Sustainability & Social Responsibility

Metal Packaging

Nordic Ecolabelling updates packaging criteria for the Nordic Swan certification of paints and varnishes, effective until September 2028; Emballator has played an advisory role in the process, aiming to support customers in making more sustainable choices
Emballator Group (01/24)

Ellen MacArthur Foundation report finds strong public support for reusable aluminum packaging; 89% of respondents ‘like the material,’ 86% likely to purchase preferred brand in it if priced like single-use plastic, 93% likely to return the packaging
Packaging News (UK) (01/24)

Paper Packaging

Drewsen Spezialpapiere restarts sales of new PROSEAL Heat Sealable Paper for packaging of non-food stuff and dry or non-fatty foods that require no further barriers; paper is fully recyclable in household paper streams
Drewsen Spezialpapiere GmbH & Co. KG (01/25)

Sabert to introduce Tray2Go recyclable solution and Hot2Go Range that’s free from internal plastic lamination at Packaging Innovations & Empack; Sabert will also showcase paper cutlery kit, rectangular and square bowl ranges, Snap2Go, Deli2Go
Sabert Corp. (01/24)

Smurfit Kappa creates recyclable packaging for Belgium-based Biobest to transport live bees; the insulated, weather-resistant box replaces previous EPS pack, features water-resistant AquaStop paper and hexacomb fitments, can survive outside for 6-8 weeks
Smurfit Kappa Group PLC (01/24)

Frugalpac joins Two Sides sustainable paper packaging initiative; by joining Two Sides, Frugalpac will gain access to a large library of co-brandable communications tools, consumer research, industry-leading information, sustainability advice and events
FoodNavigator.com (01/23)

Holmen Iggesund, Krekelberg, Inmaco Solutions, Van de Velde Packaging create Flock Box concept that combines natural fiber flocking technology and paperboard; recyclable premium gift box consists of an embossed outer box, inner tray with tailored cavities
Holmen Iggesund (01/23)

Plastic Packaging

Lotte Chilsung, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development and Coca-Cola generate the most single-use plastic waste among South Korea’s food and beverage makers, according to Greenpeace Korea report
Korea Times (01/25)

Puerto Rico Retail Assn., other private sector organizations call for delay in law prohibiting single-use plastics and EPS; law is set to come into effect in June, is viewed by private sector as lacking clarity and being potentially disruptive
CE Noticias Financieras (Latin America) (01/25)

Revolution Sustainable Solutions acquires PolyAg Recycling, a Canadian mechanical recycler of agricultural films; acquisition increases Revolution’s recycling capacity and increases the footprint of its circular solutions across North America
PRNewswire (01/24)

US-Nigeria Trade Council warns of financial strain to small- and medium-scale enterprises due to the abrupt prohibition of single-use plastic containers by Lagos State Government
Leadership (Abuja, Nigeria) (01/24)

Cosmo First business Cosmo Plastech to exhibit specialty rigid sheets, IML and Non-IML containers and trays at PlastFocus, taking place Feb. 1-5 in New Delhi; products are easily recyclable and meant for multiple use, according to business head
WhatTheyThink (01/24)

Domestic / Local Sourcing

Natural Resources Canada contributes C$3.9M toward construction of 14-story mass timber research tower at the University of Toronto's St. George campus; structure to be almost entirely engineered from Canadian timber, will absorb carbon dioxide
Targeted News Service (Press Releases) (01/23)

Reuse / Next Use / Upcycling

Encina Development Group signs long-term supply agreement with polymer manufacturer Covestro for chemically recycled feedstock from used plastics; Encina to supply toluene, benzene once it completes production facility, starts operations by end of 2027
Pennsylvania Business Report (01/24)

Researchers develop eco-friendly technique to recycle used surgical masks into hydrogen, syngas for energy applications; process uses plasma gasification on defective FFP2 face masks, which were shredded then converted to granules for controlled treatment
Kaunas University of Technology (01/24)

Tire upcycler Ecolomondo starts ramp-up of operations at Hawkesbury, Quebec, facility; company began production in January 2023 with 1,600 lbs. payload, gradually increased to optimal 15,000 lbs., expects to increase production to two batches per day
Ecolomondo Corp. (01/23)

Circular Innovation Council launches reuse initiative with Metro, Sobeys and Walmart Canada; food container pilot to launch in Ottawa in mid 2024, and Reusables.com will provide smart return bins to track container movements through washing, distribution
Globe Newswire (01/23)

Maire Tecnimont's NEXTCHEM enters agreement with cement maker Colacem to utilize inert granulate derived from the waste-to-chemical process by reusing it in cement production; NEXTCHEM subsidiary MyRechemical will supply the inert granulate
Maire Tecnimont SPA (01/23)

