Circularity & Waste

News: Chemicals

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UNILEVER — Is piloting the production of synthetic soda ash with a “near-zero” GHG footprint (soda ash is a key ingredient in laundry powder and one of the most-used chemical compounds in the world). Unilever’s Indian subsidiary is collaborating with chemical companies TFL and Fertiglobe to make soda ash with ammonia made from green hydrogen, and with boilers run on biofuels. The CO2 produced by the boilers is also captured and used in the manufacturing process. The pilot will produce enough low-carbon soda ash for about 6,000 metric tons of laundry powder. (Nov 2023)

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LYONDELLBASELL — Launched its +LC (Low Carbon) solutions, a new range of Intermediates and Derivatives (I&D) chemicals produced using recycled and renewable feedstocks, supporting businesses in meeting their greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The chemicals are produced under an International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certified mass balance methodology, enabling manufacturers to claim the benefits of the more sustainable feedstocks in their final products.

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Together for Sustainability (TfS) — TfS and CEF member Siemens announced a new decarbonization partnership to advance the overall sustainability of the chemical industry. TfS and Siemens will set up a pilot project to track the industry’s Scope 3 emissions. Using Siemens’ “Sigreen” solution for digital exchange of Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data, the project aims to demonstrate the scalability of PCF data exchange across an entire industry. Once piloted, findings will be shared and the exchange can be deployed across the TfS members. (May 2023)

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REI — Announced it would phase out the use of forever chemicals (PFAS) from its cookware and textiles in its new Product Impact Standards. Cookware and textiles covered by a California law on synthetic chemicals will be free of PFAS by fall of 2024, with all remaining textiles PFAS-free by fall of 2026. The company also introduced rules for suppliers to track their annual greenhouse gas emissions starting at the end of 2024, engaging with its high-volume partners in 2023. (March 2023)

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3M— Announced it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. 3M’s decision is based on the increasing regulation of PFAS and changing stakeholder expectations. (Jan 2023)

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UNILEVER / GENOMATICA — Launched a venture to develop, scale, and commercialize biotech-derived, plant-based alternatives to palm oil and fossil fuels for cleansing agents found in household cleaners and skin care products. Genomatica ("Geno") will use its biotechnology capability to produce the alternative, which will diversify Unilever's supply chains and curb the cutting of biodiverse forests to make way for palm plantations. The companies cite initial estimates that use of the new alternative ingredients could also reduce the carbon footprint of ingredients currently derived from palm by up to 50%. Unilever and Geno are jointly investing $120 million in the venture, and other strategic investors are expected to join. (June 2022)

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Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Fashion FWD, and U.S. PIRG Education Fund released a report about the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the apparel industry. The family of chemicals are commonly used for waterproofing and stain-proofing but are alleged to pose serious health risks throughout their long lifecycle. The report includes a scorecard of 30 well-known brands and retailers, with grading based on (April 2022):

• PFAS labeling and testing protocols.
• Transparency of PFAS commitments.
• Range of products covered by company PFAS policy.
• Timeline for PFAS phaseout.

The survey behind the scorecard found that only a handful of companies have addressed the PFAS issue in a comprehensive way, with most companies having weak policies or none at all. Top-scoring companies were Levi Strauss & Co., Victoria’s Secret, and Decker Brands. (April 2022)

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23 investors urge hazardous chemical phaseout — Investors managing $4.1 trillion in assets, including Aviva Investors and Storebrand, sent a letter urging 50 of the world’s largest chemical producers to increase transparency on hazardous substances and phase out production for substances linked to environmental and health concerns. Investors also suggested companies share their data with the non-profit International Chemical Secretariat, which advocates for the shift to safer chemicals and tracks industry performance. (Dec 2021)

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News: Fashion

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H&M GROUP / VARGAS HOLDING — Launched Syre, a new textile recycling and production company. Syre is starting with a $600 million offtake agreement with H&M over seven years to provide recycled polyester. Syre is building a production plant in North Carolina and aims to be operational from 2024. (March 2024)

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INDITEX — Spanish fashion group Inditex announced that by 2030, 100% of textile fibers used by the company will deliver a lower environmental impact, either through technological innovation, using recycled textiles, or materials grown using organic and regenerative farming practices. The company also plans to cut emissions along its value chain by 50% in 2030 (and achieve net zero emissions by 2040), expand its circularity projects, and pursue new biodiversity initiatives to regenerate at least five million hectares globally. (July 2023)

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ALLBIRDS — Announced it has created the world’s first net zero carbon shoe, the M0.0NSHOT. The shoe achieves 0.0 kg of CO2 equivalent (compared to the industry average of 14kg), without relying on offsets, by using a mix of regenerative, carbon-efficient and carbon negative materials. The company also made its design toolkit open-source, inviting others in the shoe industry “to follow in its footsteps.” (March 2023)

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PRIMARK — Announced it is launching new durability and repair initiatives designed to help ensure clothes can be loved and worn for longer. These include working with WRAP to establish an industry-wide fashion durability standard; collaborating with consumer behavior researchers to assess the relationship between price and durability; and scaling up free clothing repair workshops across Europe (after a successful 12-month pilot) and an online hub featuring repair tutorials. (March 2023)

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H&M — Launched H&M Pre-Loved, a resale program in collaboration with online consignment platform ThredUp. H&M will be the largest retailer working with ThredUp with 30,000 articles of clothing initially on the site. (March 2023)

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H&M GROUP/REMONDIS — H&M and waste management company Remondis announced the creation of a new joint venture to collect, sort, and sell used and unwanted garments and textiles. This company, Looper Textile Co., aims to collect 40 million garments in Europe in 2023, reselling 60%, downcycling a third into insulation or sofa stuffing, and incinerating the remaining unusable garments for power. (Feb 2023)

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CANOPY — The environmental nonprofit Canopy announced a group of 33 retailers will collectively commit to purchase 550,000 metric tons of low-carbon, low-footprint alternative fibers for fashion textiles and paper packaging. The commitment will help unlock investment needed to build new pulp mills, create new markets to replace the burning of straw residue and textile landfilling, and prevent 2.2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. (Nov 2022)

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Fashion Climate Fund — Aims to catalyze verifiable solutions to CO2 emissions within the fashion industry. The $250 million fund was launched by the Apparel Impact institute (Aii) with the announcement of four lead funders—Lululemon, H&M Group, H&M Foundation, and The Schmidt Family Foundation. The fund was developed following research showing 96% of the industry’s emissions come from factories and farms in apparel brands’ supply chains. The Fashion Climate Fund will provide philanthropic capital to “accelerate and de-risk pre-seed and pilot innovations” to transition suppliers from fossil fuels to renewables and develop next-generation materials. Aii estimates that successful pilots could unlock $2 billion in additional blended capital over the next eight years. (June 2022)

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EVERYWHERE APPAREL — Material science company Everywhere Apparel launched what it says is the world’s first closed-loop, “blank” (unbranded and printable) apparel line made of 100% GRS-certified recycled cotton. Each shirt includes a QR code “enabling customers to receive a free mailer and send apparel back for recycling into new products.” Everywhere Apparel has open-sourced the exclusive mechanically recycled cotton fiber technology and closed-loop system infrastructure for free. (March 2022)

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NEW LOOK — The British fashion retailer committed to (Feb 2022):

• Reducing GHG emissions from its products by 50% by 2030.
• Using 100% recycled, organic, or Better Cotton Initiative-sourced cotton starting this year, and using 100% sustainable viscose by 2023.
• Setting specific science-based targets “and a roadmap” by 2023.
• Publishing full visibility of its Tier 1 and 2 suppliers through by FY23 and full visibility of its Tier 3 cotton, viscose, and polyester supply chains by FY23.
• Reporting on model and influencer diversity annually starting this year.

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The D(R)YE Factory of the Future — Fashion for Good is partnering with global companies such as adidas, Kering, and PVH to reduce carbon emissions across the fashion supply chain by accelerating the shift from mostly wet to dry textile processing. With an initial focus on textile pre-treatment and coloration, the partners will work with eight “innovators” (including Alchemie Technologies and imogo) to test technology solutions in combination across five materials. (Jan 2022)

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CHANEL — Unveiled the “No. 1 de Chanel” low-packaging beauty line, which includes the company’s first refillable beauty product. Products have no outer plastic wrapping and no inner paper leaflets. Bottles and jars have glass or bio-based components instead of plastic, and were designed to weigh one-third to one-half less per product. (Jan 2022)

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TIMBERLAND — Launched its new Timberloop™ product take-back program in US stores and online, with plans to roll out the program in EMEA and APAC. Customers can return used Timberland footwear, apparel, and accessories to the company, and some parts will be reused, upcycled/recycled into other products, or refurbished to sell on a website launching this spring. (Jan 2022)

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MACY’S — Announced new sustainability commitments including (Oct 2021):

• Reducing the water use of Macy’s private brands’ third-party manufacturing in water-stressed areas by 25% by 2025 (2019 baseline)
• Making 40% of its private-brand products with preferred sustainable fibers by 2025
• Increasing in-store recycling to 80%
• Achieving 100% preferred sustainable materials in Macy’s private brands by 2030
• Adding 5,000 product pages to Macys.com to help customers find sustainable products

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Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 — Kering, Cartier, and the Responsible Jewellery Council are launching a coalition to accelerate a low-carbon future for all watch and jewelry brands with a national or international footprint. Signatories will make numerous commitments around climate resilience, resource preservation, and value-chain inclusivity. (Oct 2021)
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WALMART — Announced new commitments for virgin plastic and apparel (Oct 2021):

• Achieving a 15% absolute reduction of virgin plastic by 2025
• Sourcing 100% more sustainable cotton and 50% recycled polyester by 2025 for Sam’s Club US and Walmart Canada Private Brand apparel and home textiles
• Requiring by 2025 that suppliers don’t use manmade cellulosic fibers (e.g., rayon/viscose) sourced from endangered species’ habitats, ancient or endangered forests, or other “controversial sources” for Walmart U.S. Private Brand soft home-textile products and apparel

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ASOS — The global British e-commerce company unveiled its Fashion with Integrity program with numerous sustainability and social targets (Sept 2021):

• Reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions per order by 87% by 2030
• Making 100% of its own-brand packaging and products from more sustainable or recycled materials by 2030
• Publishing an annual human rights strategy and implementation report starting in 2023
• Ensuring at least 50% female representation and over 15% ethnic minority representation at every level of leadership by 2030
• Tying its executives’ pay to environmental goals

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H&M — Launched H&M Rewear in Canada, a customer-to-customer (C2C) platform for buying and selling clothing from any brand. (Sept 2021)
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CHAMPION — The HanesBrands subsidiary is partnering with The Renewal Workshop,which delivers circular apparel solutions, to launch a “Champion Renewed” line of sweatshirts that have been repaired to be like new by The Renewal Workshop. (Sept 2021)
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LULULEMON ATHLETICA — The apparel company is partnering with bioengineering company Genomatica to create a plant-based, renewably sourced nylon for future lululemon products. (Aug 2021)
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EASYJET — Announced its cabin crew and pilots will start wearing uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles, which have a 75% lower carbon footprint than polyester. The move will divert an estimated 2.7 million bottles from landfills and oceans. (Aug 2021)
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Secondhand clothing is a $36 billion market projected to double in 5 years to $77 billion, and resale is expected to grow 11 times faster than retail during the same period, according to thredUP’s 2021 Resale Report. The report also highlights purchasing habits of 3,500 customers surveyed and change in consumer values due to COVID-19. (July 2021)
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TIMBERLAND — Announced a global take-back program wherein its footwear, apparel, and accessories can be returned to a Timberland store for repair/refurbishment for sale on a re-commerce platform, or upcycled or recycled into a future product. Developed in partnership with ReCircled, the program launches in the U.S. in August and should expand to EMEA in fall and APAC next spring. (July 2021)
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GUCCI — Unveiled and open-sourced to the fashion industry a new bio-based, animal-free luxury textile: Demetra, which is composed of about 77% plant-based, renewable, sustainable, and bio-based sources. (June 2021)
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PAMPERS (P&G) — Introduced its first hybrid diaper featuring reusable parts and using 25% less disposable materials. (May 2021)

