For environmentally-conscious parents, instead of throwing thousands of disposable diapers into the landfill every year, where they will take 500 years to biodegrade, a new company helps to clear your green conscience.   Just ship the baby’s dirty diapers off in the box, or use a local composter, then wash your hands of the whole situation. The first step is, you need to switch to the biodegradable diapers sold by a company called Dyper—and they even ship them to your house.   The manufacturer of responsibly-sourced bamboo diapers has teamed up with one of GNN’s favorite sustainable companies, TerraCycle. TerraCycle has been recycling and composting some of the world’s toughest items—and diapers was a natural target.   The unique recycling program aptly called “ReDyper” starts with a subscription, and includes boxes and bags that meet the United Nations Hazmat shipping specifications, as well as prepaid shipping labels to make the whole process as easy as possible.   “It’s got to be super convenient. It’s got to be, frankly, as close to convenient as possible relative to throwing it out,” TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky, told Fast Company.   After they arrive at TerraCycle’s facilities, they go on to industrial composting facilities that TerraCycle partners with to be turned mostly into compost for things like the landscaping on highway median strips.         Unfortunately, as diaper companies compete with each other, supposed innovations like infused lotions, latex cores, or plastic fasteners (made from phthalates for greater flexibility and toughness) have greatly reduced the biodegradability of the modern diaper. Dyper makes theirs without any of these chemical agents, ensuring minimal environmental damage, more natural ingredients, and quickest composting time.   “We talked to many moms that wish that they had that opportunity to compost, because they’re living in New York City in an apartment on the 24th floor and they have no option to do that,” said Taylor Shearer, content manager at Dyper.   Dyper.com says that each monthly subscription costs $68 for 260 diapers, and it includes free shipping to your door—and the company gives a 10% discount to members of the military. They will ship samples for $4 so you can check out the quality, but receive a credit if you end up buying.   Returning your used diapers for composting costs an additional $39, but includes all the boxes, bags, and labels. This is an add-on service because you might be able to find a composting facility or company near you, like those available in San Francisco, or you can do it yourself in the back field.   Because 3.5 million tons of diapers are tossed into the trash every year, any diaper recycling program is sorely needed—and welcome as a newborn baby.        

#FashionCrisis is a series that kicks off the Style section's commitment to educating our readers about sustainability and fashion. We chat with experts, influencers, designers, beauty and fashion brands about what it really means to be sustainable in 2020. In this story, we learn more about what exactly it means to be sustainable in the beauty industry.   Years ago I would roll my eyes at brands that promised to be cruelty-free, phthalate-free, three-free — free of everything, it seemed, including my attention. They had clunky packaging, weak ingredient lists that my cystic acne would scoff at, vampiric shade ranges, and forgettable branding. I just wanted products that did what they promised, a high enough order to keep me busy; concerning myself with products that did what they promised without doing a bunch of other things felt like too much to ask.   But the industry needle has been moving without me, and so has, unfortunately, the crisis of climate change. The stuff that beauty fans love is, in fact, connected to the climate crisis, because the $532 billion dollar industry that we support is implicitly linked to other industries that pollute the earth. The beauty industry contributes 120 billion units of packaging a year, according to some estimates, and the shipping industry, an integral part of the process, contributes more than 1 billion tons of CO2 a year — and this is just the world's merchant fleet, not accounting for freight or air shipping.   But more beauty brands are finding ways to minimize the impact they leave on the world when they make products. The “clean beauty” movement was worth $11 billion in 2016 and will likely be worth more than twice that by 2025. Clean beauty promises have gotten more complicated: Not only do they vow to hydrate or solve acne issues, for example, many of them are cruelty-free, vegan, water-free, and sustainable. But what does that even mean in 2020?  

What does “sustainable” beauty mean?

