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Waste Not

The latest in the growing number of efforts directed at reducing, repurposing and ultimately eliminating waste in all its forms.

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Recycling Isn’t Enough: Our Goal Should Be ‘Uncycling’

On a practical level, we simply cannot recycle our way out of the damage that plastic waste is doing to our world, our environment and ourselves. That’s why it's time to consider uncycling — or reducing our use of single-use plastics down to zero.

Accelerating Circularity Requires Creating a Viable Marketplace for Advanced Recycling

Cross-Posted from From Purpose to Action: Building a Sustainable Future Together. A circular plastics supply chain is still in its infancy. So, how do we work together to create a viable marketplace for advanced recycling to thrive? Here are a few strategies and approaches that show early promise.

After Formal Apology, Ocean Conservancy Works to Repair Damage Done by 2015 Plastics Report

Key recommendations failed to understand plastic pollution from a holistic perspective — placing too much blame on the five most impacted Asian countries and suggesting carbon-heavy options for disposal.

The Sum of Small Efforts: Engaging Suppliers to Ensure Brand Plastic Reduction

Cross-Posted from Supply Chain. Whether the priority is to reduce the plastic in packaging, increase the recycled content or just figure out where to start, it all begins with opening up a dialogue with suppliers. That is exactly what one major US retailer did when it sought to re-energise its plastics and packaging pledge during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Empowering Waste Pickers, Building Communities and Closing the Loop

Cross-Posted from From Purpose to Action: Building a Sustainable Future Together. In Latin America, where recycling rates remain below 10%, grassroots circular solutions are slowly beginning to scale — thanks to growing legitimacy, education, organization and protections for informal waste workers, who remain the backbone of the region’s collection and recycling infrastructure.

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E-Waste No More: Fairphone and Framework Show a Better Way Forward for Personal Electronics

Recycling, circular industry partnerships and marketplaces for refurbished devices are growing in popularity, but they won’t be a match for the tech industry’s throwaway approach anytime soon. But some smaller, more intrepid brands are proving the validity and demand for longer-lasting, easy-to-repair electronics.

Sainsbury’s ‘Sainsfreeze’ Pop-Up Will Show Brits New Ways to Reduce Food Waste, Save Money

Cross-Posted from Behavior Change. The pop-up will resemble a walk-in freezer with familiar food items frozen in innovative ways to help reduce food waste, keep nearly ‘off’ items fresh for longer and help maximize space — with all foods on display given away for free.

Trending: Industry Continues to Arm Itself in War on Plastic Waste

A new accelerator from the US Plastics Pact aims to catalyze broader adoption of reusable and refillable packaging options, while an upskilling program from rePurpose Global aims to help sustainability leaders more effectively tackle plastic pollution.

In Our Water- and Climate-Stressed World, There’s No Excuse for Wastewater Going to Waste

Cross-Posted from Cleantech. Globally, 80% of wastewater is discharged into local environments with minimal or no treatment — water that could be recycled and reused. California-based startup Aquacycl's waste-to-energy solution protects water resources while helping companies reduce costs.

CVS Health, Target, Walmart Share Insights from Piloting Ideas to Move ‘Beyond the Plastic Bag’

Cross-Posted from Product, Service & Design Innovation. New report shares insights to guide retailers on effective reusable bag models — a key solution as regulations to reduce reliance on single-use plastic bags grow across the US.

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This Startup Shows That Tackling the Plastic Crisis May Not Be a Stretch

Great Wrap aims to be a plug-and-play replacement for film wraps for both home and business. It replaces petroleum-based films with a bio-based waste product that, unlike most other bio-based polymers, completely decomposes in within three months.

So Long, Coffee Pods ... Hello, Coffee Balls?

The inventive, waste-free, single-serve coffee system means that portioned coffee no longer needs to be surrounded by an aluminum or plastic capsule.

Green Sports Alliance Launches Playbook to Help Sports Venues Divert Food Waste from Landfills

Venues with proper composting infrastructure can utilize the playbook to prevent plastic and organic waste from accumulating in landfills. Future editions will further explore how to expand venue logistics to implement comprehensive zero-waste programs.

Technological Ingenuity in African Nations: How They Are Solving the Plastic Waste Challenge

Cross-Posted from From Purpose to Action: Building a Sustainable Future Together. Enabling a circular economy is a complicated challenge that governments, communities and businesses globally are struggling to solve. But as Dow’s work in Africa proves, solutions exist — and success comes when organizations and communities collaborate to create change rooted in local context.

Finnish Bio-Based Innovations Could Be a Game-Changer for Plastic Packaging

Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. Once ranked the ‘greenest’ country in the world, Finland’s strong R&D programs have kept the country at the forefront of innovation in bio-based and circular solutions for materials and packaging.

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Recurate’s Inaugural Resale Report Highlights Goldmine in Brand-Owned Recommerce

Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. Many brands that offer pre-owned merchandise through their own retail channels initially do it for sustainability reasons — to keep useful products out of landfills. While that is an important benefit of recommerce, thinking of it only in those terms is overlooking major business opportunities.

Yes, Beach Cleanups Still Play an Important Role in Ocean Restoration

Cross-Posted from From Purpose to Action: Building a Sustainable Future Together. The overall puzzle of ocean restoration is complex; but to Dow, it is clear that organized cleanups are one of the most important pieces — because they can create a spark that will ignite the type of passion it takes to drive change.

Retailers and the Food Waste Fight: The Journey Continues

Between new approaches to labeling, innovative coatings, redistribution and data-driven solutions, retailers across the Western world continue to fight the good fight against food waste.

Report: An Asset Mindset Is Needed to Make a Circular Economy a Reality

Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. Latest research from Planet Tracker proposes a practical business solution to the problem of plastic waste, whereby packaging is treated as an asset to be returned, rather than a liability to be tossed.

Trending: Pangaia, Primark Expand Efforts to Turn Waste Textiles Into New Colors

Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. The latest in a growing wave of circular textile innovations, the materials-science company and the global retailer have both launched collections that turn waste materials into new, colored textiles that require no dyeing.

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