Smart Plastic Team

While the first Earth Day was hosted in 1970, it was not recognized worldwide for another 20 years. Now 32 years since Earth Day went global, more than a billion people mark the day to show support for the continual protection of our planet and its inhabitants.

Earth Day calls upon individuals, governments, organizations, and all sizes of companies, to reflect on the ways they impact our planet and its hundreds of ecosystems. At Smart Plastic we grasp and actively invest in the future of our planet every day.

• We work diligently to create responsible and immediate solutions, such as our bio-assimilation technology and closed-loop recycling program, to the plastic waste crisis;
• We are invested in developing bio-based solutions that will transform the polymer industry and help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels;
• We continue to strengthen our technology that curbs food waste.

We’re investing in our planet so future generations of people and creatures can thrive in a flourishing and healthy world.

In partnership with Smart Plastic Technologies, Sigma Stretch announced today they are expanding the production of Sigma Stretch VANISH, powered by SPTek ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology, to all five production facilities across North America. The initial launch of this product, which was rolled out to selected Sigma Stretchdistributors in late 2021, generated tremendous interest from brand owners who wanted to take action towards their sustainability goals. Switching to Sigma Stretch VANISH or SPTek ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film ensures that they will not add to the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment if the stretch film is not properly recycled.

Mark Teo, CEO and President of Sigma Plastics said:

“We evaluated numerous products to provide an option for our customers that would take care of any of our products that were not properly recycled and leaked into the environment. We selected Smart Plastic and their patent-pending SPTek ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology because it proved best-in-class. Expanding production and taking our partnership with Smart Plastic to new levels will be a tremendous highlight of 2022 for Sigma Plastics as we continue striving for environmentally responsible products and practices.”

Jay Tapp, President and COO of Smart Plastic Technologies, added:

“The Smart Plastic team is tremendously proud to partner with long-standing industry leader Sigma Plastics Group on a number of important sustainability initiatives. Our latest collaboration with Sigma Stretch was the development of a range of ECLIPSE™ enabled hand and machine stretch films. Despite the impact of COVID-19, we built a strong partnership with Sigma Stretch, successfully launching ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film at Pack Expo 2021 in Las Vegas, and presenting at the 2021 AMI Stretch & Shrink Conference on the impact of plastic waste and closed-loop recycling. We are thrilled that the initial response has ignited a need for production expansion and look forward to continuing our work with Sigma Stretch throughout 2022.”

The initial launch of Sigma Stretch VANISH followed a period of intense efficacy and performance testing that determined ECLIPSE™ enabled stretch films performed identically to the original products. The launch produced over 500,000 pounds of stretch film which was allocated to various Sigma Stretch distributors. Additional distributors could order Smart Plastic’s SPTek ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film directly from Smart Plastic Technologies. With the production expansion, Sigma Stretch estimates that an additional 30 million pounds of Sigma Stretch VANISH will be available for distributors throughout 2022. First and foremost, SPTek ECLIPSE™ enabled stretch film is designed to be recycled. However, if it evades the recycling system, following a guaranteed functional life span of 2-years, the stretch film will completely bio-assimilate within 6-24 months, resulting in zero microplastics.

Tim Murtaugh, Founder of Smart Plastic Technologies, added:

“As the urgency for responsible and sustainable products increases within the world of plastics, we are grateful to be partnered with such a reputable organization as Sigma Plastics Group. We look forward to seeing the monumental benefits of this partnership manifest.”

PFNonwovens and Smart Plastic Technologies announced that they have signed an exclusive joint development agreement for the use of Smart Plastic’s patent-pending SPTek ECLIPSE™ technology in PFNonwovens’ hygiene and medical nonwoven products.

Tonny de Beer, Chief Product, Technology and Sustainability Officer of PFNonwovens commented:

“We are very excited for this joint development partnership with Smart Plastic Technologies. Our initial work together has already shown that we can use the ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology on pilot-scale equipment. Now, our focus is to optimize the formulation for nonwovens to ensure performance and meet end-of-life goals.”

He added:

“Nonwoven fabrics have become a critical part of everyday life, and this technology has the makings of a breakthrough solution. Diapers, Fem Care and Adult Incontinence products are integral to how we care for ourselves and for each other. The pandemic has reinforced once again how nonwoven gowns and face masks save and protect lives. At the same time, it is imperative to find better solutions to deal with the post-use nonwoven waste and associated environmental problems. We envision that SPTek ECLIPSE™ enabled nonwovens will be a high-impact solution.”