  There are many different standards for what sustainable beauty looks like, and hundreds of eco-labels around the world, with 66 relevant to cosmetics and personal care. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that “under U.S. law, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA approval before they go on the market,” and cites color additives as the only exception to this rule, though the agency will take action if it has “reliable information” regarding the safety of a particular product. Otherwise, individual companies are tasked with the legal responsibility of making sure their products are safe to use, and eco-labels are a very helpful way for you to know they’ve been tested by somebody.   Thoroughly sustainable brands often aim for a quartet of eco-labels: recyclable, cruelty-free certification from Leaping Bunny, certification for good business practices (like Fair Trade or B-Corp), and organic ingredients. To use the official USDA organic label specifically, brands have to comply with strict guidelines, available here.   According to a former beauty industry marketer we spoke with, brands can put “cruelty-free” on their packaging, but not Leaping Bunny certification if they have parent companies that test in China. If selling in physical stores in China, products have to undergo animal testing, even if the company doesn’t do animal testing anywhere else: “Brands are careful about how they phrase things for customers. My old brand wouldn’t put sustainable, but would call themselves...eco-forward, to let consumers know they were trying, but weren’t there yet.”   Many official eco-labels cover only specific products and not the entire company roster. They are largely voluntary accreditations, not industry requirements. B-corp brands must achieve a minimum score on a test that assesses impact on workers, customers, community, and the environment using the UN’s sustainable development goals as a benchmark. It’s one of the most rigorous accreditations a company can apply for. The Body Shop, a pioneer in sustainable beauty, is one of only a few brands that are B-corp certified, along with Davines and Dr. Bronners.  

Natural beauty, organic, clean beauty, and waterless beauty are all different.

  There is no official FDA definition of “organic” cosmetics, and so-called “natural” products aren’t necessarily better for your skin; some popular nature-derived cosmetics ingredients can still cause a bad reaction for people with certain skin types. According to the FDA, cosmetics labeled “organic” have to adhere to both USDA and FDA regulations. For example, a product has to be composed of at least 95% organic ingredients to have the USDA organic label on it. That’s why brands that claim to be organic often don’t have a label; a lotion may be composed of 75% organic ingredients but is not permitted to use the official logo.   A newer trend is “waterless beauty,” a term from South Korea that refers to products supposedly containing no water, according to Formula Botanica, a company that offers courses and certificates in organic cosmetics science. Generally these products have concentrated formulas, implying a bigger impact on skin. Reducing the amount of water waste is an important part of how we can all contribute to a smaller ecological footprint — by 2050 5 billion people may face water shortages — but even if a product arrives with no “aqua” listed in the ingredients, it’s highly unlikely that it has no water footprint. Brands think waterless beauty translates to shoppers believing it’s a more sustainable product, but the harvesting of ingredients, packaging, and shipping beauty products require water in some form or another, as pointed out by Formula Botanica, not to mention that you may end up diluting it with tap water at home.   Charlotte Parker, the CEO of Dieux Skincare and cofounder of Nice Paper, has spent the past few years learning the ins and outs of clean beauty loopholes, while developing her own brand alongside a dermatologist. “If your product is waterless and ‘all natural,’ how do you think that crop was made? With GMO-free good wishes? It takes water to grow a plant,” says Parker. “If I use a synthetic ingredient, with 10 ml of water, I can tell you that barbari fig seed oil took a hell of a lot more water to grow, clean, and process.”   “More frustrating is the waterless beauty that actually has water in it,” Parker continues. “There are two workarounds that I’ve seen brands do. They’ll add ‘extract,’ or ‘proprietary blend,’ which means you can just add water to any active on the supplier side, and then your lab can legally put it first on the list, conveniently not mentioning there's water in that proprietary juice. They also switch out water for hydrosols. Hydrosols are perfumed water. Hydrosols are made during the essential oil process; it takes a lot of water to create both essential oils and hydrosols.”   A vegan brand does not mean the labor practices are ethical or that the supply chain is transparent and sustainable, and all brands have an ecological footprint, so the concern is how they counteract their impact on the environment. All these terms are moving targets.  

Packaging problems.

