Sustainability

  • Hands carry a cardboard box with other workers blurred in the background
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    Drazen Zigic via Getty Images
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    Packaging companies delve into Q2 results

    Earnings reports are ramping up. Catch up on insights this week from Packaging Corporation of America, International Paper and Crown Holdings.

    By Packaging Dive Staff • July 26, 2024
  • A child plays with a Barbie doll.
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    Retrieved from Mattel on July 25, 2024
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    Packaging innovations: Barbie’s on-box braille, Berry gives Blue Bunny pints a twist

    Plus, Meadow gets flowery with its refillable system and Gaia Biomaterials enables compostable straws — without the aftertaste.

    By • July 26, 2024
  • Califia Farms bottle
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    Permission granted by Califia Farms
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    Califia Farms acquires Uproot to reduce packaging via food service dispensers

    Uproot has more than 150 dispensers across the U.S. at college campuses and other dining locations. The announcement follows the plant-based beverage brand’s rollout of 100% rPET bottles in the U.S. and Canada.

    By Elizabeth Flood • July 25, 2024
  • A truck kicks up dirt as it passes a farm field in a deforested section of the Amazon
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    International Paper, Suzano, Stora Enso join call to reverse biodiversity loss ahead of COP16

    A coalition of more than 130 businesses across industries, including CPGs Unilever and Nestlé, are pressing world leaders to take action on an issue often overlooked by corporate sustainability plans.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • July 19, 2024
  • Two reusable coffee cups at a coffee shop
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    Thurtell via Getty Images
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    PR3, DOE collaborate to standardize reuse system data accessed via QR codes

    PR3, a beneficiary of a U.S. Department of Energy prize, envisions an interoperable future in which the data needed to collect, transport and wash containers could integrate in an on-pack QR code.

    By • July 17, 2024
  • A variety of green-colored, translucent food service items including containers, cups and cutlery.
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    Courtesy of Eco-Products
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    Novolex upped its PCR use, product recyclability in 2023

    The plastic, fiber and bio-based packaging company also touted its increased investments in compostable and reusable solutions in its newly released 2023 sustainability report. 

    By • July 15, 2024
  • Five multicolored cans of Clearly Canadian sparkling water
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    Courtesy of Clearly Canadian
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    Packaging innovations: Clearly Canadian’s metal multipack makeover, Oman Air’s plastic purge

    Plus, Amcor Capsules and Moët & Chandon get foiled, Georgia-Pacific wraps its toilet paper in paper and Contempo Specialty Packaging introduces compostable and reusable cannabis packaging.

    By • July 12, 2024
  • U.S. Plastics Pact CEO Jonathan Quinn
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    Permission granted by U.S. Plastics Pact
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    US Plastics Pact hires new CEO with flexible packaging expertise

    On the heels of the organization pushing goals from 2025 to 2030, CEO Jonathan Quinn discusses opportunities to tackle challenges with creating a “plastics circular economy.”

    By • July 11, 2024
  • An Amazon employee's hands tear off kraft paper to use as protective filler in an Amazon box.
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    Permission granted by Amazon
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    5 packaging stats from Amazon’s sustainability report

    Amazon fell short on its 2023 device packaging recyclability goal, but it grew the share of products that can ship without added packaging and improved lightweighting.

    By • July 11, 2024
  • A hand holds up a reusable cup being filled by a soda fountain. The purple cup says "Sip, Return, Repeat."
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    Permission granted by Closed Loop Partners
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    Starbucks, KFC, Peet’s Coffee collaborate on citywide reusable cups project

    Closed Loop Partners describes the Petaluma, California, project as a first-of-its-kind initiative for a U.S. city in which reusable to-go cups are the default option across multiple restaurants.

    By • July 9, 2024
  • People looking at Lenovo ThinkBook products on display at a trade show.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Lenovo banks on bamboo to bump plastic packaging

    In addition to expanding its use of bamboo fiber material in 2023, electronics company Lenovo also increased its use of ocean-bound plastics in product packaging.

    By • July 9, 2024
  • Cut fruit in plastic packaging on store shelves
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    baranozdemir via Getty Images
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    Companies begin to signal changes to 2025 plastic targets

    Halfway through 2024, some organizations have said they’re off track or are switching gears to focus on new goals or more distant target years.

    By Packaging Dive Staff • July 5, 2024
  • A Google Pixel phone on a table in the foreground with people in the background examining Google devices.
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    Ramin Talaie via Getty Images
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    Google inches toward 2025 plastic-free packaging goal

    The tech giant eliminated plastic in the packaging for its newest Pixel phones.