Recyclable / Recycled Materials

BEWI--a producer of sustainable packaging, components and insulation solutions--introduces new products based on recycled feedstock; by using a mass-balance approach, BEWI can offer products with a reduced CO2 footprint
Northern European Markets (Web Disclosure) via PUBT (01/25)

Birla Cellulose and Usha Yarn collaborate to launch Puneh, a sustainable range of recycled yarn blends with cellulosic fiber; Puneh means 'again' in Sanskrit, is biodegradable, has capacity for further recycling
Indian Textiles News (01/25)

Corrected: Charter Next Generation partners with VOID Technologies to launch cavitated PE films for flow wrap and confectionery applications which are recycle-ready; films feature VOID's patented VO+ PE Voiding Agent Masterbatch free of TiO2 pigments
Charter Next Generation (CNG) (01/24)

US-based Cone Denim to launch first apparel collection made with Renewcell's recycled Circulose pulp; Cone's Eden fabric is made with 31% Circulose viscose, Wonderwall fabric comprises RCS certified pre-consumer recycled cotton and Lenzing's Tencel fibers
Apparel Resources (01/24)

Loop Industries, Bormioli Pharma announce a pharmaceutical bottle manufactured with 100% recycled virgin-quality Loop PET resin will be unveiled at Pharmapack Europe 2024; tests show bottles do not release any substance deemed of toxicological relevance
Accesswire (01/24)

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

More than 60 recycling bills have been filed across US states, says Resource Recycling; Vermont bill include EPR for tires, while another EPR-related bill in Washington state covers paper, packaging
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/23)

Recycling Centers / Materials Recovery (MRF)

Republic Services opens recycling center in Salt River, Arizona; 51,000-sq.-ft. facility to manage recyclables from 1.4 million residents, over 2,000 businesses, process up to 40 tons/hour of items such as paper, containerboard, plastic and glass bottles
PR Newswire (01/24)

Machinex receives contract to design, install new material recycling facility in Montreal; Matrec branch of GFL to operate with 52 tonnes/hour processing capacity, using latest sorting technology including Hyspec optical sorters, ballistic separators
Machinex Industries Inc. (01/23)

Some segments of recycled paper market could improve in price and demand in 2024, though sluggish supply, collection challenges and global supply chain issues will continue to influence the markets, according to speakers at ISRI's recovered paper webinar
Waste Dive (01/23)

Recycling

Infinity Recycling, a growth capital platform investing in circular economy solutions, announces three new institutional limited partners, bringing fund to €135M
Infinity Recycling Ltd (01/23)

Iveco Group partners with BASF for recycling lithium-ion batteries from its electric vehicles as part of its circular economy strategy, including EPR compliance; BAFS will process the batteries to black mass, which includes nickel, cobalt, lithium
GlobeNewswire (01/23)

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Elkem successfully completes the world’s first pilot for carbon capture and storage, recording capture rates of up to 95%, in a smelter at its plant in Rana, Norway; company now aims to promote the business case for carbon capture and storage
Elkem ASA (01/25)

Possible £32M in budget cuts endanger vital woodland coverage initiatives to meet Scotland's net-zero emissions target by 2045; industry bodies say 14,000 hectares of new woodland have been approved this year, but budget only allows for planting of 9,000
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/25)

Germany's carbon dioxide emissions drop to lowest since 1950s due to increased reliance on sustainable energy sources and declining coal-based electricity, according to study; country passed bill to phase out oil and gas heating systems by 2030
Forbes (01/24)

Cintas releases 2023 ESG Report; highlights include reduced energy usage intensity by 33% and reduced GHG emissions intensity by 35% since fiscal 2019 base year
The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association (ISSA) (01/24)

CMA CGM's first bio-, e-methane-ready vessel, LNG-powered CMA CGM Scandola, to call West African ports for first time, connecting with China, southeast Asia and India; 15,000-TEU Scandola emits up to 99% less sulfur compared to conventional vessels
Global Data Point (01/24)

Climate Change

Executive Perspective: JBS CEO Gilberto Tomazoni emphasizes the importance of regenerative agriculture in tackling two major global challenges: climate change and feeding the growing global population
Meat+Poultry (01/24)

OSU to hold science pub on Indigenous stewardship of forests for climate resiliency, wildfire control in Corvallis on Feb. 7; ecologist Cristina Eisenberg, research assistant Ashley Russell to discuss blending tribal knowledge, western science in forestry
Oregon State University (01/23)

Suzano marks 100th anniversary by announcing plans to invest US$100M to advance global efforts to protect, restore nature, with first US$30M for partnerships; Suzano signs separate MOUs with University of Cambridge, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Business Wire (01/23)