Jay Tapp, President & COO of Smart Plastic, added:

“Smart Plastic and PFNonwovens are aligned on developing environmentally-responsible solutions as we transition to a more sustainable economy. SPTek ECLIPSE™️ bio-assimilation is a proven technology that has been used commercially across several industries both in the USA and around the world to significantly reduce the impact plastic has on the environment. Our strategic partnership with PFNonwovens represents an important step in Smart Plastic’s mission to reduce plastic waste and help prevent further damage to the environment.”

Smart Plastic’s SPTek ECLIPSE™ accelerates the bio-assimilation of polypropylene and polyethylene polymers at the end of a product’s guaranteed life span in terrestrial, marine, and landfill environments. The revolutionary ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology steadily reduces and modifies the polymer chains to enable the assimilation of these molecules by microorganisms, transforming the material into biomass, CO2, and water. The technology is FDA approved, 100% recyclable, and has already been commercialized by Smart Plastic Technologies in various industries.

Tim Murtaugh, CEO & Founder of Smart Plastic Technologies, also commented:

“We are very pleased to join forces with leading companies like PFNonwovens on our journey to create a legacy of true global sustainability. We are delighted to have an opportunity to build a strong working relationship with one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sophisticated nonwovens.”

CHICAGO, IL (January 26, 2022) - Aligned on the growing importance of environmentally responsible products in the baby and toddler market, Smart Plastic Technologies and Munchkin, Inc. announced today that they have signed an exclusive joint development agreement to create baby lifestyle products using Smart Plastic’s patent-pending ECLIPSE™ technology. This partnership will introduce revolutionary consumer goods to the baby and toddler market, which is estimated to be worth USD 25 billion by 2028.

Jay Tapp, President & COO of Smart Plastic Technologies stated: 

"Plastic waste is a planetary and societal crisis. Munchkin grasps the gravity of our global environmental situation. Our partnership with Munchkin, an influential and respected market and thought leader in semi-durable consumer goods, will directly result in a significant reduction of plastic waste and help reverse the damage that has been done to our environment.”

Steven Dunn, CEO & Founder of Munchkin, added:

“Through our partnership with Smart Plastic, Munchkin is committed to a development process that considers the complete use and lifecycle of our products from ideation to disposal. The goal of our partnership is to make as many Munchkin products as possible disappear after their useful life. With Smart Plastic’s SPTek ECLIPSE™ technology, our products can still be recycled, but if they find their way into landfills or waterways, they fully break down resulting in zero microplastics. Now is the time to act. Our planet, our children, and their children need us to make the change now.”

Approximately 91% of plastic is not recycled and ends up in our forests, oceans, and landfills for generations. Understanding the urgency to create a higher level of awareness and a ‘call to action,’ the partnership between Smart Plastic and Munchkin will lead the way for companies in every aspect of the supply chain. Each organization sees the need to adopt circular economic models for the betterment of our planet and will leverage the expertise on both sides to have the ultimate impact. This strategic partnership contributes to each company’s impactful approaches and commitments to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Tim Murtaugh, CEO & Founder of Smart Plastic Technologies, also commented:

“Our strategic partnership with Munchkin represents another important step in Smart Plastic’s mission to join forces with leading companies on our journey to create a legacy of true global sustainability. We are delighted to have this opportunity to build a strong working relationship with a company that enjoys a global reputation for quality products and brilliant leadership. The adventure continues!”

About Smart Plastic

Founded in 2016, Smart Plastic is revolutionizing the potential of plastic to improve the environment for future generations. Their flagship bio-assimilation technology, SPTek ECLIPSE™, enables polyolefins like polyethylene and polypropylene to completely bio-assimilate at the end of the pre-programmed functional life, resulting in zero microplastics. This represents a key and critical aspect of the company’s commitment to plastic lifecycle management. All Smart Plastic technologies are designed to alter the very nature of plastic for the benefit of both people and the planet. Proudly made in the United States, all Smart Plastic products are 100% recyclable, FDA approved, and purposely designed for the circular and regenerative economies.

