FedEx Ground Package System allegedly violated California's hazardous waste control laws more than 1,500 times, according to a civil complained filed by the state Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Ritz cheese and cracker snack packaging, paint color and yellow spray paint have the highest levels of the banned substance polychlorinated biphenyl among products tested, according to a report released Thursday by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
"Non-GMO" is one of the fastest-growing label trends on U.S. food packages, with sales of such items growing 28% last year to about $3 billion, according to market-research firm Nielsen. In a poll of nearly 1,200 U.S. consumers for The Wall Street Journal, Nielsen found that 61% of consumers had heard of GMOs and nearly half of those people said they avoid eating them. The biggest reason was because it "doesn't sound like something I should eat."
EU countries will face tougher recycling targets and a ban on burying recyclable waste in landfills under plans presented by the European Commission.
The proposals are part of the Commission's Waste Targets Review, which includes updated recycling targets of 70 percent of household waste and 80 percent of packaging waste by 2030.
The Lego Group has set a goal to source 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2020. In support of the goal, Lego's parent company Kirkbi has acquired a 32% stake in Dong Energy's Borkum Riffgrund 1 wind farm off the coast of Germany. Lego CEO Jorgen Vig Knudstorp said the company would continue to look for opportunities to invest in renewables. In addition, he said, it is working to boost recycling and cut down on packaging in an effort to be more sustainable
London, Amsterdam and Copenhagen have announced they will work together to design a project that will improve the capture of plastics. City officials from the three capitals will share information and experiences on the development and delivery of circular economy action plans. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation recently estimated plastic packaging waste at $80-120 billion annually.
A Global Commitment to eradicate plastic waste and pollution at the source has been signed by 250 organisations including many of the world's largest packaging producers, brands, retailers and recyclers, as well as governments and NGOs.
Marks & Spencer has launched Plan A 2025, a new three-pillar sustainability strategy that aims to support 1,000 communities, help 10 million people live happier, healthier lives, and move the company closer to becoming a zero-waste business. Under the strategy, the company has also committed to reducing operational GHG emissions 80% by 2030, sourcing all of its key raw materials sustainably by 2025, ensuring all of its packaging is 'widely recyclable' by 2022, and more.
The Coca-Cola Company has launched a new vending machine concept in China where consumers can purchase beverages, as well as return and recycle used bottles and cans, marking the first concept equipment to combine beverage sales and packaging recycling by Coca-Cola China. The vending machine also uses AI technology such as facial recognition and sound interaction to provide an interactive experience to the consumers.
The EU's Plastics Strategy aims to cut out non-recyclable plastics by 2030, while cutting down on single-use plastics and restricting microplastics, all by establishing a new circular economy around the material. The strategy lays out a few key steps to achieve this. The first is to introduce new rules on packaging that improve their recyclability and increase the demand for recycled plastics, thereby making recycling profitable for businesses.
Two of the world's most iconic food and beverage brands have launched ambitious initiatives aimed at significantly reducing waste and increasing the recycled and biobased content of their packaging. Together, they mark the acceleration of a yearslong war on waste.
Shareholder pressure to phase out Styrofoam has not kept McDonald's from using foam cups in several Chicago-area restaurants this summer, though the company would not say where else it may be using them. The chain said it continues "to work with our suppliers on sustainable packaging options that reduce our sourcing footprint and positively impact the communities we serve."
Procter & Gamble has set a goal of obtaining environmental certification from the Forest Stewardship Council for all of its paper products and packaging. P&G is pursuing this goal in part by partnering with Domtar, a Canada-based manufacturer of paper and pulp products.