Sustainability: Page 8

  • Two paper cups with Delta Air Lines' branded messaging.
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    Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
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    Aviation industry group recommends how plastic reduction can take off

    Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are among the carriers testing ways to reduce single-use plastic with strategies including substrate switches and reusable cups.

    By • April 10, 2024
  • A 24-pack of beverage cans sitting in a cardboard base with a fiber wrapper around them.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    5 packaging innovation trends to watch in 2024: SPC

    AI, digital labeling and “paperization” top the movements highlighted in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s inaugural Packaging Innovation Trends Report.

    By • April 9, 2024
  • Rows of industrial hemp growing in a farm field.
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    AndrisTkachenko via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Is hemp the next revolution for sustainable packaging? Startup element6 Dynamics thinks so.

    CEO Kimberly Kovacs details the company’s push to use industrial hemp for making paper and packaging, which she says is a more sustainable option than tree pulp.

    By • April 8, 2024
  • Speakers sit on a stage with a conference presentation in the background.
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    Megan Quinn/Packaging Dive
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    Domestic PCR-virgin resin battle faces global headwinds but finds local remedies

    PCR markets are still facing competition with virgin resin and oversupply headwinds, but future recycled content policy effects and changes to contracts could help, said speakers at the Plastics Recycling Conference.

    By Megan Quinn • April 5, 2024
  • A box of Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime herbal tea bags
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    Courtesy of Celestial Seasonings
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    Free the tea: Celestial Seasonings is latest brand to slash plastic overwrap

    Plastic overwrap was a legacy process for Celestial Seasonings, which recently redesigned its boxes. The U.S. Plastics Pact’s executive director said more brands should ask whether outer plastic wrap is needed.

    By • April 5, 2024
  • A Costco rotisserie chicken in a flexible plastic bag with red and black branded messaging.
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    Permission granted by Cesar Canizales
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    Costco tests a switch from rigid to flexible packaging for its rotisserie chickens

    Costco anticipates the substrate switch will reduce the plastic it uses for the chicken products by 75%, aligning with packaging guidelines it adopted last year. Its five-year action plan for plastics reduction is coming soon.

    By • Updated April 3, 2024
  • The top of a Pact Collective collection bin for recycling empty skincare and makeup containers
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    Permission granted by Pact Collective
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    Sephora, Ulta recycling partner Pact reports lower diversion volumes, higher engagement in 2023

    Pact Collective attributed much of the volume decline to a year-over-year drop in the amount of obsolete inventory and unsellable goods collected. The nonprofit said this bulk material has huge potential for upcycling in 2024.

    By Hayley Lind • April 1, 2024
  • A pile of plastic bottles.
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    ABimagestudio via Getty Images
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    Best practices for using rPET in beverage containers: ISBT

    “Everybody wants to utilize more recycled material,” but differences emerge based on output source and application, said Lee Malvitz, presenting for the International Society of Beverage Technologists during Pack Expo East.

    By • Updated April 3, 2024
  • A plastic bag made with postconsumer recycled bag holding romaine hearts, featuring the Andy Boy logo.
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    Permission granted by Emerald Packaging
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    Emerald bullish on PCR as produce packaging company marks transition

    Co-owner Jim Kelly is stepping down from his EVP role as he reflects on decades of innovation in the produce market. The family business looks to forge ahead on recycled content implementation in flexible packaging.

    By • March 26, 2024
  • Hain Celestial
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    Permission granted by Hain Celestial
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    Material reduction, enhanced recyclability anchor Hain Celestial’s new packaging targets

    The CPG company behind Celestial Seasonings tea and Terra chips set targets to reduce virgin packaging materials and packaging waste while increasing recyclability.

    By • March 25, 2024
  • A boiler at a Georgia-Pacific containerboard manufacturing facility.
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    Permission granted by Georgia-Pacific
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    4 packaging facilities receive EPA recognition for energy efficiency

    Energy Star certifications recognize the nation’s most energy-efficient manufacturing facilities, with only the top 25% most energy-efficient plants in their sector achieving this status.

    By • March 21, 2024
  • A person puts a fish in a fiber box.
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    Permission granted by DS Smith
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    Packaging innovations: DS Smith’s fiber fish carrier, Monterey Mushrooms’ color change

    Plus, Chlorophyll Water ramps up its recycled content; Pregis flexes its fiber muscle; and Eco-Products combats composting contamination.

    By • March 15, 2024
  • A variety of shrink bands to seal jars and bottles that have compostable messaging printed on them.
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    Permission granted by Elevate Packaging
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    Deep Dive

    Compostable packaging take-back programs aim to ease consumer burden, boost recovery

    As compostable packaging rollouts outpace access to collection, more companies are looking to make collection less confusing via mail-in or pick-up programs.

