Businesses are faced with significant challenges every day. Among the most demanding are working towards a supply chain that is sustainable, yet profitable. It’s no longer about minimally meeting environmental regulations but creating value for consumers and stakeholders. The focus is toward more innovative, opportunity-focused thinking that considers impacts on the planet and society (is it positive, neutral or simply “less bad”?) and prepares organizations for resilience and growth in an uncertain future. For consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, thinking critically about the function of packaging and the ways they can change the paradigm around production and consumption is one aspect of designing a supply chain that can take us out of the linear and into a regenerative circular economy. As the system currently operates, industry produces on a one-way track to landfilling and incineration. Raw material is sourced from the earth to produce commodities sold, used and disposed, and the value of the material is lost—either buried or burned. Facilities waste and other pre-consumer materials meet the same fate. From linear to circular This make-use-dispose pipeline is known as the linear economy because products and packaging, once manufactured and used, too often go in one direction: the garbage. Conversely, the concept of a circular economy keeps resources in the supply chain at high value by recovering, reusing and repurposing whenever possible. Within this context, supply chain doesn’t just refer to the materials and processes involved in the back-end of making and distributing something, but the full lifecycle of an item, including when it leaves the production line. The consumer goods supply chain is currently quite wasteful end-to-end; focusing on packaging reveals significant opportunities for improvement. Many “green” packaging trends aim to solve for waste with the end-user, the link where the value of material is visibly lost. For example, biodegradable bioplastics made of renewable feedstocks instead of petroleum are supposed to break down in the environment as plastic litter does not. This demonstrates a change in raw material sourcing and an attempt to prevent litter with a material that will decompose. However, most compostable bioplastics need an industrial composting facility to break down. There are only a handful of those globally, and many don’t want this in their piles. What’s more, the resources needed to produce bioplastic are agricultural space, water and material the world is nowhere near able to sustain at scale. Another example of manufacturers aiming to tackle waste on both ends of the supply chain is the practice of lightweighting packaging by either replacing materials with a lighter weight alternative (glass with plastic) or using less material. The idea is less waste at the front and back end, but often results in a product or package rendered non-recyclable through conventional channels. What neither of these methods do is value resources such that they are kept cycling within the supply chain and in use for as long as possible, extracting their maximum value and recovering them for reintegration. Each practice assumes the resources that go into producing packaging, and the resulting post-consumer waste, is disposable and still treats the material as single-use. We did a lot of reflection and realized that the foundational cause of garbage is disposability. For a packaging designer, an effective approach when considering materials is to make packaging out of material that recyclers want and have the technology to handle. It’s about the entire supply chain and the potential for a recycling company to make a profit. But a circular economy is one that focuses on durability and use of renewable resources, including energy inputs. Recycling, while important, is energy and resource intensive, which is why so many items are not considered cost-effective to recycle. The need for profit Packaging design for profitability is certainly complex enough without considering the full life cycle of materials. Manufacturers and brands that commit to sustainability in a practical, scalable way stand out in an industry that still profits from the status quo, but it must be profitable in order for it to stick in the short-term. Rethinking all aspects of the supply chain, from sourcing to end-of-life, is the key. Above all resources, true change requires boldness. TerraCycle’s new circular shopping platform Loop works with brands to create durable versions of goods previously housed in single-use packaging. The products are offered in a combination of glass, stainless steel, aluminum and engineered plastics designed to last at least 100 uses; when they do wear out, TerraCycle is able to recycle them, cycling the value of the material. Offering trusted brands in upgraded containers, consumers enjoy products they love while eliminating packaging waste—a “win-win” for profitable, sustainable supply chains. Conveniently delivered to one’s doorstep, the Loop Tote doesn’t use bubble wrap, air packs, plastic foam, or cardboard boxes, also scrapping excess e-commerce packaging material. With Loop, brands are taking the bold step of owning their package at every link on the supply chain and putting their packages back on the line. While the goal of the platform is to eventually eliminate single-use packaging from the waste stream altogether, manufacturers have the opportunity to offer their refillable products as an additional SKU in their product lines, which has virtues for large and small brands alike. While large companies have the resources and funding to take on a lighthouse project like this, smaller businesses have the flexibility to design for sustainability in the now. Corporations such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever can make a huge impact here, while young companies like Soapply and Melanin Essentials set the standard