Plastic Packaging

Giant cardboard boxes, puffy plastic air pillows, Styrofoam, packing peanuts, polystyrene bags, and plastic wrap. Consider, too, what’s discarded from consumables: tray liners, clamshells, egg and milk cartons, and plastic soda bottles, to name a few. 

Scientists at King’s College London, UK, have developed a way to chemically recycle single-use bioplastics commonly used in disposable items such as coffee cups and food containers. The approach is 84 times faster than the 12-week-long industrial composting process used for recycling bioplastic materials, say the chemists.

Spokane, Washington-based Clearwater Paper Corp., has announced a collaboration with Chicago-based specialty film manufacturer Charter Next Generation (CNG) for an early-to-market initiative to include advanced recycled polyethylene (PE) in Clearwater’s private label tissue packaging offerings. Clearwater says the purchase of this material in the place of traditional resins helps give new life to some plastics otherwise headed to landfills.

Virospack introduces a sleek and contemporary addition to its push button dropper range, designed to elevate beauty brands and enhance user experience. With a fresh shape and ergonomic design, meticulously crafted to set products apart from competitors, this new offering reflects a commitment to innovation and sophistication.

A team led by Rafael Auras has made a bio-based polymer blend that's compostable in both home and industrial settings. The work is published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

"In the U.S. and globally, there is a large issue with waste and especially plastic waste," said Auras, MSU professor and the Amcor Endowed Chair in Packaging Sustainability.

Less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled in the U.S. That means the bulk of plastic waste ends up as trash or litter, creating economic, environmental and even health concerns.

In a significant stride towards sustainability, the emergence of Biomass Plastic, BIO-PET, has garnered attention for its eco-friendly composition and comparable performance to traditional PET. Comprising 30% renewable raw materials, BIO-PET boasts equivalent mechanical and thermal properties to fossil-based PET, making it a promising contender in the packaging industry.

1. Carbon Footprint Reduction

RECOUP’s work encompasses a wide range of topics related to plastics recycling and resource efficiency; subjects also a priority at Zotefoams. Throughout its history, Zotefoams has been at the forefront of developments in sustainable materials that save energy by insulating or save fuel costs by reducing weight. Zotefoams strategically prioritises key markets where there is the greatest opportunity to improve circularity or reduce reliance on fossil fuel-derived raw materials and innovates within this space.