Latest news with #packagingwaste
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Infinite Beauty: Why The Future Of Sustainable Packaging Is Circular
Alexander Kwapis, Global Head of Innovation, R&D, and Engineering at FusionPKG, an Aptar Beauty Company. In an industry obsessed with transformation, the beauty sector is long overdue for one of its own—not in skincare or color but in how it handles packaging waste. Today's systems weren't designed for the complexity of beauty products. But that's starting to change, thanks to a shift toward circular economy thinking and a new wave of recycling technologies that promise to break the waste cycle for good. What Is A Circular Economy—And Why It Matters In Beauty The circular economy is more than just a sustainability buzzword. It's a systemic shift away from the linear 'take-make-dispose' model and toward one that designs out waste, keeps materials in use and regenerates natural systems. Packaging isn't an afterthought in a circular model—it's an asset. It's a resource to be recovered, reused and remade again and again. For beauty, that means reimagining everything: how materials are sourced, how packaging is designed and what happens at end-of-life. The goal? Prevent packaging from becoming waste in the first place—a tall order in a category known for small formats, complex pumps and luxurious layers. But now, thanks to molecular recycling and collective action, the industry finally has the tools to make that vision real. Molecular Recycling: The Technology Unlocking Infinite Reuse While mechanical recycling has been the standard for decades, it comes with constraints: It can only handle certain plastics (like PET and HDPE), requires clean material streams and degrades quality with each cycle. That's a problem when beauty packaging is often small, mixed-material and product-contaminated. Enter molecular recycling—also called advanced or chemical recycling. This next-gen technology breaks plastics down to their molecular building blocks (monomers), which can be reassembled into virgin-quality resin—without relying on fossil fuels. Companies Leading The Charge • Eastman uses polyester renewal technology and carbon renewal technology to process hard-to-recycle plastics into new materials with no performance loss. Its Kingsport, Tennessee, facility is now one of the world's largest molecular recycling sites, producing high-grade recycled content for beauty, textiles and more. • SK Chemicals is commercializing chemically recycled PET (CR-PET) and BHET from textile and packaging waste, with investments that make them one of the few suppliers globally offering mass production of infinite-loop PET. Its systems can handle even complex inputs like cosmetics containers and fibers. • PureCycle Technologies specializes in recycling polypropylene (commonly marked as No. 5 plastic) through a patented solvent-based purification process. This innovative method removes color, odor and contaminants from waste polypropylene (PP), producing ultra-pure recycled resin known as PureFive. The resulting material closely resembles virgin plastic and can be recycled multiple times without significant degradation. With these technologies, materials that would otherwise be incinerated or downcycled can be turned into high-performance packaging—again and again. Why Curbside Recycling Still Falls Short Unfortunately, today's curbside systems in the U.S. aren't built to process beauty packaging. Most recycling facilities (MRFs) are optimized for large, simple items—not mascaras, pumps with springs or multilayer tubes and bottles. Some of the key barriers include: • Size: Items under 2 inches often fall through sorting equipment. • Complexity: Mixed materials (e.g., plastic + metal) are hard to separate. • Residue: Leftover products can contaminate entire batches. • Color: Dark or opaque plastics are hard for optical sorters to detect. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 62% of beauty packaging is still non-recyclable, even when technically recyclable. Worse, some facilities report that 20% to 25% of collected materials are unrecyclable due to contamination or design. In short, recyclability on paper doesn't equal recyclability in practice. Closing The Loop: The Role Of Pact And TerraCycle Two organizations are helping bridge the gap between recyclability and actual recycling: Founded by MOB Beauty and Credo, the Pact Collective is a nonprofit focused entirely on beauty. With more than 140 brand and retailer members, Pact installs collection bins at major stores like Sephora and Ulta and runs mail-back programs for hard-to-recycle formats. Beyond logistics, it also advises brands on how to design for circularity, influencing upstream change. One of the most recognized names in private recycling, TerraCycle collects complex waste (like pumps and laminates) through both branded and general programs. Brands including Garnier, Nordstrom and L'Oréal have worked with them to implement drop-off and take-back programs. Its innovation platform, Loop, also reimagines packaging with reusable formats designed to last hundreds of uses. Together, Pact and TerraCycle are building infrastructure where traditional systems fail, helping beauty brands demonstrate true