Bacteria can be used to turn plastic waste into painkillers, researchers have found, opening up the possibility of a more sustainable process for producing the drugs.

Chemists have discovered E coli can be used to create paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, from a material produced in the laboratory from plastic bottles.

“Our material eliminates polystyrene foam materials that are filling landfills and persisting as litter in the environment,” said Richard Venditti, the Elis-Signe Olsson Professor of Pulp and Paper Science and Engineering.

Plastic foam, often known by the brand name Styrofoam, is used in many everyday products — from disposable food and beverage containers like cups and plates to shipping materials such as packing peanuts and protective packaging.

• SABIC Plastic Energy Advanced Recycling (SPEAR), the joint venture recycling plant by Plastic Energy and SABIC in Geleen, the Netherlands, has produced its first pyrolysis oil, known as TACOIL™.
• TACOIL™ is made from hard-to-recycle post-consumer plastic waste that would otherwise be lost to landfill or incineration.
• This milestone marks another step on the facility’s journey to full commercial production expected to begin later this year

TACOIL™ is made from hard-to-recycle post-consumer plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfill.

 A global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, is proud to launch a revolutionary turkey breast package for Butterball, LLC. The new Perflex® shrink bag design features a built-in handle that reduces packaging material and improves efficiency.

Traditional turkey packaging utilizes a net around the product to create a strong carrying handle. Removing the additional packaging material achieves a more convenient and sustainable package.

Compared to the incumbent netted turkey breast bag, the Amcor Perflex® handle bag delivers*:

The Octopus Prestige stretch wrapper uses a top-down design, so all maintenance areas of the machine can be lowered down to floor level. It has a Double-S film carriage system that allows for stable loads while reducing film consumption, an integrated top sheet dispenser with floor level access for film roll change, as well as Signode’s RollCycler film roll changing system that can store up to eight film rolls.