About Munchkin

Munchkin, Inc., is based in Los Angeles, California and has provided parents with innovative products for over 30 years. A global leader in children’s feeding & care products, Munchkin has 303 patents to date and has earned more than 180 international product and brand design awards in the past several years alone. As a member of the United Nations Global Compact, Munchkin’s ongoing commitment to environmental protection and animal welfare is reinforced through its numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives and its annually published Sustainability Report. Munchkin products are sold in more than 45 countries around the world and have received over 1 million five-star reviews. Munchkin is on a mission to be the most loved baby lifestyle brand in the world. www.munchkin.com

Media Contact

Alyssa WadeyCommunications Manager, Remote Brandalyssa@remotebrand.com

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The 26th annual COP concluded earlier this month and we wanted to highlight some of our takeaways from this historical conference.

Why was COP26 so important?

We are at a critical time in the fight against climate change. With temperatures currently sitting at 1.1℃ warmer than pre-industrial levels, it was undeniably important that world leaders came together to find ways to keep 1.5℃ alive through negotiations, commitments and pledges. Science proves that if our world warms past 1.5℃, there will be catastrophic and irreversible events. COP26 was also the first ratchet marker for nations who all agreed at COP21 (Paris) to re-evaluate their efforts every five years.

What were the results of COP26?

People have praised and criticized the outcomes of COP26 - however, one major result was the Glasgow Climate Pact. Similar to the Paris Accord, the Glasgow Climate Pact is an agreement based on two weeks of intense negotiations between 197 nations and organizations. The agreement includes the commitment to phase down (more on that below) the use of unabated coal, the consensus to re-visit climate action plans at COP27 with more aggressive targets, larger financial commitments from developed countries, and many other pledges from world leaders.

Although COP26 was the most aggressive form of COP talks since their inception, Climate Action Tracker shows that even if all COP26 commitments were executed the world is still on track to warm by 2.1℃.

Below we've outlined five takeaways that stood out to our team from the conference.

1. Coal power needs to be signed to history, but it wasn't

Coal is the single largest contributor to global warming. According to the End Coal Organization, burning coal is responsible for 46% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and accounts for 72% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity sector.

COP26 was the first time coal was named in an official COP declaration, it was the first time countries listed a fossil fuel as a major contributor to global warming and signifies that science took the forefront of discussions at COP26. This was a huge step in the right direction but more action needs to be taken.

At the end of COP26, there was a last-minute phrase change that switched "phasing OUT" coal with "phasing DOWN". Both India and China opposed the original wording.

The consensus is the world needs to transition to a clean and renewable energy economy but there need to be market and investment incentives to do so.

Commitments made at COP26:

• Leaders agreed to end funding to coal projects overseas.
• 25 countries/public finance institutions committed to ending funding to fossil fuel energy projects by 2022 freeing up $17.8 billion a year for clean energy transitions.
• 40 leaders support the Break Through Agenda, representing more than 70% of the world economy. The Break Through Agenda sees countries/businesses coordinate their climate action each year to scale up the development and deployment of clean technology.
• 190 countries and organizations agreed to eliminate coal power.
• 23 countries made new commitments to phase out coal power including 5 of the world's top 20 coal-powered generators.
• 28 new countries commit to building no new coal plants, matching commitments made in the last few years from other countries.

2. Countries pledge to halt deforestation & restore our forests

There are many reasons why we need to prioritize halting deforestation. First, releasing CO₂ has the same effect on global warming no matter it comes from, whether it's from extracting fossil fuels or cutting down forests. Second, forests absorb and store CO₂! PNAS estimates that forests absorb up to 20% of emissions from the atmosphere each year.

Commitments made at COP26:

• Over 100 leaders, from countries that account for 85% of the world's forests, committed to halt and reverse forest loss/land degradation by 2030 and pledge USD $19.2 billion of public and private funds.
• 28 countries pledged to remove deforestation from the global trade of food and other agricultural products such as palm oil, soya and cocoa.
• Fund of USD $1.4 billion to be established to protect the Congo Basin, the world's second-largest tropical rainforest.
• 30+ of the world's biggest financial companies have promised to end investment in activities linked to deforestation.

3. Climate adaptation for developing countries takes the spotlight

Simply put, climate adaptation means adapting our lives, behaviours and systems to protect our families, economies and our planet from the effects of climate change.