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ADIDAS/ALLBIRDS — Unveiled "FUTURECRAFT.FOOTPRINT," a running shoe with a carbon footprint of 2.94 kg of CO2e per pair. The average running shoe generates about 12.5 kg of CO2e per pair. (May 2021)
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GLOBAL BIOENERGIES — The French biotech firm unveiled the world’s first range of make-up under the brand “LAST®” made from sugar beet residue instead of petrochemicals. (May 2021)

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DECKER BRANDS — Its footwear brand Teva announced “TevaForever,” a new recycling program in partnership with TerraCycle to repurpose and reuse well-worn Teva sandals. (May 2021)

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TOMMY HILFIGER — Unveiled its first denim collection developed with circular design principles in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (April 2021)

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LVMH — LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Givenchy, announced plans to launch an online marketplace for unused fabric and leather. (April 2021)

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RALPH LAUREN/ DOW— Ralph Lauren unveiled “Color on Demand”—dubbed the “world’s first scalable zero wastewater cotton dyeing system”—which it created in collaboration with chemical companies Dow and Huntsman Textile Effects and textile equipment manufacturers Jeanologia and Corob.  The first phase of Color on Demand—which involves a textile treatment developed by Dow—uses 40% less water, 85% fewer chemicals, 90% less energy, and reduces the carbon footprint 60% compared to traditional cotton dyeing processes. Ralph Lauren plans to use the platform in more than 80% of the Company’s solid cotton products by 2025. (March 2021)

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RALPH LAUREN — Announced new circularity commitments, including making five iconic products Cradle to Cradle Certified by 2025. The company also plans to offer 100% recycled cotton products across its portfolio by 2025, and will introduce more “more circular experiences for consumers” in 2022 by enabling product collection to support resale and recycling and enhancing vintage selling capabilities. (March 2021)

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TreeToTextile—part-owned by H&M and Ikea—plans to build a $42.5 million demonstration plant in Sweden to scale a new sustainable textile fiber that offers a lower environmental footprint at an attractive cost-comparison to conventional fiber. The plant will roughly produce 1,500 tons of fiber annually. (March 2021)

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News: Packaging & Plastics

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AMAZON — Announced that over 50% of European shipments now come in reduced, recyclable delivery packaging, such as a paper bag or cardboard envelope, or no added packaging at all through its Ships in Product Packaging program (which has totaled 700 million shipments in Europe since 2019). (April 2024)

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STARBUCKS — Published new 2030 sustainability targets for customer facing packaging to be: 1) 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable; 2) sourced from 50% recycled materials; and 3) made using 50% less virgin fossil fuel derived sources. (March 2024)

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DELTA — Announced it is starting a trial of new paper cups to help eliminate single-use plastic cups on Delta flights. The new cups are designed by Delta to work with hot, cold, and alcoholic beverages. Once approved and adopted across the Delta network, paper cups will help eliminate nearly 7 million pounds of single-use plastics on board annually, the company says. (Dec 2023)

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AMAZON — Announced all delivery packaging in Europe will now be recyclable paper bags, cardboard envelopes or boxes, including third-party selling partners. Combined with shipping products without additional packaging, these efforts have avoided more than one billion single-use plastic bags in Europe since 2019. (Nov 2023)

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PEPSICO — Announced it will replace plastic rings on beverage multipacks with recycled paper-based wraps and clips across North America. The company will phase in this change across the U.S. later this year, building on progress in Canada where the transition has already started. (Aug 2023)

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MITSUBISHI CORPORATION — Reached an agreement with Suntory Holdings Limited and ENEOS Corporation to build a supply chain for PET bottles derived from biomass (such as used cooking oil). This is the world’s first production of bio-PET bottles using bio-paraxylene (PX) derived from bio-naphtha on a commercial scale, according to Mitsubishi. By the end of 2023, enough bio-PX is expected to be produced to make 35 million bio-PET bottles, to be used for Suntory’s bottles in 2024. (Aug 2023)

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KRAFT HEINZ — Announced a new goal to reduce the use of virgin plastic in its global packaging portfolio by 20% by 2030. This change is estimated to reduce the use of approximately 100 million pounds (45.4 thousand metric tons) of virgin plastic, through a combination of reducing packaging and increasing use of recycled plastics and alternative materials. (Aug 2023)

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ABSOLUT — Started selling new bottles made partially with paper at 22 grocery stores in the UK, in this global first. The bottle is made of 57% paper and an integrated plastic barrier. The company is using this trial release to collect feedback across the value chain, including logistics, retail, and consumers, and to develop its efforts to create a fully bio-based bottle. (June 2023)

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MASTERCARD — Announced that the company will accelerate efforts to remove first-use PVC plastics from its payment cards by 2028. From then, Mastercard plastic payment cards will be made from more sustainable materials, including recycled or bio-sourced plastics, and approved through a certification program. This is a first for a payment network. The company will work with its issuers and card manufacturers to transition more than 168 million cards across its network. (April 2023)

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GREIF — Greif, an industrial packaging products and services company, announced new 2030 sustainability targets. These include: reaching zero waste to landfills at 97% of its production facilities; making 100% of its products recyclable; achieving an average of 60% recycled raw material content across products; attaining global gender pay parity; and increasing evaluation of sustainability performance for 80% of its total spend with suppliers. (Jan 2023)

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DOW — Announced it will accelerate its sustainability targets by expanding its Stop the Waste target to a Transform the Waste target. Dow will transform plastic waste and other forms of alternative feedstock to commercialize three million metric tons of circular and renewable solutions annually by 2030. To support this, Dow will build industrial ecosystems to collect, reuse, or recycle waste and expand its portfolio to meet growing demand. (Jan 2023)

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DIAGEO — Announced a partnership with glass manufacturer Encirc to build a hydrogen-powered furnace in the UK to scale net zero glass bottle production. Diageo aims to produce 200 million bottles annually from the facility by 2030. (Dec 2022)

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DOW — Announced it will evolve the company’s “Stop the Waste” target into a “Transform the Waste” target. By 2030, Dow committed to transform plastic waste to deliver 3 million metric tons (MMT) per year of “circular and renewable solutions,” replacing its previous goal of 1 MMT. To do this it will build industrial systems to reuse or recycle waste. (Oct 2022)

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Twelve member companies of the Consumer Goods Forum’s Coalition of Action on Plastic Waste published a letter to “express their common interest in the development of credible, safe, and environmentally sound” infrastructure to chemically recycle plastics and “in purchasing commercial volumes of chemically recycled plastic content to incorporate in their packaging portfolio.” CEF member signatories included PepsiCo and Unilever. (Oct 2022)

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UNDER ARMOUR — Released a new sustainability framework with 23 goals and targets, including prioritizing recycled and renewable materials and reducing single-use plastic brand product packaging by 75% by 2025. (Oct 2022)

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LEVI STRAUSS & CO. — Announced 16 new sustainability goals, including eliminating single-use plastics in consumer-facing packaging by shifting to 100% reusable, recyclable, or home compostable plastics by 2030. (Oct 2022)

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CARLSBERG GROUP — Launched its new ESG program, “Together Towards ZERO and Beyond,” which updates its ESG targets and adds new focus areas. New suite of targets includes achieving (Aug 2022):

• Net-zero carbon emissions across its entire value chain by 2040.
• 100% of raw materials from regenerative agriculture and sustainably sourced by 2040.
• 100% of packaging recyclable, reusable, or renewable by 2030.
• 100% replenishment of water consumption at breweries in high-risk areas.
• 35% of its global beer portfolio to be low-alcohol or no-alcohol by 2030. 

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CARLSBERG GROUP — Denmark-based brewing company Carlsberd Group has launched a pilot of its “Fibre Bottle,” an environmentally low-impact alternative to traditional glass beer bottles. The new bottles feature an outer shell made from wood fiber—from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests—and a new plant-based PEF lining developed by Carlsberg’s renewable chemistry partner, Avantium. The Fibre Bottle It is compatible with plastic recycling systems, biodegradable if it ends up outside recycling streams, and its production carries only about 20% of the emissions of glass bottles, according to the company. The beer in the 8,000 pilot bottles is organic and made from Barley grown with regenerative agriculture practices. (June 2022)

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LanzaTech, with the support of food and beverage brand Danone, has made a breakthrough in the production of sustainable PET plastics. The carbon capture and transformation company successfully turned captured carbon emissions directly into monoethylene glycol (MEG), one of the main components of PET. The proprietary technology uses an engineered bacterium to convert carbon emissions directly into MEG through fermentation, which significantly simplifies the MEG supply chain. (May 2022)

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KRAFT HEINZ / PULPEX — Announced plans to develop a new bottle for Heinze ketchup and other sauces that will be made from 100% sustainably-sourced wood pulp, making it recyclable in paper waste streams. Data indicates that the Pulpex-produced bottles will have a materially smaller carbon footprint than glass and plastic on a per-bottle basis. The project aligns with Kraft Heinz’s goals to make all packaging globally recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025 and to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. (May 2022)

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MATTEL — Announced a new goal to reduce plastic packaging by 25% per product by 2030. (May 2022)
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10 to 90® recycling collaboration — Cyclyx International, a consortium-based waste plastic innovation company co-founded by Agilyx Corporation and CEF member ExxonMobil Chemical Company, is introducing a set of takeback programs, education tools, engagement tools, and reward programs to enable more recycling options for low quality waste plastics that currently do not get recycled. In parallel, they are launching a “10 to 90 Challenge” with select municipalities, companies, and universities to increase recycling rates from a current average of 10% to 90%. (April 2022)

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AMAZON — Replaced the use of plastic delivery bags in its UK distribution network with more easily recyclable paper and cardboard packaging. The change applies items sold by Amazon and by third-party vendors utilizing Amazon’s UK fulfillment centers. (April 2022)

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QANTAS GROUP — The Australian national carrier outlined new interim targets to achieve net zero by 2050 as part of its new Qantas Group Climate Action Plan. Targets include (April 2022):

• Reduction of carbon emissions by 25% by 2030.
• Use of 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the Group’s fuel mix by 2030, and approximately 60% by 2050.
• Elimination of single-use plastics by 2027 and general waste (excluding quarantine waste) to landfills by 2030.
• Increase in fuel efficiency by an average of 1.5% per year to 2030 through aircraft fleet updates, using more efficient flight planning, and researching next-generation technologies.