  We’ve got a big learning curve to deal with if we want to be more responsible consumers, and it starts with learning more about what to do with things we already own. Recycling is complicated enough that a few brands, like Versed, have released recycling guides to help make it easier. If you’ve been throwing half-full beauty products into the bin, you get zero cookies for the effort, because residual product in containers renders a lot of recycling contaminated. Here is a comprehensive list of things to just put in the wastebasket instead:   Mirrors are not recyclable because of the reflective coating. “If your mirror is in good condition, consider wrapping it up safely and donating it. If it’s broken, consider a craft project,” advises Elizabeth Schussler of the Recycling Partnership.   Most available pumps are not recyclable. While researching this story, we discovered only one recyclable pump on the market, which isn’t to say a major brand has incorporated it yet. Pumps are composed of several different parts, so you need to fully disassemble them.   Applicators are not recyclable either. Mascara wands, however, can be donated, after being washed, for use in wildlife rescue efforts. Cloud Nine also has a mail-in recycling program for heat tools for hair.   Makeup brushes are generally not recyclable, even if they are composed of primarily eco-friendly materials. Vegan brushes still have to use virgin plastic. You can go for synthetic brushes made sustainably, like EcoTools, and send your old ones to recycling programs that specialize in beauty brushes.   Depressingly, the color of plastic or glass containers can matter too, even if it’s a technically recyclable material. “There are some packages that are more recyclable. It depends on size, shape, material, and color,” explains Schussler. “The machines [that] sort the plastic are ‘reading’ the plastic and divide it, but there are colors and materials that catch it off guard.” Black plastic is hard to recycle because the sorters don’t recognize the color. For example, don’t just toss LUSH containers into your recycling bin; instead, bring them back to the store, if possible. The brand reuses them as part of its programming.   A film or coating can also render something unrecyclable. Anything that is flexible or squeezable is difficult to recycle because it has multiple layers. (Summer Fridays does, however, have a specialized recycling program.) And those free samples you get? They are unsurprisingly terrible for the environment. “Packages that are smaller than a small soda can, for instance, have a hard time making it through the line even if they are recyclable,” says Schussler.   Single use products are bad for the environment too. “Beauty products made to use once and throw out, like makeup wipes and sheet masks, create a lot of unnecessary refuse,” Susan Stevens, the founder and CEO of Made With Respect, told Vogue last year. “In the case of sheet masks, there’s a pouch, the mask, and sometimes the mask is wrapped in a plastic sheet. The pouches that hold sheet masks are often a combination of aluminum and plastic, which cannot be recycled.”  

All retailers have different standards for what sustainable beauty means.

  Since there are few compulsory regulations for brands to adhere to, retailers may have their own guidelines for what clean beauty or sustainability is when stocking their stores. ULTA has a “natural beauty” category but doesn't appear to have an explainer on its website about what constitutes inclusion in that category. The company also doesn't appear to have clearly outlined sustainability benchmarks available. Teen Vogue has reached out to ULTA for comment. Sephora uses recyclable paper bags, and defines clean beauty as being free of specific ingredients, which they do outline on their website. When reached by Teen Vogue for comment, the company explained it has begun rolling out a recycling program at specific stores but has not made it a universal policy: “In 2019, Sephora piloted a regional empties bring-back program in select stores, to divert empty containers from landfills, through which clients could receive 15% off all Sephora Collection items when they brought in three full-size empties of Sephora-sold products. There are plans to roll out this initiative to more stores in the near future.”   Other retailers have started to pop up exclusively in the clean beauty space. There is the Detox Market, Ayla, as well as BLK+GRN, which specializes in black-owned beauty brands. Credo, a retailer established in 2015, exclusively sells what it considers clean products, and is thus far the only major beauty retailer to offer a recycling-and-rewards program as part of its brick-and-mortar operations. “On average, each store sends six to eight bins per month back to Terracycle to recycle, so about 65 bins per month. Our customers use this service and love it, and they get Credo loyalty points for participating too,” says Credo’s director of social responsibility, Mia Davis. “We spend a significant amount of staff time and money sending back these materials because it is very important that we do our part to reduce our industry's footprint.”   Individual brands such as Kiehls offer trade-in programs in exchange for a discount, or have paired with third-party recycling businesses like Terracycle; however, brand-specific recycling programs generally only accept their brand partners’ packaging. The one Terracycle program that accepts all mailed-in beauty packaging is cosponsored by Garnier, but when we tried to sign up, we were put on a wait-list, and in the course of reporting for this piece, we have yet to be moved up the list for the program. Credo and Deciem’s recycling programs are the ones that currently accept beauty packaging from multiple brands, but you have to physically go to their stores.   Very few brands have an entirely closed-loop chain, and just because they offer one does not mean there is a significant percentage of customers who participate in recycling/refilling their products. Loop, one such limited program trying to make it more common, partnered with some of the biggest brands on the market, including the Body Shop, Pantene, Degree, and Dove. But the program is only available in a limited geographic region and also has a wait-list. The closed-loop packaging here is not available outside of the program, and it requires a packaging deposit to use.   Sustainability is the goal, but thus far not any one brand can lay claim to being 100% sustainable. Thirty-four percent of Americans recycle, and facility capabilities differ from neighborhood to neighborhood. As a result, only 9% of plastics end up being recycled. It’s not our fault as individuals; even if a product is recyclable, it doesn’t mean a community has the ability to get the product recycled.  