Forest Fire / Wildfire

Study on California's Central Sierra mountains finds that scenarios with minimal management, no prescribed fires had highest wildfire smoke pollution; results emphasized importance of strategic forestry to mitigate smoke impacts on surrounding communities
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/24)

USFS of Flathead National Forest in Montana approves East Fork Salvage Project, located within 2023 wildfire area; project may start September, consists of commercial harvest salvage of 223 acres of fire-damaged trees, fuels mitigation, reforestation
U.S. Fed News (01/24)

Environmental / Ecological / Carbon Footprint

Renewable Carbon Initiative raises concerns over Joint Research Centre's method for assessing renewable plastics, stating it creates disadvantage for producers using renewable feedstocks; RCI suggests requiring identical data provision for all feedstocks
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) (01/24)

Ruhr University Bochum and Fraunhofer UMSICHT researchers develop homogeneous catalysts under industrial conditions for converting carbon dioxide into raw materials with a system that converts it into carbon monoxide, a common industry starting material
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) (01/24)

Horizon Europe's WaterProof develops carbon capture and utilization process to convert CO2 from waste incineration into renewable formic acid to replace fossil feedstock in consumer products and for precious metals recovery; project promotes circularity
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) (01/24)

UK-based pharmaceutical packaging provider Origin launches Environmental Positioning Policy; company’s Lifestyle Packaging and DiD brands offer design, product development, regulatory compliance, testing, production, managed supply services
Packaging News (UK) (01/24)

TNC publishes scientific paper outlining core principles needed to implement natural climate solutions in measurable, sustainable, equitable, nature-based and climate-contributing manner; NCS could provide a third of needed global GHG emission reductions
The Nature Conservancy (01/24)

Carbon Capture, Storage & Utilization (CCSU)

Drax launches separate business to focus on carbon removal through Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage technology, aims to remove a minimum of 6 megatons of CO2 from atmosphere annually; new unit to be based in Houston, Texas
Drax Group PLC (01/25)

California-based Avnos develops hybrid direct air capture system generating water as it removes CO2 from atmosphere, offering a cost-effective, scalable system for carbon capture; startup supported by investors such as Shell Ventures and JetBlue Ventures
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/24)

Carbon Sequestration / Forest Carbon

New concept paper outlines key questions to be answered by US Endowment-backed research into forest carbon offset market, which is expected to surge to US$250B by 2050; paper considers effects of increased offset demand on other forest products, habitats
Dovetail Partners Inc. (01/24)

Exemplary Forestry Management, partners acquire 3,000-acre Scammon Ridge Headwaters in Maine; purchase is Exemplary Forestry Investment Fund's first forestland holding, which aims to eventually own, manage 100,000 acres of Maine forest for carbon, nature
New England Forestry Foundation (01/24)

Carbon Trading / Credits / Accounting

After governments fail to operationalize Article 6 of Paris Accord on carbon credits trading at COP28, NGOs advocate for tax proceeds from Europe's CBAM to support transition to green energy and fund green investment in developing economies
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/24)

Swiss non-profit Alliance Sud questions legitimacy of carbon offsets purchased by Switzerland from Thailand under Paris Agreement's Article 6.2, arguing that electric bus project in Bangkok would have happened regardless of carbon credit sale
The Thaiger (01/24)

Nine of 14 sectors surveyed by carbon management advisor South Pole see reduced climate communications; 44% of firms find it more difficult than before due to regulatory changes, lack of clarity but 81% say net-zero messaging is beneficial for bottom line
South Pole Carbon Asset Management Ltd. (01/24)

BeZero ratings show consistent correlation with pricing of carbon credits; credits rated 'A' or above fetch an 80% price premium when compared to other BeZero-rated credits in voluntary carbon market
BeZero (01/24)

Regenerative Agriculture

Olam Agri Launches Global Regenerative Agriculture Programme To Offer Traceable and Sustainably Grown Cotton
Olam International Ltd. (01/24)

McCain Foods sets its intentions to implement regenerative agriculture practices across 100% of the global acreage that grows potatoes for its products by the end of the decade, with details of its progress outlined in its new global sustainability report
FoodNavigator.com (01/24)

Air Pollution / Air Quality

EPA and Kentucky Division for Air Quality to host community meeting following completion of an air monitoring study showing elevated levels of potential cancer-causing chemicals; higher levels are located near Calvert City Industrial Complex
Targeted News Service (Press Releases) (01/25)

EPA releases risk assessment shows air emissions, coming primarily from Westlake Chemical site, are driving elevated cancer risk in Calvert City, Kentucky; Westlake vinyls plant is a major source of ethylene dichloride emissions, EPA says
Courier-Journal, The (Louisville, KY) (01/24)