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TARGET — Unveiled Target Zero, a new curated product collection created to replace single-use packaging and advance the Target Forward strategy. A Target Zero icon on store shelves and Target.com will identify products and packaging made from more sustainable materials or designed to be reusable, refillable, or compostable. Hundreds of new and existing beauty, personal care, and home products are included, with plans to expand the assortment. (March 2022)

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HONEYWELL / TOTALENERGIES — Signed a strategic agreement to accelerate the development of advanced plastic recycling. Honeywell will supply recycled polymer feedstock (RPF) created at its UpCycle plant (projected to start up in 2023) using its UpCycle Process Technology, and TotalEnergies will purchase and convert the RPF into virgin-quality polymers for its European-based production units. (Feb 2022)

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COCA-COLA — Committed to having at least 25% of all beverages sold globally across its portfolio brands be packaged in refillable/returnable glass or plastic bottles, or in refillable containers through fountain or Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers. (Feb 2022)

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CMA CGM — Announced it will stop transporting plastic waste on its vessels starting on June 1. (Feb 2022)

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HP — Is acquiring Choose Packaging to scale Choose’s patented technology and deliver fiber-based, 100% plastic-free packaging. Choose Packaging created “the only commercially available zero-plastic paper bottle in the world,” made with naturally occurring and nontoxic materials. (Feb 2022)

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PEPSICO EUROPE — Committed to using 100% recycled plastic or renewable plastic in all its crisp and chip bags by 2030, which could reduce GHG emissions by 40% per ton of packaging material. PepsiCo will also work to build a European circular economy for flexible packaging by switching to new materials that are easier to recycle, investing in infrastructure to boost recycling, and exploring “new life” possibilities for snack bags. (Jan 2022)

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GRUPO MODELO — Will invest roughly $4 million in WestRock’s CanCollar® beer packaging: a recyclable, paperboard-based alternative to single-use plastic rings, which are produced by Grupo Gondi. Grupo Modelo says it is the first company in the Americas to adopt the solution and it will use CanCollar® for beers sold in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, eliminating over 100 tons of plastic waste annually. (Jan 2022)

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List of Packaging and Plastics News, 2021-2019 (PDF)

Research & Trends: Chemicals

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“Forever chemicals” were found in 83% of U.S. waterways, according to a new report by Waterkeeper Alliance. Local Waterkeeper groups tested 114 waterways across 34 states and the District of Columbia and 94 were found to contain at least one type of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) present. Many waterways revealed the presence of up to 35 different PFAS. The level of contamination of some waterways was thousands to hundreds of thousands times higher than drinking water standards. (Oct 2022)

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Planet Positive Chemicals (Center for Global Commons and SYSTEMIQ) — Estimates that the chemical industry is operating in line with a climate trajectory of 4°C based on the sector’s operating modal and IPCC carbon budgets. Among the report’s findings (Sept 2022):

• Only 17% of chemical companies have a science-based emissions reduction target.
• More than 98% of the carbon feedstock in the industry came from fossil sources, a proportion that would need to drop to 18% by 2050 in a net-zero scenario.
• 41% of plastic leaks into the environment or is burned and 57% of fertilizer isn’t taken up by plants, running off into the environment.
• The cost of new infrastructure and retrofits required to achieve net zero is estimated to be $2.7-3.2 trillion by 2050.

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Chemists discovered a new way to destroy PFAS (“forever chemicals”), using lye and a common organic solvent, according to a study published in Science. The new method is a relatively cheap and mild process to break the strong bonds of PFAS. (Aug 2022)

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Safer States analyzed US state legislation on toxic chemicals and estimates that at least 32 states will consider at least 210 bills to regulate toxic chemicals this year. Efforts to combat PFAS in products are the most prevalent, with at least 45 bills anticipated. (Feb 2022)

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When PFAS enter the ocean, rather than being diluted over decades, “there’s a boomerang effect” and some of them “are re-emitted to air, transported long distances and then deposited back onto land,” according to Matthew Salter, co-author of a new study published in Environmental Science & Technology. (Jan 2022)
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Research & Trends: Circular Economy

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The Circularity Gap Report 2024 (Deloitte and Circle Economy Foundation) — Finds that while discussion of circularity has almost tripled in the last five years, this has not resulted in a decline in virgin material use. In fact, since the first report in 2018, the share of secondary materials has declined steadily (from 9.1% to 7.2%), with the vast majority of materials entering the economy continuing to be virgin. The report identifies three main areas where reforms can help accelerate progress toward the circular economy: 1) government policies that incentivize circular practices and penalize harmful ones; 2) shifting fiscal policies to create true prices that factor in environmental and social costs; and 3) and providing circular expertise and skills training to employees. The report also examines circular solutions for three high-impact systems: food; the built environment, and manufactured goods. (Jan 2024)

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Circularity: No Time to Waste

 (ABB Motion) — Surveys 3,304 senior industrial decision-makers from diverse sectors across 12 countries about circularity practices. Key findings (Jan 2024):

• 91% are being affected by resource scarcity.
• 99% measure circularity in some way, but there is no prevailing approach.
• 78% agree that the circular economy fosters innovation and drives competitiveness.
• 67% say their investments in circularity will increase in the next 3 years.
• 67% are using sustainable/recycled materials in their products and processes.
• 46% say waste reduction has been improved by circularity.
• 77% agree they need more government support to develop circular practices.
• Only 8% view circularity as a company-wide responsibility.

Achieving a Circular Economy (World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)) — Explores the potential of data-sharing tools (like the Digital Product Passport) to enable a circular economy across the chemicals, textiles (apparel), construction, and electronics value chains. The study finds that sharing product information throughout its lifecycle can facilitate circular strategies for all stakeholders involved in the value chain, helping manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, consumers, and recyclers to make informed decisions, optimize processes, and identify opportunities for circularity. The report provides both cross-sectoral and sectoral insights. It also find that through the mapping of purpose-driven data-flows, companies can better prepare for regulation that seeks to drive circularity and retain material value, while bringing about synergies and intricacies between them. (Aug 2023)

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System Enablers for a Circular Economy (UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)) — Highlights systemic barriers and the policy and market-based solutions to enable the built environment industry to shift from a linear to a circular system, specifically identifying eight enablers that will encourage the shift. These include: increasing collaboration between industry stakeholders; establishing a marketplace for secondary construction materials; applying circular design to architecture practices; expanding the use of green contracts; developing tax, legislation, and policies that direct industry toward circularity; scaling up green finance; developing consistent indicators; and educating practitioners and decision-makers with the necessary knowledge. (Feb 2023)

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The Circularity Gap Report 2023 (Circle Economy) — Just 7.2% of the virgin materials extracted from the earth each year are reused or properly recycled, down from 9.1% in 2018. Material extraction is estimated at over 100 gigatons (Gt) per year and is projected to rise to 170-184 Gt/year by 2050 in a BAU scenario. Shifting to a circular economy (using less, using longer, using again, and making clean/regenerative) could fulfill human needs with just 70% of the materials currently being used, within the safe limits of the planet. The report explores how to circularize the four key sectors that make up the majority of environmental pressures: food systems, the built environment, manufactured goods and consumables, and mobility and transport. (Jan 2023)

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Towards a circular economy that begins and ends in nature (IUCN) Examines links and potential gaps between the circular economy and biodiversity policy approaches in the European Union. Specifically, the report focuses on policies related to the food, water and nutrients value chain, which is a key driver of land use change and biodiversity loss, and was highlighted in the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan as a sector with high resource use and potential for circularity. It explores circular economy practices, such as bio-based materials, that need to be considered carefully to ensure they do not pose a risk to biodiversity. (Dec 2022)

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Circular Carbon Market Report: 2021 Research Results (Circular Carbon Network) — Provides an in-depth analysis of market data from key players in the circular carbon sector working to transform waste CO2 into valuable, sustainable resources. CCN analysis suggests that while activity in the sector grew rapidly in 2021, “there remains a Grand Canyon sized gap between where we are and where we need to be.” Circular Carbon Network’s (CCN) data is shared via “living online data indexes” (available to CCN members) and the analysis identifies specific opportunities and challenges for continued growth in the sector, with insights valuable to innovators/start-ups as well as investors/capital providers (April 2022):

• The “Innovator Index” and companion “Deal Hub” database track key technology, product, commercial, and capital data about the solution provider landscape for potential investors, commercial partners, and other key stakeholders, and shows the innovator landscape is growing and diversifying: 54% of innovators are in the pre-seed/seed stage, 77% are actively commercializing (in Pilot, Demo or Growth phase), and over 25% self-identify as highly technologically advanced.
• The “Capital Index” tracks the Circular Carbon investor landscape, which already shows a diverse range of institutions, types, and size of investments. Corporate Equity is the largest investment type reported in the index, having increased by 46% from 2020.
• The “Corporate Index” covers 80 large global corporations from 21 countries and 19 industries. Of those, 42% and 44%, respectively, have investment interest in Carbontech and Carbon Removal. Additionally, over half of the included companies are active in Purchasing and Investment in the sector—a 20% increase from 2020. 
• The "Catalyst Index" lays out the growing range of services, expertise, resources, and support that scaffold the Circular Carbon sector. The most common types are NGO’s, conveners, and commercial service providers (e.g., attorneys, consultants, and engineering firms).

Closing the Plastics Circularity Gap (Google, AFARA, IHS Markit) — Offers a potential path to “create irreversible momentum towards a circular economy for plastics and simultaneously end our reliance on fossil fuel feedstocks.” Provides an intervention model that quantifies the impacts of potential solutions (e.g., technology, investment, procurement, policy), and prioritizes potential solutions into 10 strategic interventions that are either low- or no-risk under multiple future scenarios. The report claims that (March 2022):

• Strategic interventions could reduce the plastic circularity gap by 59 percent, cumulatively diverting 4.5 billion metric tons of plastics by 2040.
• It’s projected that the price of producing plastics through circular supply chains is 28-34% lower than through virgin supply chains, when averaged across 2020-40.
• To reach that, an injection of $634 billion to $995 billion in capital is necessary over the next 20 years.

Full Report | Executive Summary

The Circularity Gap Report 2022 (Circle Economy) — Provides 21 circular solutions for businesses, cities, and countries, which could reduce resource extraction and use by 28%, cut GHG emissions by 39%, and align the world with 1.5°C of warming. It reports that a record 101.4 billion tons of virgin materials were consumed globally last year and the amount of resources that re-enter the circular economy each year by 2030 must at least double to maintain 1.5°C of warming. (Jan 2022)

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List of Circular Economy Research & Trends, 2021-2019 (PDF)

Research & Trends: E-Waste

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The Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 (International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)) — Assesses the latest trends in electronic waste generation, including (March 2024):

• 62 million metric tons (Mt) of e-waste were generated in 2022, up 82% from 2010. This is 7.8 kg of e-waste per person globally.
• This e-waste contained 31 Mt of metals, 17 Mt of plastics, and 14 Mt of other materials.
• Only 22.3% of this 62 Mt was properly collected and recycled, leaving $62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources unaccounted.
• E-waste generation is growing by 2.6 Mt annually, on track to reach 82 Mt by 2030, an increase of 33% over 2022.
• Recycling rates by 2030 are projected to drop to 20% due to widening differences in recycling efforts and growth of e-waste generation.
• In 2022, recycling in Europe was highest, at 42.8%, and lowest in Africa at 0.7%.
• 81 countries had e-waste legislation in 2023, up from 78 in 2019. Of these 67 had a legal provisions on extended producer responsibility.

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Strategy Paper for Circular Economy: Mobile Devices — GSMA published a new, long-term vision for how the mobile industry can increase the circularity of its supply and production chains for mobile devices. Specifically, this means designing phones with as long a lifetime as possible, made with 100% recycled and 100% recycled content, run with renewable energy and in a way in which no device ends up as waste. This is backed up with a new “circularity model” for the mobile industry, which provides principles that operators should consider as they aim to build a circular supply and manufacturing chain by 2050. (Nov 2022)

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An Assessment of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Waste Impacts from Improving the Repairability of Microsoft Devices (Oakdene Hollins, for Microsoft) — Provides an analysis of the potential emissions and waste reductions from improved repairability of Microsoft’s consumer electronics. The study is part of Microsoft’s broader response to a 2021 shareholder resolution filed by nonprofit As You Sow, alleging the company “actively restricts consumer access to device repairability, undermining sustainability commitments” and urging corrective action. The Oakdene Hollins study compares the emissions and waste impacts of repair vs. replacement and local repair vs. China-based factory repair scenarios, using four Microsoft Surface products as examples. Key findings include (May 2022):

• Repairing of products can yield up to a 92% reduction in potential waste generation and GHG emissions when compared to disposal/replacement.
• An increased design-for-repair emphasis would have additional benefits to emissions and waste reduction.

Mode and distance of transportation account for about 20% of the net emissions of repairs. To minimize this, Microsoft should expand its network of regional service providers (RSPs) and open RSP service to all customers. It should also promote “mail-to” service options that do not entail air shipment to and from China.