for making sustainability a part of their DNA. As an integral aspect of the supply chain, retailer partnerships bring the packaging into stores, making it accessible for consumers. In the United States, our founding partners are Walgreens and Kroger, Europe has Carrefour, and Canada’s largest food and pharmacy retailer Loblaw Companies Limited recently announced it would launch the platform in the country early-2020. Developing close collaborations of this kind creates a strong position for all players to offer higher-value products with less waste on the back-end. Reconciling innovation and growth with sustainability is by no means an easy task, and dialogue with all stakeholders yield more-complete information and options to consider. An important thing to remember is that supply chains are about people, not just processes. What’s interesting is the higher up the waste hierarchy you move (from litter to landfill, waste to energy, to recycling, upcycling and reuse) the more jobs you create in the process. In terms of injecting value in moving from the linear to the circular economy, this is a positive most of us can agree on. In the end, sustainability comes down to taking responsibility. What companies tend to be good at is being efficient in their operations. Focus less on the physical factory as the point of the environmental issue and realize everything put out on the market will become garbage unless you take responsibility for it. Everything leaving the factory currently becomes waste. Tom Szaky is the founder and CEO of TerraCycle Design products that have value, instead of harm. The circular economy at its ideal is intended to be regenerative. Shouldn’t we aspire that our products actually create a benefit? Even If we get to 100 per cent recycling, 100 per cent recycled content and zero packaging waste from reusable packaging, we’ve only hit net neutral. What is net positive? We need to start thinking about that versus just going about how are we going to eliminate our negative.  

Find out where: These 125 NJ companies are among the fastest-growing in the U.S., according to the American business magazine Inc.

Conjugar lucro com empreendedorismo social é um equilíbrio que as start-ups estão cada vez mais a tentar fazer. Tudo em prol de um bem maior: a responsabilidade social.

Image: Evergreen Cannabis Society owner Mike Babins reaches into the packaging-recycling bin in his store | Rob Kruyt)   “We had an inspector in for our regular biannual inspection,” Evergreen Cannabis Society owner Mike Babins told Business in Vancouver.   “He said, ‘Technically that is considered open packaging so you can’t have it in here.’”   Babins then came up with a temporary workaround to have the recycling bin, which is co-branded with his own logo, outside his store.   He then phoned the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch and prompted its senior corporate policy analyst, James Roy, to speak with executives at the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.   “You are good to go with putting the recycling box in your store where customers can deposit their used cannabis packaging, provided there is never any inducement to purchase wholesale product from the [licensed producer] sponsoring the box,” Roy then wrote to Babins in a July email.   Babins said that when he first installed TerraCycle’s large cardboard box and plastic liner in his store, he confirmed with the company that it would accept all companies’ packaging – not just packaging from products that were made by Tweed.   Other cannabis-store owners are glad that the situation has been worked out.   (Image Muse Cannabis president Geoff Dear stands outside his cannabis store on south Granville Street | Rob Kruyt)   Muse Cannabis Store president Geoff Dear told BIV that as soon as his store opened on south Granville Street earlier this summer, customers were asking how they could return packaging.   “They also asked why the packaging is this way,” Dear said. “We have to do a lot of customer education.” •  

I’ve been a contact lens wearer for over 40 years. I started out wearing contacts that lasted several months and eventually graduated to daily disposable lenses, attracted by their comfort and no fuss maintenance. But looking back, I cringe to think of how many lenses and blister packs I’ve thrown away over the years. Every morning, after inserting my contacts, I put the blister packs in recycling and at night I throw my lenses in the garbage (NOT down the sink or toilet). According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), I am one of 45 million people in the U.S. who wear contact lenses. But after researching this feature, I have to ask myself—is there something more I could be doing when it comes to disposing of those contact lenses, which in a short time turn into hard, breakable bubbles of plastic once they leave my eyes and hit the garbage can. In a word, the answer is yes. According to the AOA, many patients are unaware that there is an environmentally friend way to dispose of their worn contact lenses. The organization cited a 2018 Arizona State University study which found “as many as 1 in 5 contact lens wearers dispose of their lenses down the sink or toilet, contributing an estimated 6 to 10 metric tons of plastic lenses to U.S. wastewater each year. Furthermore, those lenses break down into microplastics at treatment plants, posing a risk to marine organisms and food supply, researchers claimed.” A recent episode on “60 Minutes” titled the Plastic Plague, offered a sobering view of just how much microplastics end up polluting our oceans and killing off marine life. “60 Minutes” reporter Sharyn Alfonsi reported on the problem’s deadly consequences for wildlife and outlined some solutions as to what can be done to stop it. What Are Americans Doing About Microplastics? A survey for Statista by YouGov has revealed that only 52 percent of adults in the U.S. have heard of