With new technology and developments around every corner, things move fast at Smart Plastic HQ. Keep up with everything right here.
The companies that make, sell or rent pallets are working harder than ever to help customers achieve their supply chain sustainability goals.
Bridget McCrea writes for Modern Materials Handling in Supporting the world’s sustainability goals, one pallet at a time:
Pallets are often shared among companies, given a “second life” as retail store fixtures, and often pilfered, only to be yet again reused by the thieves that lifted them. Pallets are also active participants in the circular economy, a system aimed at eliminating waste and continually reusing resources.
End consumers are demanding more transparency when it comes to sustainability measures taken by large-scale organizations. To keep up with this demand and to support sustainable change in supply chains, companies like ORBIS, Litco International and PECO Pallets are implementing circular economy tactics when it comes to creating and recycling pallets.
Dave Ford, Executive Director of Ocean Plastics Leadership Network, writes:
Solving the plastic crisis is urgent. An estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans each year. That’s a garbage truck and a half of plastic every minute of every day. If we delay dramatic action by just five years, an additional 80 million metric tons of plastic will end up in the ocean by 2040 (250 Empire State Buildings worth of trash). Without action, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish, by weight.
Led by the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network in partnership with WWF and Greenpeace, this two day event garnered support for a global treaty that would be ambitious enough to match the scale and urgency of the plastic waste problem. Read the four key take aways from the virtual event over on GreenBiz.
After 72 years and billions of interlocking polymer toy bricks, the company finally has an eco-friendly alternative.
Jeremy White writing for Wired:
Each year, more than 380 million metric tons of plastic is produced worldwide. Lego is responsible for 100,000 metric tons of it. This contribution to the annual total is, of course, the result of making its classic children’s toy. Lego’s impact may initially appear to be a sliver of that plastic output, but it still counts. Why? That 100,000 metric tons of polymer was last year turned into 110 billion bricks.
Back in 2015, kids' toys conglomerate Lego announced it would be investing a large sum into a Sustainable Materials Center. Six years later and after testing over 250 PET materials, Lego has confirmed a suitable PET plastic alternative produced from discarded bottles. This discovery, made by a team of 150, is the first brick made from a recycled material that meets most of Lego’s requirements for its standard ABS bricks.
Plastic is found everywhere on the planet: from deserts and mountaintops to deep oceans and Arctic snow.
Stockholm University writing for SciTechDaily:
Current rates of plastic emissions globally may trigger effects that we will not be able to reverse, argues a new study by researchers from Sweden, Norway and Germany published on July 2nd in Science. According to the authors, plastic pollution is a global threat, and actions to drastically reduce emissions of plastic to the environment are “the rational policy response.”
If the world continues on the same path, the amount of plastic dumped in our water ways is expect to double by 2025. We are on the verge of an irreversible tipping point according to a new study by researchers from Sweden, Norway and Germany, and our current waste management systems are no longer adequate to handle the amount of plastic waste consumer culture produces.
The SPTek ECLIPSE™ Straw is the only 100% recyclable plastic straw on the market that will conclusively bio-assimilate, resulting in zero microplastics.
Smart Plastic Technologies has launched the SPTek ECLIPSE™ Straw, an innovative product that will completely bio-assimilate in marine, terrestrial and all landfill environments within 12–42 months, resulting in zero microplastics. The straw, which meets all requirements for hot, cold, foamy and frozen beverages, is produced with SmartPlastic’s patent-pending SPTek ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology. In a world’s first, this technology is backed by the C-13 carbon labelling and bio-assimilation test, conducted byLMPE, a respected eco-compatible polymeric materials laboratory located in Lucca, Italy.
"What’s unique about this product is its ability to truly and completely bio-assimilate in all environments - from industrial composting, to marine, terrestrial and anaerobic landfill environments - leaving behind zero microplastics.” stated Jay Tapp, President and COO, Smart Plastic.“In addition, the SPTek ECLIPSE™ Straw is made from 100% recyclable materials. This is where it differs from traditional compostable products, including paper straws, which cannot be recycled. This ensures that no matter where the straw falls at its end of life, it will not be detrimental to our planet or its inhabitants."
According to studies, 500 millions plastic straws are used every day throughout the United States alone. And while traditional plastic straws made from polypropylene (PP)are recyclable, they’re often not accepted at recycling centers because their size makes it difficult to properly sort them. Following a guaranteed lifespan of 18 months, the SPTek ECLIPSE™ enabled straws will completely bio-assimilate in as little as 12 months, resulting in nothing but C02, water and biomass.
Smart Plastic is the first company to pass the comprehensive C-13 carbon labelling and bio-assimilation test to determine the technology’s performance in all environments. The SPTek ECLIPSE™ straws are made up of 99% polypropylene (PP) and 1% SPTek ECLIPSE™.