Electronics Hibernation (Google) — Identifies five major barriers to consumer electronics recycling and presents opportunities to prevent “electronics hibernation.”The research is based on conversations with consumers. (Nov 2021)
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Bentley Motors announced a three-year $3.6 million research study with the University of Birmingham to explore the potential of pioneering technology to enhance rare-earth magnet recycling. The project, dubbed “Rare Earth Recycling for E-Machines (RaRE),” will build on a patent technology that extracts rare earth metals from waste electronics for use in electric vehicle powertrains and other clean energy technologies. (February 2021)

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“Global E-waste Monitor 2020” (The International Telecommunication Union, the Sustainable Cycles Program and the Solid Waste Association, July 2020) finds that a record 53.6 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated in 2019—a 21% increase since 2014. The report also finds that only 17.4% of e-waste was officially documented as formally collected and recycled in 2019, meaning that recoverable materials valued at $57 billion were wasted.

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Research & Trends: Fashion Waste

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The Brand Resale Index: Defining the Resale Experience (Trove) — Assesses 40 brands in fashion/apparel, outdoor, footwear, and luxury on 147 criteria across brand positioning, commerce, and trade-in experiences, and how the resale business model potentially contributes to environmental sustainability benefits. The report had several key findings including (April 2023):

• 50% of brands include content on resale programs but only 34% on their homepage, and only 35% of brands promote resale through social media;
• Few brands fully integrate new and pre-owned into one shopping experience, with only 25% allowing customers to combine both in the same cart;
• While 85% of brands offer trade-in by mail, only 44% have trade-in capability in brick-and-mortar stores;
• While all 40 brands touted sustainability as a benefit, not all were, with many providing new product purchase incentives for trade-ins rather than credit that could be used for pre-owned items (thus failing to promote a circular economy model).

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Resale Report 2023 (thredUP) — Finds that the secondhand market is growing globally, up 28% over 2021, with the global market projected to nearly double from $177 billion in 2022 to $350 billion (and the U.S. market to grow from $39 billion to $70 billion) by 2027. Other key findings include (April 2023):

• 52% of U.S. consumers shopped secondhand apparel in 2022, with 1 in 3 apparel items purchased in 2022 being secondhand, for a total of 1.4 billion secondhand items;
• 37% of U.S. consumers spent a higher proportion on their apparel budget on secondhand in 2022, with two-thirds of those increasing this spending in response to inflation;
• Wearing secondhand instead of new reduces carbon emissions by an average of 25%;
• Online resale is growing twice as fast as the overall sector in the U.S., expected to reach $38 billion in 2027;
• More consumers are also participating in resale, with 82% of Gen Z consumers considering the resale value of apparel before buying it;
• 88 brands launched resale programs in 2022, a 244% increase from 2021;
• 82% of retailers see resale as a way to generate a positive return on investment and 45% as a way to satisfy investor demands around ESG.

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Unlocking the Trillion-Dollar Fashion Decarbonisation Opportunity (Fashion for Good, Apparel Impact Institute) — Maps a trajectory for the fashion industry to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, which the authors say is the first trajectory of its kind. It estimates that $1 trillion of finance is required for the transition, with 47% of carbon reductions coming from existing solutions, 39% from scaling innovative solutions such as next-generation materials, and 14% from other solutions such as scaling circular business models. (Nov 2021)

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Scaling Circularity (Global Fashion Agenda, McKinsey & Co.) — Concludes that pre-competitive collaboration to scale textile recycling technologies could build a $10 billion-$20 billion market and enable the fashion industry to become 80% circular by 2030. The report, based on research from the Circular Fashion Partnership in Bangladesh, also says that recycling technologies could be more cost-effective than virgin materials if they are scaled. (Nov 2021)

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Biodiversity Insights Report (Textile Exchange) — Provides an industry baseline for fashion and textile companies’ efforts to monitor and minimize their impacts on biodiversity, using data that 157 companies submitted through the Textile Exchange Biodiversity Benchmark (launched in 2020). 51% of companies say biodiversity risk is a priority, and 8% “have an explicit biodiversity strategy.” 80% are using more certified materials. (Nov 2021)
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BoF Sustainability Index (The Business of Fashion) — Analyzes progress of 15 of the fashion industry’s largest companies towards meeting 16 targets aligned with the U.N. SDGs and the Paris Agreement within six categories: transparency, emissions, water and chemicals, materials, workers’ rights, and waste. Key findings (March 2021):

• Average overall score of the companies assessed was 36 out of a possible 100
• Nearly half of the companies evaluated had set science-based targets aligned with a 1.5 °C global warming scenario
• 13 companies have committed to fully shift their operations to run on renewable energy“

Fossil Fashion: The Hidden Reliance Of Fast Fashion On Fossil Fuels” (Changing Markets Foundation) finds the global fashion industry’s use of synthetic fibers like polyester, made from fossil fuels, has doubled over the last 20 years and is projected to become 75% of global fiber production by 2030. The report highlights the relationship between the growth in synthetic fibers and the mounting fashion waste crisis and calls upon the E.U. to take urgent legislative action to steer the industry in line with the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. (February 2021)

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Research & Trends: Food Waste

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From Field to Bin: The Environmental Impacts of U.S. Food Waste Management Pathways (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)) — Reviewing about 250 lifecycle analyses, the EPA finds that more than one-third of food produced in the U.S is wasted, with much of that entering landfills. Wasted food is the single most common material landfilled (24%) and incinerated (22%) in the U.S. The report introduces The Wasted Food Scale, a new ranking of common wasted food pathways that replaces the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy developed in the 1990s. From most to least preferred these pathways include: Prevent Wasted Food; Donate; Upcycle; Feed Animals; Leave Unharvested; Compost; Anaerobic Digestion; Apply to the Land; Dispose (through wastewater, landfill, or incineration). As the report notes, all but disposal “demonstrate beneficial or near neutral global warming potential.” However, as the U.S. becomes less dependent on fossil fuels for energy, the environmental value of producing energy from wasted food will decrease. (Nov 2023)

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BioCycle Nationwide Survey: Full-Scale Food Waste Composting Infrastructure in the U.S. (BioCycle) — Quantifies and analyzes full-scale food composting facilities in the U.S., by identifying and surveying 200 facilities. Key findings (Aug 2023):

• Since its last survey in 2018, the number of facilities has increased 8% (from 185 to 200). More than 50% of these were located in seven states, with California, the largest, making up 17.5%. And more than 75% were commercially owned.
• 60% of facilities report composting less than 5,000 tons/year of food waste. Using maximum tonnage based on data, this means full-scale food composting infrastructure only processes up to 4% of total U.S. food waste (66 million tons).
• 71% of facilities accept compostable packaging of some sort, up from 58% in 2018. Those accepting compostable bioplastics packaging was 62%, up from 48% in 2018.

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Food loss and waste (FLW) emitted 9.3 Gt of CO2 equivalent from the supply chain and waste management systems in 2017, accounting for about half of the global GHG emissions from the entire food system, according to a new comprehensive lifecycle assessment in Nature Food. This doubles estimates made in previous research. Sources were widely distributed across nine post-farming stages and varied according to region, country, and food category. Income levels, technology availability, and prevailing dietary patterns also affected country and regional FLW emissions. Around 6 Gt of CO2 equivalent came in the supply stages (on the farm, during storage, transport, processing and retail, and consumption), while 2.84 Gt came from how wasted food is disposed of. Four countries — the U.S., China, Brazil, and India — accounted for 44% of supply-embodied emissions and 38% of end-of-life emissions. Coordinated action, new technologies, and dietary flexibility could reduce FLW and resultant emissions. (April 2023)

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Optimizing food production and food supply chains could cut up to 10% of global GHG emissions linked to unconsumed food, according to S&P Global. (Nov 2021)

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The Big Food Redesign: Regenerating Nature With Circular Economy (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with Material Economics and Alpha Food Labs) — Identifies opportunities for FMCGs and food retailers to catalyze the transition to a nature-positive food system using a circular design-led approach. Offers actions they can take in 5 key areas.(Sept 2021)

Driven to Waste: Global Food Loss on Farms (WWF, Tesco) — Reveals an estimated 2.5 billion tons of food—40% of all food grown—goes uneaten worldwide each year, which is a 1.2 billion-ton increase from previous estimates. Breaks down the drivers and environmental impacts of farm-stage food waste as well as changes needed in the public and private sector to reduce waste. (July 2021)

“Food Waste Index Report 2021” (U.N. Environment Program and WRAP) finds an estimated 17% of global food—equivalent to 23 million fully-loaded 40-ton trucks wrapped around the earth seven times—was wasted in consumers’ homes, retail outlets, and restaurants in 2019. The volume of waste was similar in developed and emerging nations. (March 2021)

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“The Business Case for Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Restaurants” (Champions 12.3, 2019) finds that restaurants saved $7 in operating costs on average for every $1 they invested in reducing kitchen food waste, according to an analysis of financial cost and benefit data for 114 restaurants across 12 countries. The report also finds that 76% of the sites had recouped their investment within the first year of implementing a food waste reduction program, and 89% of the sites had recouped their investment within two years.

“Creating A Sustainable Food Future” (World Resources Institute, 2018) proposes 22 solutions aimed at building a sustainable food future capable of supporting a population of nearly 10 billion people by 2050. The 22 solutions are divided into five focus areas: (1) reduce growth in demand for food and agricultural products; (2) increase food production without expanding agricultural land; (3) exploit reduced demand on agricultural land to protect and restore forests, savannas, and peatlands; (4) increase fish supply through improved wild fisheries management and aquaculture; and (5) reduce GHG emissions from agricultural production.

“The Business Case for Reducing Food Loss and Waste” (Champions 12.3) analyzes historical data on the financial costs and benefits of reducing food waste across a range of industries in the private sector, as well as in the UK at the national- and local-level. The report finds that nearly all 1,200 business sites across 700 companies examined achieved a positive return on food waste prevention measures, with 50% of sites achieving a $14 return on every $1 invested. According to the report, company’s are achieving this significant return on investment through better purchasing practices that limit food surplus, lower waste hauling costs, and more.

“A Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 20 Percent” (ReFED, 2016) outlines an $18 billion plan to invest in 27 domestic food waste reduction solutions that could yield $100 billion in societal economic value over the next 10 years. The annual benefits of this decade-long plan include $2 billion in business profit, $6 billion in consumer savings, an 18 million ton reduction in GHG emissions, 15,000 new jobs, and more. 

