Sustainability

In a significant shift toward sustainability, Duracell has replaced its traditional blister packs with paper-based battery packaging, aiming to reduce plastic waste and improve the shopping experience. The new packaging, which rolled out earlier this year at Walmart stores nationwide, marks a major innovation in the battery industry.

The change, which is due to be implemented across all of Aldi UK’s own-label wines by the end of this year, comes about after a successful in-store trial last years.

All-in-all, 46 wines sealed under cork will no longer have capsules/foils, meaning that wines such as the Specially Selected Primitivo di Manduria (£8.69) and the Chassaux Et Fils Atlantique Rosé (£6.99) will be ‘naked’.

Konica Minolta’s Head Office Plant Earns Platinum Recognition for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility

Tokyo, Japan – Konica Minolta, Inc. proudly announced that its Konica Minolta Mechatronics Co., Ltd. head office plant has achieved Platinum recognition, the highest distinction in the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) corporate social responsibility audit. This accolade reflects Konica Minolta's unwavering commitment to labor standards, workplace safety, environmental stewardship, and ethical business practices.

Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams Expanded EU Carton Recycling Capacity with New Plant in The Netherlands

In a major step forward for recycling infrastructure in Europe, Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams announced a €3 million investment to establish a new recycling plant in Ittervoort, The Netherlands. The facility, which was set to commence operations in the second half of 2025, aimed to significantly enhance the recycling capacity for the non-fibre components (polyAl) of used beverage cartons in the European Union (EU).

GEKA’s story began in 1925, when the company was founded by Georg Karl senior in Waizendorf, Germany. At the time, the business was a simple brush factory, but as the years passed it began to grow in terms of both scale and scope. 

In the 1950s, Georg Karl junior, inspired by a visit to the USA and a meeting with cosmetics icon Helena Rubinstein, launched the company into the beauty sector with the production of twisted wire brushes. This forward-thinking leap laid the groundwork for GEKA’s future in high-precision beauty applications. 

In a significant move towards sustainable packaging, Xact Prepack, a leading UK packaging solutions provider, has partnered with Italian manufacturer Frutmac to introduce a range of 100% recyclable cardboard trays and punnets tailored for the UK's fresh produce and food sectors.

Innovative Packaging for Diverse Needs

The partnership combines SMX's molecular traceability technology with Aegis's proprietary O₂X™ high-barrier coating to create a solution for recyclable and verifiable circular packaging. SMX's technology embeds invisible markers at the molecular level, enabling complete tracking from production to end-of-life reuse, while Aegis's coating maintains high-barrier performance using recyclable mono-materials.

"We are dedicated to continuous improvements in our sustainable growing practices," says Sandy Malouff-Quintana, Vice President of Fresh Sales at South Mill Champs. "Our responsible production methods allow us to grow and produce wholesome mushroom products for consumers, foodservice, and retail."

As environmental sustainability is becoming more and more crucial, Ego Pharmaceuticals is continuing to make positive changes by improving the packaging of its iconic QV products. 

In a move that aims to save around 18 tonnes of packaging waste from landfill every year, all QV tube products are now being transitioned from laminate to LDPE packaging. Laminate packaging cannot be recycled in Australia due to the recycling facilities not being able to process the components of the laminate, whereas LDPE can easily be recycled by customers in their kerbside recycle bins. 

Created in partnership with PA Consulting, as part of the Bottle Collective with PA and PulPac, this is Diageo’s first paper-based 70cl bottle trial in the on-trade. The trial begins tomorrow and will assess how bartenders interact with and pour from the bottle, and how the bottle fares in a bar environment. A total of 250 paper-based bottles will be used with the trial expected to run until mid-October. Members of the public will be able to see the bottles in use behind the bar, however they cannot purchase the bottle.