circular commitment. The Future Of Recyclable Design At FusionPKG, we believe design is the first and most powerful step toward circularity. That's why we're proud to lead with packages that are not just innovative but recyclable within real-world systems. Our Airless-One package meets Preferred Guidance from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)—the most stringent standard for recyclability in North America. It eliminates non-recyclable materials, uses a single material stream and is optimized for recycling—without compromising product protection or performance. More than a technical achievement, Airless-One represents a broader shift from legacy multicomponent packaging to mono-material, circular-ready solutions. While we continue to push boundaries, we're seeing other suppliers start to follow suit, racing to create packages that are more compatible with recycling realities. Looking Ahead: A Circular Future For Beauty The future of recycling in beauty won't hinge on one fix but rather require smart design, emerging tech and evolving policy: • Molecular recycling is scaling, and mono-material packaging is making circularity more achievable without compromising performance. • Regulations like the EU's PPWR and California's new laws are setting stricter standards for recyclability and recycled content. • Collaboration is growing, with groups like Pact and platforms like Loop driving collective progress. Change won't happen overnight. But with consumer pressure, regulatory push and innovations from beauty suppliers and resin manufacturers, beauty is on track to lead the circular movement—with packaging that's not just beautiful but built to last. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
The Coca-Cola Foundation partners with women-led Saudi tech startup Lesser App and the GETF
Collaboration aims to help reduce packaging waste and improve waste recovery in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) and the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF) have partnered with Lesser App, a pioneering technology solution developed by the Saudi women-led company Naqaa Solutions For Environmental Services, to help reduce packaging waste and improve waste recovery in the Kingdom. The partnership reflects TCCF's ongoing commitment to supporting impactful local initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable future. This collaboration is part of a newly launched initiative, Partnership for A Circular Tomorrow (PACT) - with an initial US $1 million grant by TCCF that invests in solutions and service delivery models to uplift waste workers and scale growth-stage waste enterprises. The effort aims to use innovation to reduce waste and help transform lives across five countries, including Saudi Arabia. As part of the initiative, Lesser App is leading the implementation of targeted PET plastic collection interventions across Riyadh and Jeddah. Key components include a door-to-door collection program, the establishment of four community drop-off centers, and the installation of PET plastic collection bins at six high-footfall mosques. Lesser App will also manage logistics, real-time impact tracking via its proprietary Sustainability Dashboard, and stakeholder coordination throughout the rollout. 'Our support for Lesser App reflects our commitment to the Kingdom and the importance of empowering local organizations to drive more innovation and improve waste recovery. We seek to create robust value chains, support informal waste workers, and support solutions in waste management, ultimately paving the way for a more sustainable future,' said Carlos Pagoaga, President, The Coca-Cola Foundation. Through this partnership, TCCF, GETF, and Lesser App will focus on raising environmental awareness, promoting responsible waste disposal, and driving large-scale PET plastic collection efforts throughout the Kingdom. The initiative directly supports Saudi Arabia's broader sustainability agenda and aligns with the ambitions of Vision 2030. 'As a women-led tech startup company, we are proud to play a central role in driving environmental change and empowering female leadership in the sustainability space. This collaboration allows us to bring innovative, community-centric recycling models to life, from tech-enabled pickups to plastic collection, and demonstrate the value of inclusive approaches to solving environmental issues,' said Mona Othman, CEO and co-founder, Lesser App. Saudi Arabia is one of the five countries included in the first phase of the PACT program, alongside Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. For more information, please visit About The Coca-Cola Foundation The Coca-Cola Foundation's mission is to make a difference in communities around the world where The Coca-Cola Company operates and where our employees live and work. We support transformative ideas and institutions that address complex global challenges and that leave a measurable and lasting impact. Since its inception in 1984, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded grants of over $1.6 billion in service of its mandate to strengthen communities across the world. About Lesser App: Lesser App is a pioneering B2C technology solution developed by Naqaa