Research & Trends: Plastics

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Plastic Overshoot Day 2024 Report (Earth Action) — Introduces the concept of “Plastic Overshoot Day” (POD), the point when the amount of plastic waste generated from single use packaging, household and textiles sectors exceeds the world’s capacity to manage it. In 2024, this is projected to occur on 5 September, eight days later than in 2021 (28 August). While plastic waste management has improved, waste has grown by 14.7 million tons since 2021, thus keeping the POD similar. The report maps out both the total waste generated and waste management per country, arriving at country specific POD dates as well. It also categorizes countries into six groups, depending on waste generation and management levels as well as waste import and export volumes. (April 2024)

Towards Ending Plastic Pollution by 2040 (Nordic Council of Ministers and Systemiq) — Finds that the annual amount of plastics-related pollution could increase by 86% by 2040 compared to 2019. The study also explores the potential impact of 15 policy interventions featured in negotiations on the UN’s new global treaty on plastics, including virgin plastic taxes and bans on the most problematic items. Far-reaching policies, adopted globally, could reduce annual plastic pollution volumes in 2040 by 90% relative to 2019. (Sept 2023)

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The production, use, and recycling of plastics are a risk to human health, according to a growing body of research, including recent reports by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Defend our Health and Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health, and Greenpeace (and as reported in Packaging Dive). The UNEP study found that of 7,000 chemicals associated with plastics almost half contain one or more hazardous properties of concern. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission analysis found that “current patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal are not sustainable and are responsible for significant harms to human health, the environment and the economy, as well as for deep societal injustices.” While plastic recycling is seen as a means to help combat this (including by UNEP), the Defend our Health and Greenpeace reports note the several ways plastic recycling can contribute to the problem, both in communities surrounding recycling facilities, as well as perpetuating toxins from virgin plastics and creating new toxins in plastics in the recycling process. A recent German study in the journal Recycling also revealed that “post-consumer substances were found to be significantly more toxicologically concerning than virgin base polymer substances.” (July 2023)

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Turning off the Tap: How the World Can End Plastic Pollution and Create a Circular Economy (UN Environment Programme (UNEP)) — Examines the economic and business models needed to address the causes of plastic pollution. To reduce plastic pollution by 80% by 2040, the report finds that first and foremost is eliminating problematic and unnecessary plastics to reduce the size of the problem, along with three market shifts: 1) promote reuse options (such as refillable bottles), which can reduce 30% of plastic pollution by 2040; 2) make recycling a more stable and profitable venture (e.g. through removing fossil fuel subsidies), which can reduce an additional 20%; and 3) Replace products such as plastic wrappers and takeaway items with products of alternative materials (such as paper or compostable materials), which can reduce another 17% of plastic pollution. This could save a total of $1.27 trillion and an additional $3.25 trillion in avoided externalities. And while investment costs of this shift are significant ($65 billion/year through 2040), they are just 58% of the current investment trajectory of the industry ($113 billion/year). (May 2023)

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Peak Plastics: Bending the Consumption Curve (Back to Blue) — Forecasts the growth in plastic consumption, which, without intervention, is projected to grow 1.73 times that of 2019 levels in 2050 (from 261 million metric tons (Mt) to 451 Mt). Implementing three interventions—policies banning single-use plastic products, mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies; and a tax on virgin resin — would reduce growth to 1.25 times 2019 levels (325 Mt) in 2050. The report finds that current efforts to limit plastic suffer from three major weaknesses, narrow (national-level) focus, reliance on voluntarism, and limited scope. (March 2023)

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Transparent 2022: Annual ReSource: Plastic Progress Report (WWF) — In this third annual public report, WWF’s ReSource Plastic program reviewed the plastic footprints of eight ReSource member corporations. The report found incremental improvements across aspects of their supply chains including an overall reduction of problematic plastics by 3,100 metric tons (MT), and a 35% increase in the use of recycled content. ReSource members took critical actions to support the wide-scale adoption of reuse systems while advocating to advance a global plastic treaty and investing in innovative solutions and business models to support the transition to circularity. However, in 2021, total plastic produced by these companies increased 5.3% to a total of 4.83 million MT sold to retailers and consumers and 2.37 million MT sold business-to-business. (Dec 2022)

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The Global Commitment 2022 Progress Report (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) — Tracks progress toward 2025 targets of a series of global commitments to reduce plastic packaging made by more than 80 companies representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally. While some progress has been made, the companies are not on track to achieve their 2025 targets, either falling short or in some cases heading in the wrong direction. Report findings include (Nov 2022):

• The amount of plastic packaging that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable increased from 63.7% to 65.4% (Target: 100%)
• Increased the share of post-consumer recycled content in packaging from 8.3% to 10% (Target: 26%)
• Total virgin plastic increased from 11.6 million metric tons (MMT) to 11.9 MMT, off track from the 2025 target of 9.5 MMT.
• Actually reduced the amount of reusable packaging from 1.3% of the total to 1.2%.
• 34 additional governments agreed to join the Global Commitment, bringing the total number of people represented by signatory governments to over one billion.
• An urgent and significant acceleration of policy efforts will be necessary to achieve targets, “as voluntary industry efforts alone will not be enough to end plastic pollution.”

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Circular Claims Fall Flat Again (Greenpeace) — Finds that U.S. households generated an estimated 51 million tons of plastic waste in 2021, but only 2.4 million tons of that was recycled. This 5% recycling rate was less than the 9.5% recycling rate in 2014 and the 8.7% rate in 2018 (when the U.S. was exporting millions of tons of plastic to China). Even for PET and HDPE bottles, the reprocessing rate (as opposed to being collected for recycling) was only 20.9% and 10.3%, respectively. Other types of plastic were reprocessed at a rate of less than 5%. The report concludes with a call on companies to shift to reusable packaging and packaging-free approaches. This report comes two months after NRDC released a report analyzing eight U.S. chemical recycling plants that generated little to no recycled plastic (instead converting plastic to fuel) and concluded that chemical recycling of plastic is just greenwashed incineration. (Oct 2022)

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The Price of Plastic Pollution (Minderoo Foundation) — Corporate liabilities from plastic pollution, including environmental clean-up, ecosystem degradation, shorter life expectancy and medical treatment, could exceed $20 billion per year in the United States, and $100 billion globally between 2022 and 2030. Beyond 2030, corporate liabilities may increase by an order of magnitude. This report is a first-ever attempt to calculate quantitative estimates from both the social costs and corporate liabilities to plastics, chemicals, and waste companies from all forms of plastic-related pollution. Manufacturers of chemical additives used in plastics are most exposed to litigation risk. The report concludes with action steps for corporates, insurance companies, policymakers, and investors, particularly focused on more fully disclosing plastic-related pollution risks. (Oct 2022)

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CDP will expand its global environmental disclosure system in an effort to help solve the plastic pollution problem. The expansion will include the addition of questions and metrics on plastics into CDP’s annual disclosure questionnaires, beginning with a pilot in 2023. 32.5% of companies consulted by CDP did not have plastic-related targets. With CDP’s reach of over 13,000 companies worth 64% of global market capitalization, this could significantly scale plastics disclosure across the global economy. (Sept 2022)

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Researchers at University of Illinois Chicago have discovered a way to convert nearly 100% of CO2 captured from industrial exhaust into ethylene, a key building block for plastic. Their system uses electrolysis to transform CO2 into high purity ethylene, along with other carbon-based fuels and oxygen as byproducts. The process can produce 1 metric ton of ethylene out of 6 tons of captured CO2. With the use of renewable energy the process can be carbon negative. Ethylene production currently contributes 150 Million tons of CO2 equivalent per year. The results were published in Cell Reports Physical Science. (Sept 2022)

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Planet Tracker launches Barely Credible, a new report criticizing the 65-member Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) for failure to live up to its name. The report argues that (Sept 2022):

• AEPW includes eight of the 20 companies that produce more than half of all single-use plastic waste.
• The majority of AEPW members are also members of the American Chemistry Council, which has lobbied against a plastic tax in the US and against establishing a negotiating framework for global plastic pollution treaty;
• In its first three years, AEPW achieved only .04% of its own goal to divert and recycle 9 million metric tons of plastic;
• Even as the Alliance more than doubled in members, its plastic waste target stayed the same, meaning the target per member declined 56% from 107,000 to 47,000 metric tons per year;
• The report alleges that the coalition is “greencrowding—a sophisticated form of greenwashing that sees global corporates hide behind an appealing group title in order to justify moving at the pace of the lowest common denominator.”

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The projections from OECD show enhanced policy measures to restrain demand for plastics, increase circularity & recycling, and closing leakage pathways will lead to better outcomes. The regional model yields 17% reductions in overall use and waste and a 55% reduction in leakage. The global model—reflecting a coordinated international effort—yields 33% reductions in use ad waste and an 85% reduction in leakage. (June 2022)

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Global Plastic Watch, a digital platform developed by Minderoo Foundation, maps the world’s plastic pollution in high resolution and near real-time, using a combination of satellite imagery from the European Space Agency and artificial intelligence. Leveraging the largest open-source dataset of plastic waste covering dozens of countries, the tool is designed to help governments, industry and communities evaluate and monitor the risks of land-based plastic waste sites and prioritize investments in solutions. (May 2022)

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Environmental groups The Last Beach Clean Up and Beyond Plastics have released a joint report about the current state of plastics recycling in the U.S.  The report finds that the recycling rate for post-consumer plastic waste has fallen to 5–6%, down from the last EPA-calculated rate of 8.7% in 2018. During the same period, China and other countries stopped accepting millions of tons of plastic waste that had previously been exported by the U.S. and classified, without adequate verification, as recycled. Against a backdrop of continually increasing plastic consumption—up 263% between 1980 and 2018—the organizations claim that the potential effectiveness of plastic recycling, including nascent “chemical recycling,” continues to be greatly exaggerated by the industry. The best use of effort, they argue, lies in reducing use, particularly through increased regulation of single-use plastics. (May 2022)

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Unpacking the complexity of the PET drink bottles value chain: A chemicals perspective (Brunel University London) — Identifies 150 chemicals that leached into drinks from PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic bottles, with 18 of those chemicals found in levels exceeding regulations. Data showed that recycled PET bottles can contain higher concentrations of chemicals than newly manufactured PET bottles and suggests contamination may be caused during the recycling process. The report indicates that safety implications arising from reprocessing of PET bottles remain underexplored and proposes the adoption of a “super cleaning” process to clean old plastics before recycling, as well as increased transparency and cooperation across the value chain. (March 2022)

Full Paper

From 2000-2019, global plastics production doubled to 460 million tons and the volume of plastic waste more than doubled to 353 million tons, according to the OECD. Twenty-two million tons of plastic materials leaked into the environment in 2019 alone. (Feb 2022)

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List of Plastics Research & Trends, 2021-2019 (PDF)

Research & Trends: Packaging

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Unpacking Customer Perspectives on Reusable Packaging (Closed Loop Partners and U.S. Plastics Pact) — Investigates customer attitudes, preferences and behaviors around reusable and refillable packaging to help companies, cities, and key stakeholders “navigate the current reuse landscape.” Five key insights (Jan 2024):

1. Ongoing education and clear communication are vital to familiarize customers with reuse logistics and enable adoption on a larger scale.
2. Technology can simplify reuse tracking, but too many tech hurdles can overwhelm customers.
3. Thoughtful design choices that balance utility, sustainability and appeal are key for achieving impact.
4. Choice and availability of reuse options help customers feel empowered to participate.
5. Reuse solutions that meet customers where they are at are most likely to support long-term habit formation.

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Ready to Prefill? Market Innovation to Unlock Growth in the Market (City to Sea and Re) — Provides insight into current consumer perceptions, barriers, and motivations in relation to prefilled returnable packaging. Key findings include (Aug 2023):

• 69% of consumers indicated they are likely or very likely to try products in returnable packaging if they are available where they shop, but lack of availability is preventing trial.
• Over half of respondents (53%) said they were more likely to buy from a brand that offered products in prefilled returnable packaging, rising to 84% among those that had previously bought products in returnable packaging.
• 60% indicated that value for money was the most important criteria influencing their product choice. But almost half are prepared to pay a deposit for a product they buy in returnable packaging.
• More than 75% of those interested in trying prefilled returnable packaging said reducing waste is quite or very important to them. 

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Unpacking Labeling and Design: U.S. Consumer Perception of Compostable Packaging (Composting Consortium and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)) — Provides data on U.S. consumer perceptions of compostable packaging and how to improve compostable packaging design and labeling. Important insights include (July 2023):

• Up to 49% of respondents had difficulty distinguishing between the terms “compostable” and “biodegradable.”
• Up to 50% of respondents said they would place packaging labeled with “made from plants” in the composting bin, yet this phrase is used on both recyclable and compostable packaging.
• 28% of respondents said they would place compostable packaging in the recycling bin, revealing consumer confusion on how to dispose of compostable packaging.
• 33% said they’d place commercially compostable items in their home compost bins.
• Differences in regulations across states and localities creates difficulties for consumers, brands, and composters.