Brands that stand out:

  There are more brands than ever trying to tick all the boxes for sustainable sourcing and packaging. Axiology, Acure, Earth Tu Face, Ethique, Fat and the Moon, Meow Meow Tweet, Kjaer Weis are all trying to encompass the goals of sustainability, though each company goes about it in different ways: Some use refillable packaging, others use recyclable packaging, and their products have different price points and uses. One brand I tried in the course of reporting for this piece was by Humankind, which offers beautifully designed bathroom essentials in solid, no-waste packaging and refillable containers. Using solid shampoo is a steep learning curve for me, but it has made travel a lot easier, and minimized the number of products I bring with me. (I admit, I feel smug looking at how beautifully minimal my shower is now.) And the products are no more expensive than my comparable, nonsustainable alternatives; in fact, they’re half as expensive as my former prestige-brand products.   Not to be left behind, luxury brands are dipping their toes into the refillable market. Dior, Hermes, by Kilian, Frederic Malle, Hourglass, Chanel, and Le Labo all have refillable options, and Mugler has offered refills at perfume fountains since 1992. But if you don’t use those brands, you can also purchase a refillable atomizer and buy decanted perfumes from resellers like the Perfumed Court, which does offer proof of authenticity.  

It might do all that and still not be accessible.

  The sunk cost for ethical ingredients and packaging, eco-label certification, and ethically sourced labor means these products tend to be more expensive, so much so that it makes being able to afford a “choice” of beauty products a class issue. As Allure reported last year, “Basic skin-care products from popular clean beauty brands typically cost more than $40, and treatment formulas can hit triple digits — that’s about 35% of a standard week’s paycheck (before taxes) for somebody making the federal minimum wage. The fallout: Those with lower incomes, a disproportionate number of whom are people of color, don’t have the option of avoiding certain chemicals in their beauty routines.”   Even beauty companies that try to provide sustainable options often fail to reach a variety of consumers, and people of color often feel left behind by the sustainable beauty movement.   Beauty consumer Lina White explains, “I’m still on the hunt for sustainable products that also cater to a diverse client base. And I can’t just slap on some aloe or rose water or homemade toothpaste and pray my cystic acne away, you know? Sometimes I need the hard stuff.” The reality is that some ingredients don’t have reliable alternatives yet, and the lack of regulation around certain claims made by specific products can make customers more suspicious of new ones when they arrive.   As another beauty consumer, Julia Sevin, puts it: “I don't think any consumer believes that all makeup corporations have their best interests in mind for cost, quality, or environmental impact. But what's the alternative? No makeup? Rough.”   Brands are motivated by the combination of profits and consumer behavior, so the more we demand change with our dollars, the faster the system will adapt to suit the changing world. But it’s not — and never has been — just up to us.

Beauty and Personal Care Industry Leaders Gather During Annual Meeting to Envision a More Sustainable World for Beauty   More than 300 cosmetics and personal care products executives, suppliers and media professionals gathered last week at the Personal Care Products Council’s (PCPC) 126th Annual Meeting at The Breakers Palm Beach. As is tradition, attendees reflected on the beauty industry’s challenges and opportunities with a special focus this year on sustainability.   In celebration of the launch of PCPC’s sustainability initiative, including publication of the first ever industry sustainability report, this year’s meeting theme was Envisioning a More Sustainable World for Beauty. The program highlights important issues of the day, particularly around trust and reputation; environmental impacts; and social and economic issues driving public discourse. This year we are honored to be joined by world-renowned experts who will deliver keynote presentations and lead panel discussions on the following topics:  

• Richard Edelman, Edelman, discussing the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer
• Michael Maslansky, Maslansky + Partners, discussing consumer research and insights
• Andea Campbell, Condeì Nast, presenting on the future of beauty, featuring a panel with Maya Penn, Maya’s Ideas; Tom Szaky, TerraCycle; Esi Eggleston Bracey, Unilever; moderated by Samhita Mukhopadhyay, Teen Vogue
• Alex Lorestani, Geltor, discussing transforming the global supply chain
• Ken Cook, EWG, on the importance of collaboration between industry and NGOs
• Tom Szaky, TerraCycle, explains the dynamics and economics of waste
• Pamela Alabaster, Centric Brands, moderates a panel on sustainability, featuring Andrea Flynn, The Esteìe Lauder Companies; Jerry Vittoria, Firmenich; and Chris Sayner, Croda
• Marie La France, Dash Hudson, discussing AI and social media
• Carol Cone, Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, leading a discussion with Kelly Vanasse, P&G, and Andrea Flynn, The Esteìe Lauder Companies, on brand purpose and authenticity.