    By • July 3, 2024
  • A display of Grove Collaborative's rebranded products.
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    Courtesy of Grove Collaborative
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    Grove explains decision to drop plastic-free by 2025 goal

    The home essentials marketplace operator said eliminating plastic would require legislation and “massive transformation in the CPG ecosystem.” Spray pumps and laundry pods are some of the items where plastic still plays a role.

    By • July 2, 2024
  • GreenBlue and Sustainable Packaging Coalition leaders discuss packaging issues at SPC Advance
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    Permission granted by Sustainable Packaging Coalition
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    SPC launches group focused on inclusion, representation in packaging

    The Sustainable Packaging Coalition expects its work in this area could result in scholarships to events, reallocating consumer education dollars and creating a mentorship network.

    By • June 27, 2024
  • An open box containing salmon; wording on box says 'TASTE THE DIFFERENCE' 'www.NorthCoastSeafoods.com'
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    Permission granted by North Coast Seafoods
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    Packaging innovations: Sustainable seafood boxes, EPR-driven water-soluble cement bags

    Disruptive Packaging and Mondi collaborated with North Coast Seafoods and Cemex, respectively. Plus, Aldi U.K. announced its latest plastic-to-paper substitution.

    By • June 26, 2024
  • A person carries a Zara shopping bag outdoors.
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    Omer Messinger via Getty Images
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    Zara owner pledges to stop using endangered and ancient forests in paper packaging

    The fashion industry is a major consumer of paper packaging for e-commerce envelopes and boxes, paper bags and hang tags. With the addition of Inditex, Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative now includes nearly 450 brands.

    By Laurel Deppen • June 26, 2024
  • Plastic Pepsi soda bottles encased in paper packaging
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    PepsiCo anticipates missing certain 2025 packaging sustainability goals

    The same day the CPG released its ESG report acknowledging it’s unlikely to hit a 2025 packaging circular design target, the city of Baltimore sued PepsiCo and others for their “significant roles in creating a plastic pollution crisis.” 

    By • June 21, 2024
  • Coffee K-Rounds fall against a yellow backdrop.
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    Courtesy of Keurig Dr Pepper
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    Keurig Dr Pepper reaffirms commitment to 2025 sustainable packaging goals

    The commitment — which applies to goals on recycled content, virgin plastic reduction and more — comes as some other organizations have changed their sustainable packaging targets.

    By • June 21, 2024
  • The bottom of an empty clear plastic Coca-Cola bottle sticks out from a green bag, with dozens of other empty beverage bottles for recycling blurred in the background.
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    Ezra Acayan via Getty Images
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    Plastic Promises Scorecard casts more doubt on 2025 company targets

    As You Sow awarded no ‘A’ scores, as it echoed US Plastics Pact concerns about companies not progressing quickly enough to meet 2025 targets. Still, it lauded goals and efforts at Keurig Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola and SC Johnson.

    By • June 18, 2024
  • Cut fruit in plastic packaging on store shelves
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    baranozdemir via Getty Images
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    5 packaging priorities in the federal food waste strategy

    The EPA, FDA and USDA highlighted efforts on compostable packaging, biobased materials, food date labeling, PFAS reduction and more in the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics.

    By • June 17, 2024
  • Wayfair's Wilmette store.
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    Courtesy of Wayfair
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    Wayfair boosts packaging recyclability, introduces zero waste goal

    The expanded use of paper-based mailers in the U.S. contributed to a bump in packaging recyclability.

    By • June 17, 2024
  • Three different colors of Google Pixel 6 smartphones standing up with the 'G' Google logo on the back: one phone is black, one silver, one rose gold.
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    Courtesy of Google
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    Google details fiber swaps in consumer electronics packaging

    Its anticipated plastic-free packaging design guide details implementation of molded fiber trays and hang tabs, paper tapes and other alternatives. Apple and Amazon have also pursued plastic reduction in device packaging.

    By • June 12, 2024
  • Rows of aerosol cans.
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    shank_ali via Getty Images
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    Aerosol can recycling has confounded consumers. There’s a push to fix that by 2030.

    Next steps include stronger labeling and advocating for aerosols on statewide recyclability lists in EPR programs, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute and the Household and Commercial Products Association.

    By • June 11, 2024
  • A stack of white styrofoam cups on a brown wooden table.
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    Liudmila Chernetska for iStock via Getty Images
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    US Plastics Pact releases new road map with 2030 plastics targets

    The new goals look very similar to those in the original road map, with a couple additions and a deadline extended from 2025 to 2030. Participants made progress on the 2025 goals but were unlikely to all meet the original targets.

    By • June 11, 2024