Waste Connections reaches agreement with South Coast Air Quality Management District to tackle foul odors, pollution at Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic, California; agreement includes pollution monitoring, oversight process, drilling
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/23)

Pacific Northwest Renewable Energy proposes US$155M wood pellet production facility in Hoquiam, Washington, but faces local opposition on air quality concerns; plant to create 53 jobs, produce 450,000 tons/year of wood pellets for export to Asia, Europe
The Daily World (01/23)

Water Pollution / Water Quality

Inhance claims EPA lacks authority to regulate its fluorination process under the Trump-era Significant New Use Rule, arguing the process existed before the rule took effect; EPA its Toxic Substances Control Act enforcement suit from 2022 still stands
Inside TSCA (01/24)

Pollution

First meeting of international members of the Plastics Pact Network--established by Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WRAP--convene to ensure voluntary action sets the groundwork for forthcoming changes under UN Global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution
Targeted News Service (Press Releases) (01/25)

Industrial Waste / Recycling

Goodwill's non-profit industrial recycler Green Works receives US$50,000 grant from Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition; grant enables installation of densifier, recycling of foam materials from 1 million Detroit-area residents
Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) (01/24)

Waste Management

New York faces lawsuit from NWRA and railroad associations over state's Waste by Rail law; suit claims law, which requires specific coverings for solid waste transported within state, violates federal law, interferes with interstate commerce
Legal Newsline (01/24)

RBC reaffirms Waste Connections' outperform rating and raises target by US$5 to US$169; pricing expected to remain strong alongside stabilizing volumes and margins during Q4 earnings season for North American waste sector companies
Canada StockWatch (01/24)

Laser Photonics' CleanTech laser systems remove contaminants, modify surface texture of aluminum cans for better ink adhesion of digitally printed labels, eliminating single-use plastic labels, shrink sleeves from the waste stream
Business Wire (01/24)

Vermont-based Casella seeks six-year extension to operate Maine's largest landfill, Juniper Ridge, despite toxic sludge concerns; if granted six-year extension, company would oversee landfill until 2040
Industry Intelligence Inc. (01/23)

Food Waste

USDA invests US$11.5M in composting, food waste reduction projects in 23 states; projects include Cleveland residential composting drop-offs, and composting hubs for areas that cannot access existing composting services in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Agriculture Department: USDA Blog (01/25)

Biodegradable / Compostable Materials

CJ CheilJedang is expanding the use of its newly developed biodegradable packaging for shipping products; new vinyl wrapper made of PHA has the ability to replace PVC and is being used by subsidiary brand Olive Young for its rapid-shipping service
Korea Times (01/24)

Sabert launches new Pulp Hinged Containers and Pulp Portion Cups for foodservice operators; both products are made with PFAS-free pulp and are commercially compostable
Contify Retail News (01/24)

Riken develops device that spins artificial spider silk by recreating fiber's complex molecular structure; artificial silk is biodegradable, biocompatible, could bring eco-friendly impact to industries such as textiles, medicine
Riken Corp. (01/23)

Ahlstrom launches home compostable PureLid fiber-based lid offering for single-serve coffee capsules; lid is compatible with most common biobased coffee capsules on market, incorporates a built-in filter that effectively retains dust for optimal brewing
Ahlstrom (01/23)

Biobased Chemicals & Materials

European Bioplastics (EUBP) urges EU to formulate comprehensive Biopolymers Industrial Action Plan for accelerating growth of bioplastics industry; plan highlights key strategies including harmonizing regulations, incentivizing sustainable biomass access
GlobeNewswire Europe (01/25)

Horizon Europe project PEFerence to host two webinars on Feb. 5 and Feb. 26 showcasing PEF, a bio-based material aiming at replacing fossil PET for bottle and textile applications; free events will feature speakers from Avantium and BMT
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) (01/24)

Avient highlights portfolio of bio-based polymer solutions at Pharmapack 2024 trade show; products include biobased polymer colorants and additives, and bio-derived thermoplastic elastomers with reduced product carbon footprint
Avient Corp. (01/24)

Arkema achieves ISCC+ certification for acrylic acid and ester production facility located in Taixing, China; company aims to expand certified bio-attributed materials production to North America
PR Newswire (01/23)

UPM Kymmene highlights bio-attributed jar launched by Finnish cosmetics firm Lumene in autumn 2023 for its Nordic-C [Valo] range of moisturizers; jar utilizes a wood-based plastic raw material made from crude tall oil, a residue from UPM's pulp production
UPM Kymmene Oyj (01/23)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I)

Albertsons hosts fourth annual supplier diversity program, open to small, mid-size businesses that are at least 51% owned, controlled and operated by women, Black, indigenous and people of color, LGBTQ+, veterans or people with disabilities
Associated Press (01/23)