Solutions, a leading environmental services provider in Saudi Arabia. Focused on empowering individuals, Lesser App makes recycling easy, fun, and rewarding through its user-friendly mobile application. It facilitates convenient door-to-door collection services for recyclable materials, fostering sustainable habits and actively contributing to a greener Saudi Arabia. About GETF The Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), established in 1988, is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, that designs and manages high impact public-private partnerships improving the lives of nearly 58 million people in over 100 countries through water security and water access initiatives, health systems strengthening, circularity, entrepreneurship, community empowerment, sustainable agriculture and resilience. Leading partnership platforms under GETF's management include the Africa Water Stewardship initiative, Project Last Mile Partnership (PLM), Partnership for a Circular Tomorrow (PACT), Cargill Currents, and many others. GETF also serves as the Secretariat for two high-impact water coalitions – Global Water Challenge and the US Water Partnership. For further information, please contact: The Coca-Cola Foundation: The_Coca-Cola_Company@
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK shops to take on full cost of packaging waste disposal
Retailers across the UK are preparing for the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a landmark regulation that will shift the full cost of household packaging waste disposal from local authorities to producers. Set to take effect from October 2025, the scheme is expected to cost the industry around £2 billion annually, with significant implications for packaging strategies, supply chains and product pricing. How EPR changes the cost of packaging waste Under the EPR scheme, retailers and manufacturers will be required to pay fees based on the type, weight, and recyclability of the packaging they place on the market. This replaces the current shared-cost system, where local councils bear most of the expense for collecting and processing packaging waste. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that modulated fees will apply from 2026, meaning that producers using easier-to-recycle materials will pay less. This aims to encourage eco-friendly packaging design and a reduction in hard-to-recycle plastics. For now, fees will be calculated based on total packaging volumes reported by businesses for 2023, with the first invoices due next year. Retail sector faces cost and compliance pressure Retailers are concerned about the financial burden and administrative complexity of complying with the new rules. Industry groups such as the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have called for greater clarity around fee calculations and how the funds will be used to improve recycling infrastructure. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said the new EPR scheme must 'deliver value for money and transparency.' She also urged the government to reinvest funds into developing a more effective waste collection system that supports retailers in achieving their sustainability goals. Large brands have warned that some of the costs may ultimately be passed on to consumers. According to the Food and Drink Federation, the EPR rollout could lead to increased prices across everyday goods if retailers and suppliers are unable to absorb the additional charges. Data reporting and packaging design under scrutiny Retailers have already begun adjusting their packaging strategies to minimise liability under EPR. This includes reducing packaging weight, eliminating unnecessary materials, and switching to widely recyclable formats. Businesses with an annual turnover above £2 million and placing more than 50 tonnes of packaging on the UK market must also register with the EPR system and submit detailed packaging data. The data reporting requirement, which began in 2023, has proven challenging for many organisations. A lack of centralised guidance and inconsistencies in local recycling services have made it difficult for businesses to assess the recyclability of certain materials. Retailers are also reviewing product design, sourcing and labelling practices in preparation for modulated fees. Some are accelerating plans to adopt mono-material solutions or move away from coloured plastics that cannot be recycled at scale. "UK shops to take on full cost of packaging waste disposal" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How technology is transforming packaging waste recycling
