Sustainability & Social Responsibility

Paper Packaging

Amazon has made use of machine learning algorithms to significantly reduce packaging volumes across its platform; company has embraced its Ships in Product Packaging program, expanded its paper-based solutions, prioritizes correct-sized solutions
MarketLine (01/04)

Children's Museum of Atlanta's newest feature exhibit, 'Outside the Box,' transforms plain boxes into extravagant bridges, among other highlights; exhibit aims to inspire children to become creative thinkers, includes in-kind support from Pratt Industries
Newton Citizen, The (GA) (01/04)

Plastic Packaging

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines and Shell Pilipinas broaden their sustainability initiative, bringing their recycling program to Manila and Davao; the partners have installed collection points at Shell Select stations for clear PET bottles for recycling
MarketLine (01/04)

Northern Ireland-based Moy Park reduces its overall packaging by 10% in past 12 months by removing unnecessary plastic components, reducing plastic that remains, developing recyclable options and adopting plastics that are inclusive of recycled content
Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Limited (01/03)

Film manufacturer Sudpack acquires additional shares of CARBOLIQ following its majority acquisition on Dec. 15 and appoints Dirk Hardow as managing director; move shows Sudpack’s commitment to a closed-loop system for plastics and to chemical recycling
Südpack Group (01/03)

California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act shifts the US$5B plastic pollution burden from consumers to producers; the new legislation sets a precedent for other states grappling with plastic pollution
MarketLine (01/03)

New law in Rhode Island that bans retail sales establishments from giving customers single-use plastic bags goes into effect on Jan. 1; customers will have to use recyclable paper bags, or bring in their own reusable bags
Boston Globe, The (MA) (01/02)

Sustainable / Responsible Sourcing

University of Georgia study shows perennial streams in mill sourcing areas elevate forestry Best Management Practices implementation rates by 0.023%; results show supply chain inefficiency due to contracting behavior between small, larger certified mills
Economics Daily Report (01/04)

Over 50% of consumers in US, Canada say purchasing from a brand that practices sustainable packaging and sourcing is important to them, according to new Body Shop survey
CosmeticsDesign.com (01/03)

Reuse / Next Use / Upcycling

Executive Perspective: JUNOCO CEO discusses conceptualization, R&D and launch process for skin care brand's refillable interchangeable pod system design; system can 'house a multitude of products' in one refillable container, helps reduce packaging waste
CosmeticsDesign.com (01/04)

Tire upcycler Ecolomondo restructures original loan agreement with Export Development Canada; restructured loan, set to mature in May 2029, will fund final steps toward full commercial operations of Hawkesbury thermal decomposition facility by May 2024
Ecolomondo Corp. (01/03)

Recyclable / Recycled Materials

ORLEN joins the NEXTLOOPP project to increase recycling of PCR waste and commercialize food-grade PP that meets food and cosmetic safety standards; ORLEN aims to increase its recycling capacity by a factor of ten by 2030
Contify Energy News (01/04)

Researchers make spunbond nonwoven insulator from recycled PET fibers; core-sheath bico thermal insulator shows enhanced environmental sustainability, includes nano zinc oxide for antibacterial activity, phosphorus flame retardant: study
Nanotech Daily (01/04)

North Carolina's MyMatR develops self-sorting waste bin for use in public spaces; AI-powered bin can sort at 90% accuracy, be customized to identify items accepted by local recyclers, can be set to prioritize landfill diversions or minimize contamination
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/03)

CalRecycle releases initial findings for recyclability labeling, EPR law implementation
Waste Dive (01/03)

Waste Collection / Disposal / Pickup

Multiple US states update waste, recycling, organics laws for 2024; Connecticut doubles bottle deposit values, Washington businesses must now arrange for organics management, and California adds juice, wine, spirits containers to deposit return program
Waste Dive (01/02)

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Brazil's Campo Limpo System, managed by National Institute for the Processing of Empty Packaging, reaches milestone of 750,000 tons of empty crop protection packaging disposed of in an environmentally correct manner; 53,000 tons correctly disposed in 2023
CE Noticias Financieras (Latin America) (01/04)

Recycling Centers / Materials Recovery (MRF)