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Total packaging volume for consumer goods in the U.S. is expected to grow 1.5% annually until 2025, faster than population growth, to 461 billion units (up from 433 billion units in 2021), according to research from ING Bank. Europe’s packaging use per capita is also growing, with Europe seeing a 20% increase in packaging waste per capita in 2030 compared to 2018. The fastest increase in packaging use is in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Growth is being driven by consumer trends such as demand for convenience goods and smaller household sizes. Demand for recycled materials is also growing in Europe and the U.S. as legislation, emissions reduction goals, and reputational risk drive companies to use these materials. (June 2023)

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Sustainable packaging is a priority for consumers in North America, South America, and Europe, according to a survey by Boston Consulting Group. 67% consider recyclable packaging important, and 54% consider sustainable packaging when selecting products. 83% of consumers under 44 years of age reported a willingness to pay more for sustainable packaging, compared to 70% of all consumers. (May 2021)

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5 Key Industry-shaping Trends in Sustainable Packaging (McKinsey) — Reviews 5 key emerging trends that will shape sustainable packaging and related investable themes over the next few years (April 2021):

1. Consumers are highly concerned, yet confused
2. An increasingly complex regulatory environment hinders planning
3. Critical gaps in the value chain limit near-term major progress
4. FMCG companies and retailers remain committed, but market adoption of innovation is slow
5. Until further notice, plastics are here to stay, with an emerging green premium on the recycled raw material

“Bringing Reusable Packaging Systems to Life” (Closed Loop Partners and IDEO) shares best practices, materials, and key learnings to assist in the adopted growth of refillable and reusable packaging across the marketplace. (January 2021)

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GreenBiz Insights: Circular Packaging Trends (GreenBiz, May 2019) compiles stories and insights on important issues and innovations in the transition to circular packaging.

The sustainable packaging market is projected to reach $400 million by 2024, according to a report by Zion Market Research. (2019)

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“Safer Materials in Food Packaging” (Safer Made and Forsythia Foundation, 2019) provides examples of companies actively advancing the adoption of safer materials that reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals in food packaging. The report also identifies innovation and investment opportunities in food packaging among multiple stakeholders, including brands, suppliers, investors, innovators, and start-up companies.

Tools: Chemicals

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Global Framework on Chemicals: For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste (United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)) — Presents a comprehensive plan to guide countries and stakeholders in jointly addressing the lifecycle of chemicals, including products and waste. It provides five strategic objectives (establish institutional mechanisms, generate comprehensive data, prioritize issues of concern, provide safer alternatives, and enhance implementation) as well as 28 targets for the sound management of chemicals. The framework is supported by the Bonn Declaration and was adopted at the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) in Bonn, Germany in September 2023. (April 2024)

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The PLFs Revolution: Our 2040 roadmap for sustainable polymers in liquid formations (Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)) — Provides a blueprint for achieving the industry-wide change needed to make polymers in liquid formulations (PLFs) more sustainable. This report is based on the work of the Sustainable PLFs Task Force, drawing on leaders of 10 major chemical-producing, manufacturing, and waste management companies (including CEF members BASF, Dow, and Unilever). The report provides details of how the chemical industry can make PLFs more sustainable—specifically by developing and scaling biodegradable PLFs and advancing circular infrastructure for PLFs by 2030. Together these would mitigate impacts of those PLFs that cannot be recycled and set a standard for recycling those that can. The report includes nine priorities to speed the transition to sustainable PLFs, including creating collaborative networks around biodegradability and around circularity, scaling applied research capability, and updating monitoring and regulations. (Aug 2023)

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The nonprofit Clean Production Action unveiled the GreenScreen Certified Standard for Medical Supplies & Devices, providing detailed criteria that equipment manufacturers must meet to prove their products do not contain chemicals with known negative impacts to human health and the environment. This first-ever medical supply standard applies both to consumable and durable products used in health care and includes a comprehensive list of restricted substances, such as the plastic additive phthalates used in IV bags. (Oct 2022)

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Global chemical sector initiative Together for Sustainability (TfS) launched the PCF Guideline, a new global guidance for calculating Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) in the chemical industry and beyond. This guideline calculates Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, which are a significant share of chemical companies’ emissions. The open-sourced PCF Guideline will enable chemical companies, suppliers, and other companies using chemical products to produce quality carbon footprint data for the first time. (Oct 2022)
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The Consumer Goods Forum’s Plastic Waste Coalition of Action — Released a paper, “Chemical Recycling in a Circular Economy for Plastics,” outlining principles for developing new “credible, safe and environmentally sound” chemical recycling technologies. The paper’s 16 corporate co-authors, including CEF members PepsiCo, P&G, and Unilever, state that chemical recycling could increase packaging recycling rates, including hard-to-recycle plastics. The Coalition also published a new independent (LCA) study demonstrating how chemical recycling of hard-to-recycle plastic waste could reduce the climate impact of plastic when compared to waste-to-energy incineration. (April 2022)

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WWF "Chemical Recycling Implementation Principles" (World Wildlife Fund) — A new set of guiding principles to help companies identify conditions under which they should pursue chemical recycling for plastic waste mitigation. WWF says all principles are necessary considerations for chemical recycling to maximize environmental benefits and protect communities against negative impacts. (Jan 2022)

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Clean Production Action unveiled a new GreenScreen Certified™ for Cleaners & Degreasers in Manufacturing it developed with Apple to “promote safer chemical use and innovation in the electronics sector and beyond.” Certification requirements include compliance with certain prohibited substances (e.g., PFAS), ingredient disclosure, and testing to show that priority restricted chemicals and chemical classes are absent. (Oct 2021)
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Tools: Circular Business Models

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Engaging Households in Segregated Municipal Waste Collection and Unlocking Value Through Basic Manual Sorting of Municipal Waste (Alliance to End Plastic Waste and BCG) — These two “Solution Model” playbooks aim to guide stakeholders on what is needed to drive systems change across the plastic value chain, exploring solutions tested through Alliance projects. The first playbook addresses household waste segregation, which can significantly improve the volume and quality of material collected for recycling, while reducing sorting costs and decreasing landfill disposal. The second discusses the improved value recovery of plastic waste for recycling, using simple and low-cost equipment to improve the ergonomics and speed of basic manual sorting—a solution particularly useful in countries with limited infrastructure. Both playbooks explore challenges, solutions, case studies, lessons learned, and critical success factors. Also published was a white paper introducing the Solutions Models concept. (March 2024)

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Pathways to Net Zero: Circular Strategies for Climate Action (Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Deloitte) — Provides companies with circular economic strategies, approaches and tactics to help their business grow while using and wasting fewer resources. These strategies include: Design for Circularity; Procure Intentionally; Manufacture Efficiently; Market & Sell Consciously; and Operate Circularly (each of which contains several tactics). Currently only 7.2% of the global economy is circular, and transitioning to circular business models could reduce emissions by an estimated 39%. The report also provides in-depth analysis of three sectors (textiles, packaging, and automotive), as well as case studies of businesses implementing circularity. (Nov 2023)

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Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) V4.0 (World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)) — This updated framework of metrics helps businesses quantify the link between their circularity strategies and their impact on climate and nature. Version 4.0 features an extension of its greenhouse gas impact methodology, providing a more complete picture of how circularity can affect the carbon footprint of a company’s products and materials. It also introduces a new indicator for nature impact, starting with land use (a significant driver of nature loss). With the new update, companies can now evaluate different circular sourcing strategies for reducing their land use impact. (June 2023)

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KPMG Circularity Tracker (KPMG) — This new tool aims to support companies’ efforts to shift from linear to circular economic business models, enabling circularity tracking at various levels, including products, materials and location. It helps reduce manual data entry, automate data collection from diverse sources, and performs model-based data calculations using standards, metrics and frameworks for circularity performance, including the Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The tool is built on Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability and the Microsoft Power Platform. (May 2023)

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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched The Circular Startup Index, a database of startups that incorporate one or more circular economy principles into their business proposition. 500 startups, which are part of the foundation’s community, are currently included, across a range of sectors, industries, and geographies. The Index is designed to help businesses discover circular economy startups to facilitate innovation and accelerate the circular economy transition. (May 2023)

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BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP (BSG) / SAP — The strategy consultancy and enterprise software company have joined to launch a “Sustainability Transformation” offering to help companies more rapidly: (1) integrate state-of-the-art carbon tracking, including Scope 3 emissions, into their core business operations and strategic decision-making; and (2) assess circularity opportunities across their supply chain and product portfolio. (March 2022)

SAP | Reuters 

The Nature Imperative: How the Circular Economy Can Help Tackle Biodiversity Loss (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) — Presents a framework for businesses and policymakers to scale the circular economy potential for a nature-positive future. Demonstrates how the 3 core principles of circular economy can be applied to tackle biodiversity loss and regenerate nature, with a deep dive into 4 sectors: plastic packaging, the built environment, food, and fashion. (Oct 2021)

Future of Reusable Consumption Models: Platform for Shaping the Future of Consumption (World Economic Forum, Kearney) — Explores key findings from WEF’s initiative to address plastic pollution, Consumers Beyond Disposability; outlines an alternative model for plastic waste reduction; and offers a “Reuse Viability Framework” tool to address key questions business leaders and public sector decision-makers raise around the scalability and viability of reuse. Considers 3 potential scenarios to develop a reuse economy by 2030.  (July 2021)

Sustainability insights startup Higg, in partnership with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, announced a new Higg Product Module tool for brands and manufacturers to increase circularity by calculating the environmental footprint of their products. It’s the only software tool that calculates at scale the footprint outside of carbon emissions (e.g. product durability, logistics, and packaging). (June 2021)
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The Circular Toolbox (Circle Economy) — A step-by-step guide for companies to design and launch a rental or resale pilot in just 10 months. It includes 5 modules made up of dozens of maps, tools, and step-by-step guides to help companies better understand customers, build a business blueprint, run financial models, select partners, and generate internal buy-in. (April 2021)

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Tools: E-Waste

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Recycled Content Standard Annex A (SCS Standards) — The SCS-103 Certification Standard for Recycled Content adds this new annex focused on the electrical and electronics equipment sectors, setting a minimum threshold for recycled content in the full product and allowing for a product-level claim. This raises the bar for recycled content in consumer electronics products, expanding beyond just component materials. Development of the annex is being led by a diverse multi-stakeholder group that includes: CEF members: Amazon, Dell Technologies, HP, and Microsoft, as well as The Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, De’Longhi, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Logitech, Phillips, and The Recycling Partnership. The annex is now available for public review, after which it will be finalized and published. Comment here until April 8, 2023. (March 2023)

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Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP) — Released the Circular Electronics System Map, a blueprint to establish a common understanding of circularity within the electronics sector and acknowledge the necessary system changes required to achieve industry circularity at scale. The blueprint aligns with existing circularity measurement frameworks, like the Circular Transition Indicators, and outlines twelve essential systemic enablers of a future circular system. The publication was made by CEP members and partners, with the support of Accenture. (Oct 2022)

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Tools: Fashion

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Stuff in Flux 2: Playbook for Circular Innovation (The Share Reuse Repair Initiative) — This guide explores how “leading edge” consumers are shaping mass market opportunities for circular goods in Canada, with comparisons to U.S. and global markets. This subset of consumers (13% in Canada and 19% in the U.S.) who are looking to make better consumption decisions offers insights into the types of demand for circular products over the next 3-5 years. The guide details four market opportunities: 1) products that last and can be repaired; 2) goods that connect consumers to nature and/or help heal nature; 3) joyful, guilt-free stuff; and 4) ways to easily share, repair, reuse and resell stuff. (July 2023)

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The Sustainable Apparel Coalition published its Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) 4.0 Technical Paper in December. Version 4.0 of the Higg FEM, a sustainability assessment tool that standardizes how facilities measure and evaluate environmental performance, will be released in November 2023. This technical paper allows users to prepare for changes, which include new questions on phasing out fossil fuels, wastewater sludge management, Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas emission calculations, groundwater management, and refrigerant gases. (Jan 2023)

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Sustainable Apparel Coalition — Launched a new Decarbonization Program to support and drive the sector to work towards greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Members of the program will be required to set science based targets by 2023. The program will focus on collaboration, member support, and delivering tools and guidance to achieve these targets. (Dec 2022)

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ASOS Circular Design Guidebook (ASOS, Centre for Sustainable Fashion) — A new guidebook to help fashion companies, designers, and students design and create more circular fashion products. (Nov 2021)
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DOW / RALPH LAUREN — The companies jointly released a manual to open-source their ECOFAST™ Pure Sustainable Textile Treatment and help the textile industry standardize a more efficient, sustainable cotton-dyeing process. The treatment enables up to 90% less chemicals, 50% less dye, 50% less water, and 40% less energy. (Oct 2021)
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Tools: Food Waste

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Food Loss & Waste Protocol (WRI) is a multi-stakeholder effort to develop the global accounting and reporting standard (known as the FLW Standard) for quantifying food and associated inedible parts removed from the food supply chain. The FLW Standard will enable a wide range of entities - countries, companies and other organizations - to account for and report in a credible, practical and internationally consistent manner how much food loss and waste is created and identify where it occurs, enabling the targeting of efforts to reduce it. 

