Latest news with #PackagingWorld
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grocery giant achieves stunning success with new policy that turns trash into treasure: 'It's a solvable problem'
At Safeway, food waste is making its way to people in need instead of landfills thanks to a partnership with the food waste prevention company Divert. Packaging World reported that, in just three months, the team effort led to a 20% increase in food donations, resulting in an average of 1,252 pounds of food per store being given to the public each month. Food waste is a major problem in the United States, with nearly 40% of all food going uneaten or unsold, according to Feeding America. That amounts to roughly 92 billion pounds of food, equivalent to 145 billion meals, being tossed into landfills each year. Meanwhile, 47 million people in the U.S., including 14 million children, are food insecure. Plus, food waste harms the environment by releasing potent planet-warming gases such as methane as it breaks down in landfills. According to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, food loss and waste are responsible for 8-10% of global heat-trapping pollution and cost the economy around $1 trillion per year. That's where companies such as Divert come in. It uses a comprehensive process that includes liquefaction, depackaging solutions, and anaerobic digestion to separate food waste from packaging and convert it into renewable energy sources and other valuable products. Divert collaborates with retailers to identify inefficiencies in their inventory management and help them reduce food waste. Any unsold food that can't be donated is turned into non-polluting clean energy, which supplies power to homes and businesses. When food waste undergoes anaerobic digestion, bacteria break it down to produce a nutrient-rich soil amendment that benefits plants and crops. In the depackaging process, food is removed from plastic packaging without releasing microplastics, keeping the harmful particles out of waterways and farmlands, where they contaminate crops and harm plant life. Divert works with nearly 8,000 customers and is looking to expand its operations so that 80% of the U.S. population will be located within 100 miles of a Divert facility by 2031. The company has already made remarkable progress in reducing food waste, processing 600 million pounds of discarded food and helping retailers donate more than 14 million pounds since its launch in 2007. "Our mission is to eliminate wasted food and create a circular economy," Ben Kuethe Oaks, vice president and general manager, told Packaging World. "By partnering with retailers like Safeway, we're able to put our data-driven solutions into action — preventing waste at the source, recovering edible food for donation, and converting what's left into renewable energy. "... Food waste isn't just an environmental issue — it's a solvable problem. With the right partnerships and the right technology, we can rethink waste and create a more sustainable food system for everyone." What's the most common reason you end up throwing away food? Bought more than I could eat Went bad sooner than I expected Forgot it was in the fridge Didn't want leftovers Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
McDonald's makes groundbreaking change to iconic menu staple — and most customers won't even realize it
From coffee cups to remote-control batteries, everyday items are getting an eco-friendly upgrade — and it could help your wallet and the planet. In Finland, McDonald's is swapping out plastic drink lids for recyclable, fiber-based ones across the country. Designed by Finnish packaging company Huhtamäki Oy, the new lids securely snap onto cups, are home-compostable, and can be recycled after use. As reported by Packaging World, the chain plans to roll out the switch across all Finland locations by 2025, a move expected to cut 59,000 kilograms (over 130,000 pounds) of plastic waste by the end of the year. Plastic waste isn't just a litter issue — it's also a pollution problem. Most plastic is made from dirty fuels like oil and gas that release heat-trapping pollution into the air. Swapping to paper-based alternatives helps cut back that pollution and keeps toxic microplastics out of our bodies and waterways. Other major brands are following suit. Battery maker Better Battery Co. became the first company to go fully plastic-free across its entire product lineup. Its batteries, now sold at retailers like Target and Walmart, come in recyclable, FSC-certified boxes and even include a prepaid envelope so customers can easily return used batteries for recycling. It's a hassle-free way for shoppers to reduce waste and make smarter choices without paying more. Luxury whisky brand Bruichladdich is making a similar shift. As part of its "One Tin Lighter" initiative, the company teamed up with papermaker James Cropper to replace its traditional tin canisters with recyclable, molded fiber wraps. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to buy a refillable product? Saving money Reducing plastic waste Using less shelf space at home Getting easy refill deliveries Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The new glue-free design features a sleek clasp and elegant embossing, delivering a premium look with a lighter footprint. This trend is part of a larger wave of companies opting for plastic-free packaging to meet consumer demand and reduce dirty fuel pollution. Major brands like Seventh Generation and Unilever have also made similar packaging commitments to help curb plastic waste and protect communities from harmful pollution. You can support this shift by choosing brands that prioritize eco-friendly initiatives; even something as simple as checking a company's website for its green efforts before you shop makes a difference. Olli Johansson, McDonald's Finland CEO, commented the following, according to Yahoo Finance: "McDonald's goal is for all packaging to come from renewable, recycled, and certified materials before the end of 2025." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola announces upgrade to the iconic design its bottles have had for decades — here's what's changing