Can Manufacturers Institute report calls for bottle bill legislation that compensates materials recovery facilities, recycling centers; compensation methods may include sharing beverage container scrap revenues or deposit values with recyclers
Waste Dive (01/03)

Ascend Elements, SK ecoplant and SK's e-waste recycler TES to build US$65M Li-ion battery recycling plant in US, coming online by 2025; plant to span 100,000 sq. ft., recycle 24,000 tonnes/year of EV batteries, gigafactory scrap
Plastics and Rubber Asia (CBNB Abstracts) (01/02)

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

US generated about 88.7 million tons of surplus food in 2022, a 5% increase in per capita waste from 2016, reports nonprofit ReFED; despite a minor decline in GHG emissions, 36.7% of food surplus was landfilled, up for the third consecutive year
Waste Dive (01/04)

Norfolk Southern announces first Climate Transition Plan for reducing GHG emissions by 42% by 2034; CTP to focus on fuel management and consumption, with one of plan's key components being increased consumption of low carbon fuels and renewable energy use
PR Newswire (01/04)

PKV publishes 2022 sustainability report, highlights efforts in decarbonization, energy efficiency, supplier management and supply chain sustainability; PKV launched a carbon neutrality project in 2022 with support of an external team of consultants
Papier- u. Kartonfabrik Varel GmbH & Co. KG (01/04)

Volkswagen Financial Services to supply 1,000 leased VW ID.4 all-electric vehicles to Siemens AG as part of Siemen's sustainability strategy; Siemens aiming for full electrification and CO2-neutral fleet by 2030
Volkswagen AG (01/04)

Study in Helsinki on GHG emissions from managed drained organic forest soils finds factors barely changed, despite new data; highest CO2 emissions found for temperate afforested agricultural lands and boreal forestry-drained sites
Climate Change Daily News (01/03)

Climate Change

UBC finds that applying 1 ton of forest harvest residue-derived biochar/hectare on agricultural land could mitigate 3-5 tonnes of CO2e/hectare over 20 years; findings could lay framework for effective carbon sequestration practices
Climate Change Daily News (01/04)

Environmental / Ecological / Carbon Footprint

Suzano receives specialized ship from Cosco Shipping to transport pulp from Sao Paulo to global destinations, mainly China; with capacity of 77,000 tons, 'Green Santos' is world's largest vessel in this category, lowering carbon/ton of pulp transported
Suzano SA (01/04)

Vonco Products CEO Keith Smith interviewed on ‘Packaging Perspectives’ podcast; episode focuses on how makers of medical packaging are borrowing from the consumer sector when it comes to developing innovative, sustainable flexible packaging solutions
Vonco Products LLC (01/04)

Survey by The Body Shop finds consumers prioritize ethical sourcing and sustainable practices when purchasing beauty products; brand activism, transparency in ingredient sourcing and employee working conditions are key factors in decision-making
CosmeticsDesign.com (US) (01/04)

ACTEGA highlights 2023 achievements, including investments in key production and R&D facilities; company spotlights sustainable solutions, including ACTEseal PVC-Free Heat-seal Lacquers for coffee capsules
ACTEGA DS GmbH (01/04)

Bottles contribute 28% to the carbon footprint of wine production, and a recent study suggests that bag-in-box packaging could reduce this footprint by 40%; industry is seeing a shift toward lighter and more sustainable packaging
Capital (Annapolis, MD) (01/03)

Carbon Capture, Storage & Utilization (CCSU)

Maire Tecnimont's NextChem Tech wins contract from ENGIE for waste wood gasification plant design; project to produce second-generation bio-methane and includes a carbon capture unit
Italian Markets (Web Disclosure) via PUBT (01/04)

Carbon Sequestration / Forest Carbon

Massachusetts releases Climate Forestry Committee's report with recommendations for enhanced climate-oriented forest management practices; state announces US$50M investment and milestones for forest conservation, forests as climate solutions initiative
Targeted News Service (Press Releases) (01/04)

Carbon Trading / Credits / Accounting

Demand for carbon credits has plunged in past two years, sending prices into freefall, Business Insider reports; demand is down because of a lack of standardized rules for governing carbon markets
Business Insider (01/03)

Athian announces first sale of verified carbon credits in the livestock carbon insetting marketplace to Dairy Farmers of America; the marketplace aims to demonstrate that cattle can be part of the sustainability solution
Dairy Farmers of America (01/03)