Packaging waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental challenges worldwide. As consumption rises and e-commerce expands, so does the volume of packaging discarded daily. Effective packaging waste management technologies have become essential for reducing environmental harm, conserving resources, and supporting a circular economy. This article explores key innovations and approaches shaping the future of packaging waste management, helping readers understand how technology is transforming the way packaging waste is collected, processed, and reused. Innovative sorting and recycling systems One of the biggest hurdles in managing packaging waste is the complexity of materials involved. Packaging often combines paper, plastics, metals, and adhesives, making separation difficult. Advanced sorting technologies are critical in overcoming this challenge. Modern recycling centres increasingly employ automated sorting systems that use optical scanners, near-infrared (NIR) sensors, and artificial intelligence to identify and separate different types of packaging waste with remarkable accuracy. These technologies can distinguish between various plastics such as PET, HDPE, and polypropylene, and separate materials that were previously impossible to sort efficiently. Robotic arms equipped with machine learning algorithms further enhance sorting lines by recognising packaging shapes and materials, allowing for faster processing and higher purity of recycled materials. This not only improves recycling rates but also reduces contamination that can lower the quality of recycled products. Moreover, chemical recycling methods are gaining traction. Unlike traditional mechanical recycling, chemical recycling breaks down plastics to their molecular building blocks, enabling the production of new packaging materials with properties similar to virgin plastics. This technology can process mixed or contaminated packaging waste that is unsuitable for conventional recycling, broadening the range of waste that can be reclaimed. Biodegradable and compostable packaging solutions As awareness of the environmental impact of packaging waste grows, the development of biodegradable and compostable packaging has accelerated. These innovative materials are designed to break down naturally after use, reducing the burden on waste management systems. Biodegradable packaging is typically made from natural polymers such as starch, cellulose, or polylactic acid (PLA), which decompose under specific conditions. Compostable packaging goes a step further by breaking down completely into non-toxic substances in industrial composting facilities. While these materials offer promising alternatives to conventional plastics, their environmental benefits depend heavily on proper waste collection and disposal infrastructure. If biodegradable packaging ends up in landfill or littered environments, degradation may be slow or incomplete, negating intended advantages. Technologies supporting compostable packaging include smart labelling systems that inform consumers and waste handlers about the correct disposal routes. Digital markers and QR codes can indicate whether packaging is compostable, recyclable, or needs special treatment. This helps reduce contamination in recycling streams and ensures compostable waste reaches suitable facilities. The integration of biodegradable materials into packaging waste management systems highlights a growing trend towards designing packaging that fits seamlessly into circular waste processes, reducing landfill reliance. Waste-to-energy and circular economy integration Waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies offer a practical solution for managing packaging waste that cannot be recycled or composted. These systems convert waste materials into usable energy, such as electricity or heat, through processes like incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification. Modern WTE plants are designed to minimise harmful emissions and maximise energy recovery, providing a sustainable alternative to landfill disposal. By extracting value from residual packaging waste, these technologies reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill and support energy demands, especially in urban areas. At the same time, many companies and municipalities are embedding packaging waste management within broader circular economy frameworks. The circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible by designing products and packaging with reuse, repair, and recycling in mind. Digital tracking technologies, such as blockchain and IoT sensors, are being used to improve traceability and transparency throughout packaging supply chains. This ensures packaging waste is properly collected, sorted, and reintegrated into production cycles. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are also playing a key role by requiring manufacturers to take financial or physical responsibility for the end-of-life management of their packaging. This incentivises the design of packaging that is easier to recycle and encourages investment in waste management technologies. Combining waste-to-energy with circular economy principles creates a multi-layered approach that reduces environmental impact, conserves raw materials, and supports sustainable packaging futures. Ultimately, future of packaging waste management lies in a combination of advanced sorting and recycling technologies, innovative biodegradable materials, and integrated waste-to-energy systems within circular economy frameworks. Together, these developments promise to make packaging waste less of a burden on the environment, turning a critical challenge into an opportunity for sustainable innovation. "How technology is transforming packaging waste recycling" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. 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