Tools: Packaging

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The Circular Connector (Walmart) — A new online tool to help companies easily find sustainable packaging solutions and providers that align with Walmart’s sustainable packaging goals. Walmart is accepting sustainable packaging solution submissions and plans to publish an initial list for public use later this year. (April 2022)

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SPHERE: the packaging sustainability framework (WBCSD) — A new framework to help companies choose the most sustainable packaging option for specific needs and delivery systems. SPHERE can assess the environmental impacts of packaging for a particular product or identify company-level portfolio hotspots based on six principles, including circularity, impact on climate change and biodiversity loss. CEF members Dow, Microsoft, and Sealed Air were among the 12 companies that helped develop the framework. (April 2022)

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Principles for the “ecomodulation” of EPR fees (25 members of the Consumer Goods Forum Plastic Waste Coalition of Action) — A paper outlining a new set of principles to help incentivize the design of sustainable packaging through “ecomodulated” extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees (fees that account for each packaging material’s environmental impact and the net cost of the material’s collection, sorting, and recycling). The paper builds on the coalition’s 2020 paper “Building a Circular Economy for Packaging” and outlines design parameters to create optimal ecomodulation systems. (Feb 2022)

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eQopack (Quantis) — A SaaS tool that allows designers and engineers to measure the footprint of packaging for better decision making. (April 2021)

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Aluminum Sector Greenhouse Gas Pathways to 2050 (International Aluminum Institute) (March 2021)

• Global demand for primary aluminum is projected to increase by up to 40% and recycled aluminum from post-consumer scrap will more than triple by 2050
• Identifies 3 pathways to reduce emissions for the aluminum industry, in line with the International Energy Agency’s Beyond 2 Degree Scenario: (1) electricity decarbonization, (2) direct emission reduction, and (3) improving recycling and resource efficiency

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI), representing the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain, unveiled an industry roadmap for sustainable packaging to support a circular economy transition. The roadmap goals include designing 100% of cleaning product packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025 and achieving 100% collection, reuse, recycling, or composting of cleaning package waste by 2040. ACI plans to support the efforts of its 100+ members including, BASF, Dow, Ecolab, ExxonMobil, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever. (March 2021)

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Foodservice Packaging Recovery Toolkit (Foodservice Packaging Institute) is a free online resource that helps companies — at all stages of the packaging recovery process — identify what foodservice packaging is currently being recovered, collected, processed, and marketed. 

Tools: Plastics

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The World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Initiative and international climate action NGO WRAP have organized a knowledge exchange network to catalyze global action on eliminating plastic pollution. This network will bring together key stakeholders across sectors to implement solutions towards a circular economy for plastics tailored to each geography and provide a means to share information and expertise. (Jan 2023)

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Plastic index tool (Doconomy, Parley for the Oceans) — The fintech startup and the environmental organization are partnering to develop a plastic index tool to help consumers, businesses, and governments see the connection between products and marine plastic pollution. (Aug 2021)
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World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) released the first-ever guidance for integrating plastic impacts into company ESG performance assessments. The report, Integration Of Plastics Impact Evaluation Into ESG Assessments, outlines how to develop and integrate relevant plastic performance indicators into existing ESG analysis frameworks while taking into account the companies' position in the value chain, performance on current plastic action, and preparedness for transitioning. (March 2021)

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Plastic Leak Project Guidelines (Quantis and EA) is a science-based methodology to help companies map and measure plastic and microplastic leakage across their value chains. The Guidelines were developed in partnership with 35 public, private, and scientific organizations.

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Tools: Waste Reduction/ Zero Waste

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Beyond the Plastic Bag: Sparking a Seachange for Reuse (Closed Loop Partners and the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag) — Offers retailers guidance on how to adopt reusable bag service models. The report shares key insights and analysis gathered from collaborative reusable bag pilots conducted in select CVS Health, Target, and Walmart stores throughout Northern California in 2021. The report finds that effective messaging, convenience and incentivization are essential for success, as is partnering with stakeholders across the value chain. (Sept 2022)

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“National Recycling Database” (The Recycling Partnership, with support from CEF member Apple) — A new, first-of-its-kind national database that provides real-time information on localized recycling programs across the United States. It was created to help businesses, consumers, and policymakers understand how programs are run, what materials are accepted, and how packaging recyclability can be improved. The Partnership is developing an accompanying suite of digital product design and community outreach tools, and is currently using the database to target investments toward communities in need. (March 2022)

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A new, first-of-its-kind Hotel Waste Measurement Methodology was issued for the hotel industry to collect data and measure and report on waste. The methodology was developed by World Wildlife Fund and sustainability consulting group Greenview along with an industry working group including Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott International. (Sept 2021)
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The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment‘s (ACE) 10-Year Roadmap— Members of ACE released an industry roadmap to achieve a 90% collection rate and at least a 70% recycling rate by 2030 while decarbonizing the industry’s value chain in line with the 1.5 °C science-based scenario. (March 2021)

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ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager — update (EPA) includes a new feature that allows companies to track and manage waste stream data. The Portfolio Manager now provides companies with a single solution for managing their waste, energy, and water data. 

Waste Prevention and Recycling at the Office (CalRecycle)

How to set up recycling programs and implement paper reduction strategies, with multiple case examples.

WasteWise (EPA)

Free, voluntary EPA program to help organizations eliminate costly municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes.

Hazardous Waste Information Site (EPA)

Recommendations and tools for identifying, reducing, disposing of, and recycling hazardous or toxic waste.

"Ten Zero Waste Companies Leading the Charge" (2017) - All 10 have committed to zero waste practices and offer lessons learned:

• Subaru
• Toyota
• GM
• Google
• Microsoft
• Sierra Nevada
• New Belgium Brewing
• Fetzer Vineyards
• Procter & Gamble
• Unilever 

Collaboration:  Circular Economy Initiatives, Funding and Accelerators

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Circularity Task Force — The Sustainable Markets Initiative launched the Circularity Task Force, which will help build collaboration across sectors to support scalable sustainable, circular business practices. (Dec 2023)

The Recycling Partnership’s program Recycle Check is currently signing up consumer brands to add local recycling information to their packaging via QR codes. This will provide information to consumers whether an item is eligible in their area for recycling. 9,000 different recycling districts in the U.S. are included in Recycle Check’s database, and information will be updated as new materials are accepted in those districts.

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POLESTAR CAPITAL — The Dutch impact investment firm launched what it claims is the “biggest circular economy fund in Europe”: the Polestar Capital Circular Debt Fund (PCDF), which opened at $114 million and is expected to reach $457 million within a year. The fund will provide loans for Dutch circular economy projects with “potential to create systemic ecological impact” in the areas of carbon emissions, waste reduction, and the replacement of fossil fuels. (Feb 2022)

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Circular Economy for Thermosets Epoxy Composites (CETEC) — A new initiative—led by Vestas—to advance a circular economy across the wind industry by enabling the adoption of a novel technology solution capable of fully recycling wind turbine blades (only 85-90% recyclable today). CETEC seeks to present a ready-for-market solution within 3 years. (May 2021)

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A new “Circulars Accelerator” program led by Accenture—in partnership with Anglo American, Ecolab, Schneider Electric, and WEF—will connect leading global organizations prioritizing circular innovation with disruptors seeking to scale circular solutions. The first cohort features 17 startups offering solutions that fit into one of three categories: innovating products and production, transforming consumption, and recovering value. To get involved, visit WEF’s digital platform, UpLink. (February 2021)

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The UN Environment Program has launched a new Coalition on Circular Economy to support the Latin America and the Caribbean region’s transition to a more circular economy as part of its COVID-19 recovery. The initiative will involve 8 permanent strategic partners: the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN), the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy Coalition (PACE), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and UNEP. (February 2021)

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Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) - PACE is the preeminent platform for global leaders and their organizations to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. It provides leaders in the circular economy with the connections, learning, and opportunities to pilot and rapidly scale best practices. At the start of 2020, the PACE community consists of 75 public, private and civic executive leaders and over 200 members championing 18 tangible projects across the globe. The community is supported by the PACE Hub, a team hosted by the World Resources Institute in The Hague. Projects focus on four thematic areas: Electronics & Capital Equipment, Plastics, Food & Agriculture, and Textiles & Fashion. PACE also works on cross-cutting System Initiatives including metrics, business models, innovation and regional networks. 

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation

• CE100 (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) is a pre-competitive innovation programme established to enable organisations to develop new opportunities and realise their circular economy ambitions faster. It brings together corporates, governments and cities, academic institutions, emerging innovators and affiliates in a unique multi-stakeholder platform. 
• Project MainStream (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) is a cross-industry, CEO-led global initiative that aims to accelerate business-driven innovations and help scale the circular economy. 

Minnesota Sustainable Growth Coalition (Environmental Initiative)

A collaborative effort driven by a group of more than 25 businesses -- including 3M, Dow Chemical, and Ecolab -- to accelerate progress toward a circular economy. 