Verra requests public comments on three projects seeking to register in its standards programs; last day to comment is Jan. 25 for Nature Panels in Gabon, Jan. 26 for Raízes do Bem Grouped ARR Project in Brazil and Agroforestry For Livelihoods in Rwanda
Verra (01/02)

Pollution

Congressman Steve Cohen announces National Science Foundation grant of US$537,625 to the University of Memphis; project aims to determine mechanism and significance of microplastic pollution on soil hydrology
Targeted News Service (Press Releases) (01/04)

Waste Management

New Hampshire Supreme Court rules in favor of Casella and North Country Environmental Services, agreeing that permit for expansion of their commercial landfill was lawfully granted by the state Dept. of Environment Services
Caledonian-Record, The (VT) (01/04)

Atlanta Hawks, State Farm Arena, WestRock announce sustainability partnership to reduce waste, preserve biodiversity, support communities; WestRock to also become partner of arena’s Resource Recovery Room, which sorts waste generated during events
Henry Daily Herald (McDonough, GA) (01/04)

California introduces organics recycling, compost law enforcement provision, which can include fines for anyone throwing away food scraps rather than recycling them; CalRecycle says 75% of all California cities now have organics recycling program
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/03)

New Hampshire lawmakers introduce two bipartisan bills to restrict out-of-state waste; one bill would restrict private ownership of new landfills, while second bill would limit amount of out-of-state trash landfills can accept
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/03)

Food Waste

Aldi announces achievement of a 57% reduction in food waste since 2017, hitting its 2030 target eight years early; company has also donated 40 million meals to good causes and aims to reduce food waste by 90% by 2030
Aldi Stores (01/03)

Biodegradable / Compostable Materials

SKC to construct biodegradable PBAT plastics production site in Hai Phong city, Vietnam; site slated to come online in 2025 with capacity of 70,000 tonnes/year
Plastics and Rubber Asia (CBNB Abstracts) (01/04)

Researchers from Clemson University are exploring the use of bentonite clay in food packaging, citing its structural, mechanical, adsorptive properties as highly desirable; research focuses on integration of bentonite into biodegradable packaging systems
Nanotech Daily (01/03)

South Dakota State University develops transparent, strong and biodegradable films from switchgrass native to North America; perennial prairie tallgrass is made of 58% lignocellulosic material, offering an 'ideal' alternative to petroleum-based plastics
South Dakota State University (01/02)

Researchers develop UV-protective bio-plastic from cotton gin motes, a source of cellulose waste generated in cotton processing facilities; material is a candidate for biodegradable films and offers benefit of low cost
Polymers MDPI (01/02)

Biobased Chemicals & Materials

Uhde Inventa-Fischer, Thyssenkrupp Uhde India join forces to establish first large-scale biopolymer plant in MENA region using corn as primary feedstock; goal is to sustainably produce a range of PLA grades for use in packaging, textiles, hygiene supplies
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) (01/02)

Oerlikon Synthetic Filaments Arrangements collaborates with Swiss traceability firm Haelixa to use DNA marker technology for total material traceability, meeting EU's digital product passport requirements; DNA tracked via Oerlikon's atmos.io platform
Indian Textiles News (01/02)

Bioenergy

Heinzel's conversion of idled PM at Steyrermuhl mill to be complete by Q2, will produce up to 150,000 tons/year of kraft papers; Heinzel to develop paper mill, sawmill site into supply center for heat, renewable energy for Laakirchen paper mill, community
Heinzel Holding GMBH (01/02)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I)

Executive Perspective: Heineken's Women in Sales initiative being selected by World Economic Forum as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lighthouse highlights belief that 'embracing DEI enriches our lives,' says Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Joanna Price
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/03)

Community Betterment / Philanthropy

Sylvamo completes its annual Global Day of Service focused on supporting childhood education, one of its 2030 goals; team members across Europe, Latin America, North America contributed nearly 300 volunteer hours, packed over 5,800 education access kits
Sylvamo Corp. (01/04)

Asda partners with Girls in Data to provide technology and data-led workshops to over 200 girls in classrooms across West Yorkshire, UK; program aims to encourage more girls to pursue careers in technology
Asda Stores Ltd. (01/03)