  “We are very proud of the efforts our member companies are making in the sustainable management of their businesses,” said PCPC President and CEO Lezlee Westine, “but we recognize there is more we can do to ensure a more beautiful and sustainable world for us all.” Westine shared her hope that this year’s Annual Meeting would provide cosmetics and personal care products professionals from around the world the rare opportunity to come together to share best practices and forged new partnerships.   George Calvert, PhD, PCPC Board of Directors Chair and Amway Chief Supply Chain Officer, shared Westine’s enthusiasm for the personal care products industry’s bright and sustainable future. “We are proud of how our commitment to healthy people and a healthy planet is reflected in the work of our members and our association,” said Calvert. “Our constant pursuit of improved sustainability is both good business and good stewardship. For years to come, our collective efforts will advance our industry’s reputation, create new opportunities for our teams, drive growth, and make a positive impact on the world.”   As a coveted destination for personal renewal, the Forbes Five-Star, indoor-outdoor Spa at The Breakers nurtures guests with heightened comfort and care, embracing them with a relaxed, modern style that evokes the resort’s casual, seaside sophistication.     Its stunning, contemporary design features modern clean lines, artisan elements and a soothing canvas of white, a setting that celebrates The Breakers’ Italian Renaissance-design roots, history and alluring oceanfront in a very fresh, modern way. “The Spa connects the past to the future honoring traditions that are already deeply held, and welcoming those yet to be established,” said the facility’s internationally renowned designer Sylvia Sepielli, (the Spa Village Bath at Gainsborough Bath Spa – UK, and the Dolder Spa in Zurich).” She envisioned the concept, “held in our hands,” as the essence of The Spa’s commitment to nurturing and healing, and seized on the four elements of ocean, touch, botanicals and tradition as her inspirations for this thoughtfully developed project.   During treatments and throughout the facility, guests are pampered by an expertly-trained, intuitive staff who extend warm, genuine service. The Spa experience engages all of the senses, with touch given special emphasis to soothe, energize or provide relief. “Our highly-skilled team ensures that each guest feels restored and personally renewed, and that the benefits resonate long after departure,” said Tricia Taylor, executive vice president & general manager of The Breakers. “We are dedicated to helping guests maximize the rewards of self-investment during their time with us, we know their need to nurture themselves is a necessity, not a matter of indulgence.”     The curated menu of spa services focuses on efficacy and quality. Treatments feature the finest skin and body care, primarily organic and natural:

• Tammy Fender Palm Beach-based line of custom-blended 100% natural formulations and holistic skin care for face and body
• OSEA  powerful marine-based formulations with pure essential oil
• Guerlain innovative skin care that unites cutting-edge innovation with nature’s natural wonders.

  An array of distinctive spa amenities include:

• A therapeutic heated sand-quartz bed for massages
• A Spa Suite with steam shower, chromatherapy tub and private garden terrace
• A private co-ed outdoor courtyard with soothing water feature; a contemporary interpretation of the classic Medici concept – a secluded area for relaxing and congregating
• Three dedicated lounges artfully designed for women, men and co-ed use
• Premium spa retail that features authentic Italian, local and hand-crafted products
• Salon area for nail and hair services