    By • March 13, 2024
  • Plastic waste on a sandy beach. Pollution of the waters of the world ocean by plastic. Polluted beach in Los Angeles, USA
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    Konoplytska via Getty Images
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    As You Sow stays the course with plastic reduction resolutions despite ESG headwinds

    “I think this is a really difficult year for shareholder resolutions,” said Kelly McBee, circular economy manager at As You Sow. To date, its 2024 consumer packaging efforts target Altria, Amazon and others.

    By • March 13, 2024
  • Exterior view of clothes being washed in a frontload machine
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    PictureLake via Getty Images
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    Refills and plastic alternatives offer a fresh spin on laundry detergent packaging

    While traditional detergent bottles are widely recyclable, consumer demand for plastic reduction has led to a range of refillable solutions, sheets and, as of this past week, “fiber tiles.”

    By Hayley Lind • March 12, 2024
  • Two Huhtamaki fiber egg cartons stacked on top of each other, with another open carton in the foreground, on a kitchen counter.
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    Permission granted by Huhtamaki
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    Molded fiber packaging growth fueled by expanding demand, updated technology

    Companies such as Huhtamaki, PulPac and Tanbark are seeing notable growth in opportunities for molded fiber to gain scale as a plastic alternative.

    By Hollie Stephens • March 6, 2024
  • Clear plastic bottles
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    golubovy via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Does this packaging contain recycled plastic? Inside the mass balance debate

    An accounting system long used in other industries is gaining prominence in the packaging sector, due in part to the rise of chemical recycling. Companies, trade groups and regulators are weighing the complexities and controversies.

    By Leslie Nemo • March 5, 2024
  • Close up view of blue plastic beverage bottles.
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    Galina Shafran via Getty Images
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    U.S. Plastics Pact touts progress toward 2025 targets and initiative’s evolution

    As “activators” such as brands, retailers and manufacturers progress in achieving plastics circularity goals by the end of 2025, USPP is set to release a new road map to guide their future advancement.

    By • March 1, 2024
  • Califia Farms bottle
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    Permission granted by Califia Farms
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    Califia Farms rolls out 100% rPET bottles in North America

    The plant-based beverages brand is still seeking recycled content solutions for caps and sleeve labels. The company estimates packaging lightweighting from 2019 to 2023 avoided 4 million pounds of plastic production.

    By • Feb. 29, 2024
  • Three sizes of plastic cups with the green Starbucks logo and plastic lids.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks adds 3 new 2030 sustainability goals for packaging

    The coffee chain named targets covering recycled content and other metrics for customer-facing packaging in its recent ESG report. But it lost ground on emissions reduction and waste diversion.

    By • Feb. 27, 2024
  • Two bottles of Walgreens brand nail polish remover with different colored labels.
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    Courtesy of Walgreens Boots Alliance
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    It’s black and white: Walgreens details cap color change among sustainability efforts

    The pharmacy chain's own-brand product packaging changes are among its efforts to meet 2030 targets. Parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance also touted packaging sustainability work in its 2023 ESG report.

    By • Feb. 21, 2024
  • Shelves of stacked plastic containers containing freshly cut veggies, on display at grocery store
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    OGI75 via Getty Images
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    Don’t forget about packaging in national food waste reduction strategy, trade groups say

    Ameripen and the Flexible Packaging Association sent comments to the EPA, FDA and USDA on evaluating packaging materials, the potential growth of biobased and compostable packaging and more.

    By • Feb. 21, 2024
  • A bee sits on a thistle in the UK
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    Nigel Harris via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Biodiversity emerges as an ESG priority in packaging, but measurement could be a challenge

    As international standards evolve, fiber-based packaging companies are in the spotlight. Smurfit Kappa, WestRock, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Canopy Planet weigh in on what the increased focus means for the industry.

    By April Reese • Feb. 20, 2024
  • Various packages of Angel Soft toilet paper featuring the new animated main character, Angel.
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    Courtesy of Georgia-Pacific
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    Packaging innovations: Angel Soft gets baby fever, Juicy Juice pumps up its playfulness

    Plus, packaging refreshes and new launches from Crystal Light, Chanel, O-I Glass, ProAmpac, Berries Paradise, Sway and IPG.

    By • Feb. 16, 2024
  • Four different branded boxes for shipping via e-commerce without additional Amazon packaging.
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    Permission granted by Amazon
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    Amazon proposes less packaging, more savings for its sellers

    Testing for Ships in Product Packaging compatibility often involves “a series of drops and vibrations,” a packaging innovation team leader said. Sellers can expect fee discounts for program participation.

    By • Feb. 14, 2024