The next time you grab a bottle of Coca-Cola, you may notice that it says "Recycle Me Again." This is more than just branding — it's an indicator of something that could prevent tens of millions of pounds of new plastic use. Packaging World reports that The Coca-Cola Company, the world's biggest soft-drink company, has adopted recycled plastic for all 20-ounce bottles of its trademark products, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero. It's the first sparkling-beverage brand in the U.S. to take this step. Through the initiative, Coca-Cola expects to save 80 million pounds of new plastic use — or the equivalent of roughly 2 billion bottles. All this said, plastic can generally only be recycled one or two times before it becomes too weak, and Coca-Cola is the largest producer of branded plastic waste in the world. Glass bottles and aluminum cans are still far more environmentally friendly than recycled plastic bottles. The new 20-ounce bottles were initially launched in 2021 across California, New York, and Texas. Dasani, the water brand owned by Coca-Cola, has had 100% recycled bottles since 2022 in its 20-ounce, 1-liter, and 1.5-liter sizes. "By properly recycling bottles and cans, we can help sustain a circular economy where we can source more recycled material to use in future packaging," the company says. Coca-Cola touts this as being a key part of its "World Without Waste" strategy. But as is the case with many large companies, the reality of Coca-Cola's carbon footprint doesn't always align with what it says publicly. The soft-drink behemoth previously announced that it would make one-quarter of its packaging reusable by 2030, but it appears to have quietly pulled that pledge. Meanwhile, a 2024 French study found that opening a plastic drink bottle, such as a liter bottle of Coca-Cola, can leach microplastic particles into your drink. The company also came under fire for its 2024 Christmas television ad, which was made using artificial intelligence. AI is remarkably energy-intensive — generating 1,000 images emits the same amount of carbon dioxide as driving more than four miles in a gas-powered car. When you think about a product's packaging, which of these factors is more important to you? The way it looks The information it provides The waste it produces I don't think about packaging at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. On the other hand, one of Coca-Cola's bottling plants in India and a production facility in the United Arab Emirates are both getting major solar-energy upgrades. If you have a tough time following which companies are taking the right steps with their environmental practices, you're not alone. That's why we put together this guide, showing eco-friendly initiatives by large brands. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manufacturer introduces new innovation that will make it easier than ever for online shoppers to return items: 'Redefining packaging'
Returning packages just got easier — and greener — thanks to DS Smith's newest, revolutionary tape design, Tape Back. Online shopping has made buying items easier than ever, but it is no secret that traditional methods for returning these items can be a hassle — not to mention wasteful. Traditional return policies have required customers to ship packages back on their own, with plastic sticky tape being the norm for securing materials. As detailed by Packaging World, North American-based packaging producer DS Smith hopes to eliminate that need by integrating built-in adhesive strips in its shipping materials, allowing consumers to reseal packages effortlessly. By simply uncovering the adhesive located on the inside of the box, consumers will be able to reseal their packages seamlessly. No extra materials, no waste — just peel, press, and send it back. When you think about a product's packaging, which of these factors is more important to you? The way it looks The information it provides The waste it produces I don't think about packaging at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Proponents of the design have already said it "improves customer efficiency," according to Business Wire, an ambassador for the product and an early testament to the standard the product is setting for the company. True to its mantra, "Redefining packaging for a changing world," according to its website, DS Smith's innovation marks a major step forward in packaging solutions that prioritize convenience and sustainability in an industry where this mindset is uncommon. Traditional, single-use plastic tapes are petroleum-based, which is linked to dirty energy consumption. By eliminating the need to rely on these resources, DS Smith is helping to lessen the effects of pollution while minimizing plastic waste. Less plastic consumption means less pollution on the planet, which will curb Earth's overheating and reduce the effects caused by a rising global temperature, like worsening extreme weather events, creating a brighter future for today and for future generations. Due to Tape Back's reusability, dirty energy pollution is even less, maximizing the product's efficiency and commitment to environmental consciousness. It also makes it easier for consumers to recycle curbside by limiting hidden non–recyclable material and avoiding mixing components. "DS Smith understands the growing importance of sustainable packaging solutions in today's e-commerce landscape, specifically as it relates to consumers returning goods," said Cheryl Holliday, the marketing director of DS Smith. "Tape Back is a direct response to the demand for more environmentally friendly and efficient return processes and demonstrates our commitment to creating circular design solutions." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
