people in need, free of charge. Hubbub, the charity installing the fridges, has placed  50 community refrigerators so far, and hopes to install another 50 across Britain by the end of 2020. On average, a community refrigerator site is visited by more than 200 people a month, though that number could climb to about 1,000 visitors for busier locations.[Image Credit: © https://www.hubbub.org.uk/the-community-fridge] Shannon Larson, "'Community' refrigerators aim to freeze out food waste", Reuters, April 06, 2019, © Thomson Reuters

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Oatly Battles Dairy Milk On The Environmental Front April 1, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Swedish dairy milk alternative Oatly has begun displaying the climate footprint of its product on all packaging to give consumers more information about the environmental impact. The company claims that its non-dairy beverage contains as much calcium as dairy milk, plus protein, carbs, unsaturated fats and “the beneficial properties of oats” – without the detrimental effects on the climate associated with milk production. The drink's carbon footprint will be presented using a number that defines its climate impact, expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). According to the company, swapping one liter of whole cow's milk for the equivalent measure of Oatly saves 1.16 k of CO2, the greenhouse gas equivalent of driving 10 km in an average gasoline-powered car. Imogen Watson, "Dairy-free Oatly labels to include climate footprint figure to encourage milk swap", The Drum, April 01, 2019, © Carnyx Group Limited

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Smaller Portions At Eateries Might Help Solve The Food Waste Problem March 25, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema says that in an era of global malnutrition – and, ironically, rampaging obesity – and burgeoning food waste, the nationwide restaurant practice of serving “dishes that practically call for building permits” is especially disturbing. For example, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Chicago serves full-size fruit pies cut into “a mere four slices;” a sandwich at the Smith in Washington, D.C., comes with what looks like four cups of French fries; and New York’s Bistro Pierre Lapin serves a cote de porc a la "shake & bake" that weighs in at about a pound. Doggie bags are not the answer to waste because they often get tossed out at home. Reversing this trend requires the cooperation of restaurants and patrons. Restaurants could offer smaller portions of a dish while letting diners order more of it and pay for the privilege. Lastly, diners faced with huge plates of unwanted food could "share, share, share" with dining companions.[Image Credit: © RitaE from Pixabay] Tom Sietsema, "In an era of excessive food waste, a plea to restaurants: Cut down your portions; Sure, we can ", Washington Post Blogs , March 25, 2019, © Washington Post

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AI Technology In Restaurant Trash Bins Helps Reduce Food Waste March 22, 2019: 12:00 AM EST An AI-powered trash bin known as the Winnow Vision uses a camera and smart scales that tell chefs the types of food they are throwing away too often. The technology recognizes and keeps track of food items being disposed of, helping commercial kitchens reduce the amount they purchase. The camera takes still images of the food inside the bin and checks it against a global database to identify it. AI algorithms play it back to staff in real time to let them know the value of what's being binned. Winnow Vision bins have been tested in more than 75 kitchens in the U.K. belonging to Ikea and luxury real estate development group Emaar Hospitality Group. The average kitchen catering for a business requires between one and two Winnow Visions.[Image Credit: © Winnow Solutions Ltd] Joe Baker, "Could an AI-powered ‘smart bin’ help reduce food waste at restaurants?", i-Independent Print Ltd, March 22, 2019

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