Earlier in 2020 the company launched certified isolation gowns for healthcare heroes that also completely bio-assimilate, leaving behind zero microplastics.
For more information about the SPTek ECLIPSE™ Straw, visit www.changetheplastic.com/eclipse-straw.
Terms such as ‘ethical’ or ‘eco-friendly’ have no legal significance and encourages lack of accountability
This recent article from DownToEarth takes a deeper look at greenwashing in the fashion industry:
The term ‘greenwashing’ was coined by environmentalist Jay Westervelt in 1986 which refers to misleading advertisements or false claims by companies that suggest they are doing more for the environment than they actually are.
Such practices deceive customers with claims that are not backed by evidence and bear social, ethical and environmental repercussions.
Have a read to learn how to identify greenwashing.
Moving from a linear business model to a circular takes time, effort, and trial and error. But it also has its hidden benefits.
Organizations all over the world are starting to see the necessity and potential of implementing circular business models. GreenBiz Group spoke with three companies embracing these practices at GreenBiz 21: REI, IKEA and Eileen Fisher. Whether its reusing, reselling or recycling, each company is adding one or more pillars of the circular economy to their business practices.
Shifting to a circular business model creates opportunities for companies to reach new customers, all while exciting and engaging their loyal base and having a positive impact on the planet. Check out four lessons these companies have learned from adding circular business practices below.
As part of their Mission Possible campaign, edie released this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Each week edie compiles the top five sustainability wins in its Mission Possible: Achieving a Sustainable Future series.
Last week Procter & Gamble announced new packaging for its Gillette brand that will reduce their annual plastic output by 66 metric tonnes. With a goal of halving the amount of virgin plastic Gillette uses by 2030, this switch is a positive step forward. This is a powerful example of how large-scale organizations can implement strategies to reduce plastic waste without sacrificing quality.
Take a look at the other four sustainability success from last week in the article: P&G reduces plastics and record UK wind bids: The sustainability success stories of the week.
We wanted to share this piece about what brands need to know about sustainability.
Ella Barnett, in a piece published to Medium, What Brands Need to Know About Sustainability Moving into 2021:
A good product is no longer enough to win over consumers; instead, consumers are increasingly looking for brands that align with their values. With Millennials and Gen Z expanding in both influence and spending power, brands have no choice but to incorporate their demands. These generations are driving the sustainability movement, demanding with their dollars that brands take sustainability seriously. A new Capgemini Report shows that 79% of consumers are changing their purchase preferences based on social responsibility, inclusiveness, or environmental impact shown by a brand.
The global pandemic has shed a much-needed spotlight on sustainability within organizations and their supply chains, forcing difficult discussions about the role companies play in the future of our planet.
A study released in October 2020 found 81% of companies are more focused on sustainability today than they were three years ago. Another study released in July 2020 shows 79% of consumers are changing their purchase preferences based on the social responsibility, inclusiveness, or environmental impact shown by a brand.
Sustainability within an organization is no longer negotiable and greenwashing is no longer acceptable. We believe it's time for brands to start making a concerted effort to implement sustainable practices at all levels of the organization.
Let's take a look at isolation gowns, what's so important about them, and why we're asking the question in the first place.
Due to the global pandemic, isolation gowns play a central role in the fight against COVID-19. These gowns are designed to protect the wearer against the transmission of fluids, microorganisms and contaminants. Along with gloves, masks and face shields, isolation gowns are critical to the success of our infection-control strategies.
Gowns are rated by the AAMI from levels 1-4:
Rated gowns are tested for key performance characteristics:
It’s more important than ever for healthcare professionals to be equipped with the proper protective equipment to help reduce the spread of dangerous microorganisms and contaminants. Nurses and physicians use up to 28 gowns per day, disposing of them following each interaction with a patient.
That's 28 gowns per day for every single healthcare hero supporting the fight against COVID-19, globally.
Let that sink in for a moment.
The sheer amount of plastic waste that this generates is difficult to comprehend, and that's where we come in.
Smart Plastic has developed a proprietary, bio-based gown material that passes AAMI level 1, 2 & 3 tests, significantly reduces carbon impact and bio-assimilates the same as paper. This enables us to fight COVID-19 without filling our landfills and oceans with harmful plastic waste.
All gowns made with this material are 100% recyclable, FDA approved and purposefully designed for the circular economy.
We have partnered with Fairfield Processing Corporation to bring to market the Inspiration Gown™, a sustainably designed isolation gown, that's manufactured right here in the United States.
With the capacity to produce millions of gowns per month domestically, the Inspiration Gown™ represents the ability to support and protect the US economy, workforce and the environment.
To learn more about the Inspiration Gown™ by Fairfieldand how to order, contact their PPE sales team today at ppesales@fairfieldworld.com.