Climate adaptation can be pricey, especially for developing countries, so it's become essential that climate change funds work to reduce global warming and help ready individuals, businesses and countries for the life-threatening impacts of climate change (i.e. drought, wildfires, flooding, rising sea levels, etc.).

Although there were significant pledges made at COP26, one major concern is that there still isn't a program for hard-hit countries to receive financial aid for climate change losses and damages that occur as a result of actions, or non-actions, by major polluters countries like the USA and China.

Commitments made at COP26:

• The Glasgow Pact declared a goal of doubling the annual financial contribution for adaptation, from developed countries to developing countries, by 2025.
• Over USD $450 million was announced for locally-led adaptation approaches and USD $356 million was pledged to the Adaptation Fund.
• Donors pledge USD $413 million to the Least Developed Countries Fund, which is the only climate resilience fund that exclusively targets least developed countries.
• Creation of Glasgow Dialogue, a task force designed to discuss future funding for a Loss and Damage Facility, which would provide financial assistance to countries suffering climate change impact due to big polluter countries.

4. Developed countries commit to actually deliver on financial promises

Climate change comes with a big price tag. One of the top goals for COP26 was how to mobilize finances from developed countries to countries that desperately need funds as they transition to a clean economy and prepare for the impacts of global warming (adaptation).

At COP15, developed countries pledged to mobilize USD $100 billion a year for developing countries by 2020, but this goal has not been met. In 2019, only around USD $80 million was sent to developing countries, up from USD $78 billion in 2018.

Commitments made at COP26:

• New financial commitments towards adaptation and the USD $100 billion-a-year goal from Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden each worth more than USD $500 million per year by 2025.
• New climate financing commitments from the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, Australia, Norway, Ireland and Luxembourg towards the USD $100 billion a year goal.
• Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance was established for combating difficulties in securing climate finances which received USD $100 million in financing.
• Major commitments include Norway tripling its adaptation finance, Japan and Australia doubling their adaptation finance, and commitments from Switzerland, the US and Canada for the Adaptation Fund.
• USD $8.5 billion will be made available over the next 3-5 years to support South Africa's transition to clean energy.
• Announcement of the launch of Climate Investment Funds’ Capital Markets Mechanism (CCMM), which will boost investments in the clean energy transition.

5. Holding everyone accountable, checking in annually

COP26 was the first ratchet for nations post-COP21 that required updated climate plans from countries every five years, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. However, at COP26 world leaders agreed to launch an ANNUAL checkpoint process moving forward, rather than every five years. This signals a global understanding of the urgency to keep each other accountable and the need to revisit and increase efforts yearly if needed. This annual process will include detailed reporting, which will be peer-reviewed, and the requirement to increase NDCs (pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change) if they are too weak.

A new international board was also instated. The International Sustainability Standard Board will develop a comprehensive global baseline for sustainability reporting so everyone is on the same page.

World leaders also agreed to adopt the Enhanced Transparency Framework under the Paris Agreement that will see ALL countries reporting their national emissions and their progress towards achieving their NDCs every two years after 2024.

So many pledges made, so many 'agreements' signed, but what now? While COP26 had an urgency to it and the general consensus is we are headed in the right direction, the gap to make substantial change is quickly deteriorating. The time to take concrete action is now!

We understand the urgent need to change the way items around the world are extracted, produced and discarded in order to keep 1.5℃ alive. That's why our products and solutions are designed to have an immediate impact while supporting goals for long-term change. At Smart Plastic, we aren't promising solutions for 5, 10 or 20 years down the line. We're delivering tangible, sustainable products NOW.

References

https://ukcop26.org/

https://ukcop26.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/COP26-Negotiations-Explained.pdf

https://endcoal.org/climate-change/

https://www.pnas.org/content/116/10/4382

https://theconversation.com/why-tackling-deforestation-is-so-important-for-slowing-climate-change-170287

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-adaptation

https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/111821cop26?fbclid=IwAR2Bcm0b1YTn-o0Sb_KUME7GxIKuv0l6QrmmXPsbgh1g1_ym91gZn6oIG-Y

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59088498

https://theconversation.com/why-tackling-deforestation-is-so-important-for-slowing-climate-change-170287