  For the Spa’s transformation in 2015, Sepielli worked in tandem with Peacock + Lewis Architects and award-wining landscape architect Gregory Lombardi Design. The project was funded by The Breakers’ annual capital improvements budget, which allocates an investment of more than $30 million each year. This unrivaled, long-term financial commitment ensures that this independent resort stays on a path of continuous enhancement and evolves to meet its guests’ ever-growing expectations.   Recognized as one of America’s most iconic resorts, The Breakers is an Italian Renaissance-style hotel situated on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of Palm Beach, Florida. Founded in 1896 by magnate Henry M. Flagler, and still in the hands of his heirs today, this legendary destination continues to thrive as an independent property. Each year, a reinvestment of more than $30 million in capital improvements and ongoing revitalization, balances preservation and modernization.   The Breakers features 538 guest rooms and suites, including the ultra-luxury Flagler Club, a boutique hotel nestled atop of the resort. The property offers nine restaurants ranging from casual beachfront to stylishly sophisticated and a world-class private beach club with four pools, five whirlpool spas, 25 poolside bungalows and a variety of on-site water sports. Additional amenities include: two championship golf courses, 10 Har-Tru tennis courts, a Forbes Five-Star spa, an indoor-outdoor oceanfront fitness center, 12 signature on-site boutiques, and a Family Entertainment Center with an extensive program of activities for children. Along with being recognized as a AAA Five Diamond property, The Breakers has earned numerous accolades for its social impact on the environment, the community and team member well-being.   For reservations or more information, contact the resort at 888-BREAKERS (273-2537) or visit thebreakers.com.

TerraCycle announced the start of the seventh annual Recycled Playground Challenge, in partnership with Colgate and ShopRite, to teach school students, teachers and communities about preserving healthy smiles, and a healthy environment. Starting March 8, schools located throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and Maryland who are members of the Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program are encouraged to visit https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/contests/colgateshopriteplayground2020 and register for the 2020 Challenge. To participate, schools collect and recycle through TerraCycle used oral care waste and packaging, such as empty toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes and floss containers. The schools that collect the most waste win one of two playgrounds that are made from the recycled materials.   “We are excited to announce the 2020 Recycled Playground Challenge in partnership with ShopRite and TerraCycle,” said Jean Luc Fischer, President, North America and Global Sustainability at Colgate-Palmolive. “This event and the Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program are part of our commitment to ensuring the well-being of our customers and the preservation of our environment.”   Through June 30, each unit (“unit” defined as 0.02 lbs of used, post-consumer oral care products and packaging) of oral care waste that is sent to TerraCycle for recycling earns the participating schools one (1) ‘Playground Credit’ towards winning the grand prize playground made from recycled oral care waste that has been cleaned, processed, and remolded. The schools with the most Playground Credits will be named the winners by July 30, 2020 and the playgrounds will be installed in the fall. The second runner-up school and six honorable mention participants will be awarded various prizes and ShopRite gift cards.   “ShopRite is excited to once again bring this great program to schools in the communities where our ShopRite stores operate. The Recycled Playground Challenge motivates students to recycle and teaches them innovative ways to help the environment,” said Steven Hildner, Wakefern Community Relations Administrator. “For the seventh year in a row, we are excited to have this opportunity to show ShopRite’s dedication to the surrounding communities.”   Separate from the Recycled Playground Challenge, TerraCycle also offers the Colgate^® Oral Care Recycling Program. This ongoing activity is open to any individual, family, school or community group interested in protecting the environment. For each piece of waste sent to TerraCycle using a pre-paid shipping label, participants can earn money toward the school or charity of their choice.   “Through the recycling program, Colgate enables consumers to divert waste from landfills, engage their communities and be rewarded for their effort,” explained Tom Szaky, TerraCycle Founder and CEO.  “With the Recycled Playground Challenge moving into its seventh year we look forward to building on the success of previous years and continue to inspire future generations to preserve the environment.”  

For more information, visit www.terracycle.com/colgate.

 

CHATSWORTH, California – Toy maker MGA Entertainment, Inc. (MGAE) is fulfilling its promise to bring biodegradable toys to market. It launched the line with “L.O.L Surprise!”, a bio-degradable ball.   The company also announced a new product line from its brand Little Tikes, which is made entirely from post-consumer and post-industrial resin. MGAE is manufacturing products and packaging with a new patent-pending compound that facilitates the degradation of plastic in landfill conditions.   “I have assembled an in-house team that is 100 percent focused on identifying the best innovative and eco-friendly options to use in our toys,” said Isaac Larian, CEO and founder of MGA Entertainment.   “Sustainability is a personal priority and a MGAE commitment. We will have product at retail this fall.”   MGAE extended its L.O.L Surprise! partnership with TerraCycle, last month adding nine new countries to the program. As well, beginning in summer 2020, all L.O.L Surprise! accessory bags will be paper based, and any packaging made from resin will be degradable and include new compound. Beginning 2021, the entire L.O.L Surprise! packaging line will be completely degradable.   The Little Tikes “Go Green” line will launch with four products and will continue to evolve and incorporate other Little Tikes items throughout 2020 and beyond.  The “Go Green” products will be available at retail beginning Earth Day.