Collaboration: Electronics & Batteries

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Consumer Technology Circularity Initiative — Launched by the Consumer Technology Association, this voluntary industry initiative aims to reduce waste, encourage reuse, enhance recycling, reduce climate impact, and see less disposal of consumer electronics. The initiative will build on the eCycling Leadership Initiative launched in 2011. Founding members, including Lenovo, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Sony Electronics, and CEF member Samsung, have pledged to increase e-scrap processing, improve repair and reuse, and incorporate more recycled content into products, according to Sustainability Magazine. (Jan 2024)

SUSTAINABILITY MAGAZINE »

GSMA — Twelve leading mobile phone operators signed up to a new set of targets developed with the GSMA (which represents the global mobile industry), to take-back mobile phones in consumers’ possession (estimated at five billion). Operators commit to taking back at least 20% of the number of new mobile devices distributed to customers by 2030; and preventing mobile phones from being sent to landfills or incinerators, with 100% of devices collected through take-back schemes being repaired, reused, or transferred to recycling organizations. (July 2023)

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Battery Passport Pilot (Global Battery Alliance (GBA)) — Developed over three years by GBA members, this Battery Passport was designed to facilitate the rapid scaling of sustainable, circular, and responsible battery value chains. The passport aims to bring transparency to these value chains, a crucial step in establishing sustainable value chains, by collecting, exchanging, and reporting trusted data among all lifecycle stakeholders on material sourcing, the battery’s chemical make-up, its manufacturing history, and its sustainability performance. This pilot includes three prototype batteries, with partial reporting along these criteria. (Jan 2023)

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Consumer Electronic Recycling Pilot — A unique collaboration incubated at CEF, in which Google, Apple, Amazon, Dell, and Microsoft recently launched a doorstep electronics recycling pilot program in Denver, CO. In partnership with Retrievr, an innovative start-up with roots in Philadelphia, these brands hope to increase consumer recycling rates, doing so in a way that is responsible and safe, while also being convenient and affordable. (March 2022)

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Circular Electronic Partnership (CEP) — A new initiative launched by 6 major organizations—GeSI, GEC, PACE, RBA, WBCSD, and WEF—to develop a circular economy for electronics, the fastest growing waste stream in the world, by 2030. CEP has published a roadmap that identifies 6 opportunity pathways to achieve circularity along the value chain, including (1) designing for circularity, (2) driving demand for circular products and services, (3) scaling responsible business models, (4) increasing official collection rates, (5) aggregating for reuse and recycling, and (6) scaling secondary material markets. Member companies include Cisco, Dell, Google, and Microsoft. (March 2021)

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Collaboration: Fashion & Personal Care Products

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Fashion for Good Circular Footwear Pilot — A new pilot will test and validate a footwear recycling process to support the uptake of recycled content in footwear, driving the change towards a more circular footwear industry. The pilot includes four Fashion for Good brand partners, including adidas and Target and recycling partner FastFeetGrinded, which will test and validate the footwear recycling process and support both the recycling of pre- and post-consumer footwear and the uptake of recycled materials in footwear. (July 2023)

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CTI Fashion Initiative — This collaboration aims to bring together industry representatives to establish harmonized standards, metrics, data, and best practices to scale up a circular economy throughout the fashion and textile value chain. Led by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), VF Corporation, and Deloitte Switzerland, the initiative uses the WBCSD’s Circular Transition Indicators as the framework to set metrics for establishing a sector-wide standard. Fashion companies and industry stakeholders are invited to join the initiative. (July 2023)

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International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) — Launched by more than 35 cosmetics manufacturers and suppliers, industry associations and animal protection organizations, ICCS will support animal-free cosmetics and personal care product and ingredient innovation by funding rigorous, scientific evaluation of new animal-free safety assessment approaches. It will share the results of these evaluation activities with cosmetic and chemical regulators and fund education and training activities to help build confidence in animal-free safety assessment approaches. CEF members include BASF, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever. (Feb 2023)

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The Prince Charles-backed Sustainable Markets Initiative Fashion Task Force announced a Regenerative Fashion Manifesto, developed with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance. The goal is a “progressive shift towards Regenerative Fashion—a circular biobased industry that is inclusive, climate and nature-positive, using newly created or restored regenerative landscapes as the basis for circular bioeconomy value chains.” The first step: a €1 million ($1,091,101) investment in the Himalayas to restore wildlife and sustainable farming. (April 2022)

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Polymers in Liquid Formulations (PLFs) Taskforce — A new taskforce seeking to make the carbon-intensive field of PLFs—chemicals commonly found in paint, cosmetics, shampoos, and adhesives—more sustainable by applying circular economy principles and creating bio-based and biodegradable alternatives. The taskforce is convened by the Royal Society of Chemistry and includes Afton Chemical, Croda, Crown Paints, Scott Bader, and Unilever as founding members. (May 2021)

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L'Oréal launched “L’Oréal for the future,” a €150 million commitment to support highly vulnerable women and protect the environment. The company will provide €50 million to support highly vulnerable women, €50 million to finance restoration projects that regenerate damaged natural ecosystems, and €50 million to finance projects that prevent climate change through building a more circular economy. (May 2020)

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Collaboration:
Food Waste

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ReFED and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced the creation of the U.S. Food Waste Pact, a national voluntary agreement for collaboration and action to reach food waste reduction targets. The Pact will provide signatories with custom waste analytics, industry benchmarking, and solution roadmaps. The Pact will anonymize and aggregate the waste data before publicly sharing the results in an annual report. Pact participants include Sodexo USA, Walmart, and Whole Foods Market. Other businesses are encouraged to join. (Dec 2023)

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The Big Food Redesign Challenge — Started by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in partnership with the Sustainable Food Trust, this effort aims to catalyze and inspire the food industry to regenerate nature by applying the principles of circular design to food. 237 food companies from 38 countries have signed up to participate in this challenge, which provides an opportunity for food manufacturers to design new food products or redesign existing ones using circular design principles. Participants are given a chance to collaborate and learn, with support of circular economy and regenerative production experts. Those interested in joining can find contact information here.

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Circular Food Solutions Funding Platform (ReFED and Closed Loop Partners) — Combining ReFED's expertise on food waste data and solutions and Closed Loop Partners's experience as a circular economy-focused investment and innovation firm, the first-of-its-kind, blended finance investment and innovation platform seeks to scale food waste reduction solutions by mobilizing $100M worth of capital into the sector. The platform includes an $80M investment fund, the $10M ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund, and a $10M innovation program, and has already attracted seed funders including Google and The Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation. It is estimated that 10 million tons of food waste could be diverted, which would avoid 15 million metric tons of CO2e and save nearly 800 billion gallons of water. (June 2022)

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ReFED and Upcycled Food Association launched the Food Waste Funder Circle, a new network for private, public, and philanthropic funders aiming to accelerate investments needed to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. (Dec 2021)

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Composting Consortium — A new consortium to pilot composting solutions and create an infrastructure and technologies roadmap that increases the recovery of compostable food scraps and food packaging. Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy is the managing partner. CEF member PepsiCo and the NextGen Consortium (co-founded by CEF member McDonald’s) are founding partners. Advisory partners include CEF member Google and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (which includes CEF members 3M, Amazon, BASF, Dow, ExxonMobil, HP Inc., Kimberly-Clark, McDonald’s, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Sealed Air, Unilever, and Waste Management). (Nov 2021)
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A group of 14 companies — including General Mills, Kellogg Company, Nestlé, and Walmart — have joined the Coalition of Action on Food Waste, a CEO-led coalition that aims to halve per capita global food loss at the retailer and consumer levels. The coalition was launched by The Consumer Goods Forum. (August 2020)

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Food Loss & Waste Protocol (WRI) is a multi-stakeholder effort to develop the global accounting and reporting standard (known as the FLW Standard) for quantifying food and associated inedible parts removed from the food supply chain. The FLW Standard will enable a wide range of entities - countries, companies and other organizations - to account for and report in a credible, practical and internationally consistent manner how much food loss and waste is created and identify where it occurs, enabling the targeting of efforts to reduce it.

The World Wildlife Fund launched a series of 12-week-long pilot programs to reduce food waste across the hotel industry, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Companies participating in the projects include Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott International, and others. (2017) 

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A group of 15 companies — including General Mills, PepsiCo, Unilever, and others —  pledged to halve food waste and loss in their operations by 2030, as part of a new EPA- and U.S. Department of Agriculture-led initiative. (2016)

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Unilever launched a Joint Ambition for a Zero Food Waste Britain to create and mobilize a coalition of organizations committed to educating UK homeowners on the value of foodand providing best practice for food waste reduction in households, in collaboration with non-profit Hubbub. The Joint Ambition was developed with input from 240 organizations and builds on public polling data from over 2,000 households. (2016) 

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Collaboration: Medical Waste

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Sustainable Medicines Partnership (SMP) — Health care solutions company YewMaker is leading a new, public-private, not-for-profit partnership to reduce medicine waste and increase health equity, with AstraZeneca and Deloitte as strategic partners. Initial work will focus on measuring the carbon footprint of medicines, packaging recycling, and eliminating waste for expired, lost, or unused medicine. (Dec 2021)

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Collaboration: Packaging & Plastics

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Low-Carbon Emitting Technologies (LCET) R&D Hub — Seven members of the LCET initiative (including CEF members BASF and Dow) signed a collaboration agreement to establish a new R&D Hub to develop new technologies for waste processing with a lower CO2 footprint and greater levels of plastic waste recycling. This is the first project launched by the Initiative, with research projects expected to launch in the second half of 2023. (May 2023)

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Compostable Packaging Degradation Pilot (The Composting Consortium) — This pilot, working with ten composting facilities across the U.S., will evaluate the disintegration of more than 30 types of certified compostable products and packaging across a variety of climates, methods, and equipment. Data gathered from the assessment will inform the Consortium’s broader work to align the rapid growth of compostable packaging with on-the-ground operational and business needs of industrial composters. The initiative is the most comprehensive collaborative study of real-world compostable packaging disintegration in the U.S. to date. (Feb 2023)

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Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty — 85 organizations, including global businesses, financial institutions, and NGOs, have announced a common vision for an effective and ambitious Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution, which is expected to determine the trajectory of the plastic pollution crisis for generations to come. The endorsing organizations agree that the treaty must support progress on a number of key outcomes including:

• The reduction of plastic production and use through a circular economy approach;
• Increased circulation of necessary plastic;
• And the prevention and remediation of hard-to-abate micro- and macro-plastic leakage into the environment.

The coalition was organized by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF and includes CEF members 3M, Kimberly-Clark, PepsiCo, and Unilever. (Sept 2022)

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U.S. Plastics Pact — Has begun accepting applications for its Reuse Catalyst, a program designed to support and develop innovators that have scalable reuse and refill solutions for the U.S. Companies of all sizes that are testing or piloting commercial reusable or refillable packaging systems within the United States, regardless of whether companies are part of the pact, are eligible. The Reuse Catalyst’s application is now open and will close on October 20, 2022. (Sept 2022)

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Circular plastic fund — The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (“the Alliance”) an industry-run nonprofit with more than 70 corporate members, has joined with Lombard Odier Investment Managers to develop the $500 million fund. It will target investment opportunities involving plastic collection and sorting infrastructure, technology-enabled recycling infrastructure, design solutions for improved plastic durability, reuse, and recyclability. The Alliance, which will be a cornerstone investor, cites “industry estimates” that the transition to a circular value chain for plastic packaging represents a potential $1 trillion global economic opportunity by 2030. (May 2022)

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Flexible Packaging Initiative — CEF members PepsiCo and Unilever along with Mars, Mondelēz International, and Nestlé founded this new open initiative to accelerate the transition toward a circular economy for flexible packaging across Europe. Participants have pledged to increase investments in flexible plastic packaging and lobby for policies that support the scaling of recycling infrastructure. (March 2022)

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The Recycling Partnership launched a Recycling Inclusion Fund to “close the equity gap” in the US waste and recycling system. It will provide access, education, and career advancement opportunities in the sustainability sector for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) populations. Initial funding partners include CEF members 3M and Procter & Gamble. (Feb 2022)

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U.S. Plastics Pact — Over 100 business, nonprofit, and government Pact signatories released a “Problematic and Unnecessary Materials List” of 11 plastic packaging items that aren’t currently recyclable, reusable, or compostable at scale in the U.S. and aren’t expected to “be kept in a closed loop in practice and at scale” by 2025. The list supports the Pact’s Roadmap to 2025. The Pact members will create guidance on circular alternatives to eliminate the 11 items by 2025. (Jan 2022)

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PEPSICO — PepsiCo Beverages North America will invest $35 million with Closed Loop Partners to create the "Closed Loop Local Recycling Fund” to deploy small-scale, modular Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in US communities. The investment seeks to support PepsiCo’s pep+ sustainable packaging goals by boosting recycling in areas with limited or no recycling access, reducing waste, and unlocking a new supply of recycled plastic. (Jan 2022)

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74 companies released a joint statement urging UN Member States meeting at the UN Environment Assembly next month to create a legally binding, international treaty to combat worldwide plastic pollution. Notably, they called for the treaty to: have both upstream and downstream policies (including reducing virgin plastic production), provide robust governance, and align governments, businesses, and civil society under a shared approach. Signatories include CEF members PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever. (Jan 2022)

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List of Collaboration: Packaging & Plastics, 2021-2019 (PDF)