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/what-does-cop26-mean-adaptation

https://www.thegef.org/news/donors-pledge-413-million-help-most-vulnerable-cope-climate-crisis?utm_source=Master+List&utm_campaign=3fd8435409-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_11_09_12_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_388f7ef156-3fd8435409-134204659

https://environmentjournal.ca/cop26-summit-results-in-climate-agreement-but-critics-remain-skeptical/

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02846-3

https://page.theconversation.com/cop26-glasgow-2021-climate-change-summit/

https://theconversation.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-why-the-cop26-summit-ended-in-failure-and-disappointment-despite-a-few-bright-spots-171723

https://theconversation.com/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-glasgow-climate-pact-171799

https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/glasgows-2030-credibility-gap-net-zeros-lip-service-to-climate-action/

We've been working hard for years to develop products that meet market demands while remaining true to our sustainability mission, and we are excited to share a few of these products at Pack Expo 2021. Now's your chance to get up close and personal with these ingenious products! We will be exhibiting the SPTek ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film, Co-Ex Film and Pouch at our booth from September 27-29. Register today and visit us at booth N-16013 to learn all about our SPTek ECLIPSE™ enabled products.

ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film

The most sustainable stretch film in the world

Delivering the performance you expect from the highest quality stretch films on the market, our revolutionary SPTek ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film is changing the game. Our stretch film is 100% recyclable and will completely bio-assimilate in marine, terrestrial and landfill environments within 6–24 months, leaving behind zero microplastics.

ECLIPSE™ Co-Ex Films

Multi-purpose films that reduce environmental impactOur truly innovative SPTek ECLIPSE™ co-ex films have been developed to meet today's packaging challenges head-on, making them a vital tool in sustainable flexible packaging design. Like all ECLIPSE™ enabled products, our co-ex films will completely bio-assimilate following their guaranteed lifespan if they evade the recycling system.

ECLIPSE™ Pouch

A sustainable pouch that's truly recyclable

The SPTek ECLIPSE™ Pouch delivers the quality and freshness that you expect from any premium barrier pouch. Unlike other multi-layer pouches on the market, the ECLIPSE™ Pouch is 100% recyclable and will completely bio-assimilate after its tailor-made guaranteed functional life, resulting in zero microplastics.

ECLIPSE™ Straw

A truly sustainable drinking straw

Satisfying all of the quality requirements for hot, cold, foamy and frozen drinks while reducing environmental impact, the SPTek ECLIPSE™ Straw performs in all beverages. Following guaranteed life, this product will completely bio-assimilate within 6-42 months if it evades the recycling system: a critical part of the solution to global plastic waste.

Our team is ready and excited to connect with you. See you at the show!

After nearly 17 months of virtual trade shows, we are thrilled to be attending PACK EXPO 2021 in Las Vegas from September 27–29. This show gives us a chance to re-engage with industry members, to exhibit our new products, and to continue the conversation on sustainability.

PACK EXPO 2021 is bringing back face-to-face meetings and live showcases. We will be exhibiting at booth N-16013 and will be booking appointments with members of our team throughout the show. Come meet us in person to learn about the innovations we’ve been cooking up these past two years and to chat all things plastic, circular economy, closed-loop recycling and more!

• Explore over 1,500 companies across industries like food and beverage, household, personal, and pharmaceuticals.
• Learn about top advances in packaging and processing, sustainability, packaging materials, automation, robotics, and printing.
• PACK EXPO focuses on sustainability by highlighting companies innovating in the circular economic packaging space.

If you haven't yet registered for the show, you can do so here.

Stay tuned for additional announcements we’ll be unveiling in the lead up to PACK EXPO by signing up for emails.

The BBC writes on June 11, 2021, Half of fast fashion made of new plastics, finds report.

Research completed by Royal Society for the Arts (RSA) found on average 49% of clothing made by Boohoo, Prettylittlething, Missguided and Asos were made of polyester, acrylic, nylon and elastane, with only 3% of those clothes containing recycled plastics.

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News writes: Plant-Based, Sustainable, Scalable “Spider Silk” Provides Plastic Alternative.

The strongest material on the planet, spider silk, is the inspiration behind a new plant-based plastic alternative, removing the challenges that come with the micro and nano structures of traditional plant-based plastic. This new, energy efficient method mimics spider silk on a molecular level and will result in a plastic-like free-standing film that can be composted at home.

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.