In Arizona, a compostable diaper company has launched a subscription service to send clean diapers to parents and receive return shipments of the used nappies for composting.   Dyper, which calls the service ReDyper, has partnered with TerraCyle, a recycling and composting company, to make the model work.  First, Dyper will ship parents its bamboo-based diapers directly. After use, parents can mail the diaper back in prepaid packing materials compliant with the United Nation’s hazmat specifications. The dirty diapers are converted by TerraCyle into compost for landscaping, particularly for municipal use.   “It’s got to be super convenient. It’s got to be, frankly, as close to convenient as possible relative to throwing it out,” TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky, tells Fast Company. The diaper service costs $68 for 260 diapers, shipping included. If the parents don’t have access to composting facilities, the option to return the dirty diapers costs an additional $39.   Over 3 million tons of dirty diapers end up in landfills annually, and most take as much as 500 years to biodegrade.

提高供应链的循环水平。包括使用回收材料，延长产品的生命周期，提高产品回收率等。美国新泽西州的TerraCycle公司就发起了一个“循环”计划，它与雀巢公司等知名品牌合作，专门提供可以回收和再利用的包装物——比如装冰淇淋的杯子等等。

Two days of debates, discussions and proposals on the need to make the packaging industry more sustainable, with 35 speakers from all continents, 450 participants from twenty countries and 40 accredited journalists.   The need for a new production system emerged universally during the forum; a new production system that will be included within a broader scope, which includes technology and research oriented towards reusable, recyclable and compostable materials, consumer education and new global policies. A need that can no longer be postponed, also in the light of the climate change we are witnessing, as Tim Letts of WWF recalls. Therefore, the sector is moving towards intelligent, digital and flexible packaging that meets the needs of consumers more sensitive to ecological problems; packaging that provides companies that invest in sustainability with a fundamental economic performance (at least in the long term), so that they can adopt the new systems. In the first part of the forum, dedicated to legislation and society, Silvia Zucconi (market intelligence manager of Nomisma), Nicola De Carne (business partner of Nielsen's retail client) and Paolo Spranzi gave an overview of the situation of the Consumption related to packaging. (Associate partner in McKinsey). Nomisma examined the Italian and international markets by conducting an exclusive survey for the forum, focusing on the United States and Germany. “In terms of sustainability, Zucconi explained, Italy has a better overall performance than the European average. However, all the countries considered in the study share certain values, such as attention to the ecological characteristics of the packaging, “The biggest challenge is to provide food for everyone by 2050, and we must do so by reducing the environmental impact. Poor quality packaging leads to food loss. Plastic containers guarantee fresh and better quality products, therefore, in the coming years we must develop increasingly ecological materials. The materials exist, so we need to develop innovative food systems from reducing food loss and increasing efficiency, "said Rosa Rolle, FAO manager. In the second part of the forum, retailers and brand owners were given the floor, including Giacomo Canali (Packaging Research Manager in Barilla) and Roman Manthey (Director of Engineering and Infrastructure of the Global Supply Chain at Coca-Cola Bottling ). A reduction in the use of packaging materials, the use of recyclable materials and cardboard from responsibly managed forests were the highlights discussed by Canali, who also stressed the importance of consumer education. Manthey added: “We firmly believe in the circular economy and our goal is to have 100% recyclable plastic bottles. We are already eliminating all unnecessary or not easily recyclable packaging from our range. ” Coop presented its multi-year project "Coop for the environment", confirming its commitment to sustainability, in line with its history and values. A testimony of his philosophy that does not consist of sporadic actions based solely on consumer sentiment, but is based on the implementation of real actions throughout the production chain. "The challenge for a more sustainable world is open - explained Michele Frascaroli, Technical Director of CRIT - and machinery manufacturers are already fully involved in this challenge. All the main actors are working to provide increasingly sustainable approaches and solutions. Some they are already on the market, others are under study and will be presented in a few years. This is one of the factors that form a circle of sustainable innovation that, in addition to being connected with the research and development of technology, also refers to corporate sustainability, knowledge of materials, collaboration with producers of materials and customer relationships. ” Managers of international companies such as Amcor, Novamont, NatureWorks, TerraCycle, Herambiente and Aliplast closed the first edition of Packaging Speaks Green and presented materials, technologies and scenarios to reduce the environmental impact from innovative solutions.

Em seus primeiros 60 dias de vida, um bebê utiliza, em média, 8 fraldas por dia (240 por mês!), número que vai se reduzindo com o passar do tempo.

We have all heard the age-old story of the milkman — the epitome of convenience before the invention of the refrigerator. Fresh milk was delivered right to your door and the empty bottles would be whisked away. While this seems to be a way of the past, what if this technique was resurrected with our products today? (A closed loop system, if you will.) Meet Loop, a startup focused on creating a platform for helping consumers live zero-waste lifestyles, is doing just that. Operating under recycling company Terracycle, Loop’s thesis is that product packaging is the killer when it comes to how the buying process contributes to waste. To learn more about what Loop is working on, I spoke with Ben Weir, the company’s Business Development Manager. In our conversation, we talked about the statistics that motivate the company’s work, what it’s doing, and the sustainable future of shopping the company is betting on.

Loop’s (Sustainable) Vision of the Future

Imagine a ‘milkman’ scenario where a vendor delivers a product to you and once you’re done using it, someone comes by to pick up, clean, and refill the empty container for the cycle to repeat once again. This process is what Weir calls a ‘closed loop system’ — and it’s what Loop is betting big bucks on. Some of Loop’s products. Photo Credit: Mark Kauzlarich/CNN Partnering with some of the largest household companies such as Tide, Pantene, and Häagen-Dazs, Loop offers popular products in reusable containers. Highly durable and sustainable materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and glass, are used to redesign well-known products in a design-conscious manner. Plus, the packaging has a minimum threshold of ten reuse cycles.

The Numbers: What a Closed Loop System Could Accomplish

Weir emphasizes that Loop strives to be durable, cleanable, and circular (reusable) with its packaging. After these ten cycles, Loop has a 35% lower environmental impact compared to regular eCommerce. The startup also optimizes its supply chain to make it as sustainable as possible by sourcing locally whenever possible. Every year, approximately 300 million tons of plastic are produced with 50% of it coming from single-use plastic. Avoiding a ‘disposable lifestyle’ is what Loop aims to do by promoting zero-waste alternatives.

How Loop Develops its Partnerships and Customer Relationships

Loop has approximately 100 employees globally, making it a relatively small company in the industry. But it is a subsidiary of the Terracycle brand, which has been around for some 20 years. And that has helped the company collaborate with over 150 brands to date. To make partnering with those brands an enticing possibility, Loop’s process benefits manufacturers by promoting product innovation and creating a halo effect around the brand. Nestle designed reusable containers for Loop. Photo Credit: Brinson and Banks (CNN) At the same time, Loop provides consumers an assortment of products, which has helped the company expand into more market sectors. And by refining its packaging and design quality, the startup wants to convince consumers who aren’t typically big on sustainability to come aboard.

Building a Truly Closed Loop System Will Take Collaboration

Ever since announcing its intentions at World Economic Form in 2019, Loop has been on a mission to reform how society views shopping. In fact, this small company has big goals to expand and shift global perspectives. Over the next 12 months, Loop plans to expand to eight new geographic markets, including regions in Asia, Australia, and Canada. In the near future, there are plans to launch integrated eCommerce in France over the next month. Additionally, Loop looks to focus on more brick and mortar implementation on the West Coast. It would be difficult to do all that alone. By aiming to create an omnichannel approach with retail partners, Loop highlights its dedication to integration. The company hopes to expand in all aspects possible — including more accessible products, drop-off locations, and partners.

Loop’s Bet Doesn’t Come Without Market Risk

Proposing such a large manufacturing change to corporations doesn’t come without resistance. In general, many product producers are moving towards using less packaging with lighter weight. So although the idea of reusable packaging is gaining popularity, it does not always provide the convenience that consumers desire. But that’s where Loop’s bet comes in. It’s not an execution risk — it’s a market risk. The stakes? Loop fails if customers and manufacturers don’t believe this model works. On the contrary, if the model does work, the company could be an early player in a huge market. Image: Loop customers. Photo Credit: Loop It sounds like Loop’s primary goal is to shift responsibility and ownership back to the manufacturer. Instead of depending on consumers being environmentally-conscious, Loop thinks offering incentives for manufacturers can be more effective.