microplastics. The issue, which has been troubling environmentalists in recent years, has been garnering more attention in the media, with headlines such as “Microplastics are raining down from the sky,” or “There’s no getting away from microplastic contamination” raising awareness. So what are the 52 percent doing to reduce the production of/contact with microplastics? The survey revealed that the most common action is recycling (more) plastic products. Next up, almost 30 percent say they now try to avoid buying food in plastic packaging, while a similar amount of people also try to avoid consuming drinks from plastic bottles. Unfortunately, the survey also revealed that some 21 percent of respondents said they have done nothing and have no plans to do anything about the problem of microplastics. Click here to read the full story from Statista.com. These days, the environment is top of mind for many Americans and the optical industry is no exception. VMail Weekend reached out to several contact lens manufacturers who are leading the way for environmentally-conscious ways to dispose of contact lenses and their packaging. Here’s what they had to say. Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb launched the ONE by ONE Recycling Program in 2016 in partnership with TerraCycle, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, to help put an end to this enormous loss of resources in order to help protect communities and preserve the natural environment for current and future generations. The first of its kind in the U.S., the ONE by ONE Recycling program provides contact lens wearers the opportunity to recycle their used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils properly. This is important, because even though the material used to manufacture these contact lens materials are recyclable, the materials typically don’t end up being recycled even if placed in standard “blue bins” due to their small size. Additionally, for every qualifying shipment of waste that weighs 10 pounds or more from a practice, a $1 per pound donation is made to Optometry Giving Sight, the only global fundraising organization that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision by providing eye exams and glasses to those in need. “Before the ONE by ONE Recycling Program launched in 2016, eyecare professionals and their patients did not have an option to ensure that their used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils were properly recycled, and this was becoming of increasing concern with the adoption of daily disposable contact lenses,” said John Ferris, general manager, U.S. Vision Care, Bausch + Lomb. “We learned through our collaboration with TerraCycle that even those who thought they could recycle them in standard ‘blue bins’ were doing so incorrectly—the used materials either contaminate other recyclable materials or are diverted to landfills because of their small size. With the ONE by ONE Recycling program, which has recycled 12 million units of contact lens materials to date, contact lens wearers and eyecare professionals now have a straightforward, simple solution. Together with eyecare professionals and their patients, we are helping to reduce the environmental impact these materials create,” Ferris said. Once TerraCycle receives the used contact lenses, blister packs and top foil, the shipment is checked in and weighed. The collections are then sent for manual separation, where any non-compliant materials are removed. After manual separation, the remaining material is shredded, and the blister pack foil lids are separated from the plastic materials (if they aren’t already). The plastic is then melted and extruded into plastic pellets, and the foil lids and metals from the blister packs are sent for smelting and metals recycling. Any additional metal material is filtered out during the extrusion process. The waste can then be reused, upcycled and recycled into new products. And the good news is that all types and brands of used contact lens materials—contact lenses, top foil and opened plastic blister packs—are accepted as part of the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling program. Currently, more than 4,000 offices around the U.S. participate in the ONE by ONE Recycling Program. Through B+L’s sales representatives, educational events, and other touch points such as emails and brochures, the company encourages optometry practices to join the ONE by ONE Recycling program as a registered recycling center. By registering for the program, eyecare professionals are provided in-office promotional materials as well as large custom recycling bins to collect the used contact lenses, blister packs and top foil that are generated from the practice and its patients. Once the recycling bins are full, eyecare professionals can print a free shipping label provided by Bausch + Lomb and mail the materials in to be properly recycled through TerraCycle. All registered optometry practices are also listed on the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE website as an office that is currently involved in the program. Johnson & Johnson Vision A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson Vision said, “The company launched the U.K.’s first free recycling program for contact lenses in January. Known as the Acuvue Contact Lens Recycle Programme, it allows all contact lens wearers to dispose of their lenses, blister packaging and foil regardless of the brand. The company takes the recyclable waste and turns it into products such as outdoor furniture and plastic lumber. Consumers are given the option to dispose of their contact lens material at Boots Opticians and select independent practices or have it collected via courier.” “Seventy-seven percent of British contact lens wearers said they would recycle their contact lenses if they could and we share their interest in reducing the amount of plastics in the environment,” said Sandra Rasche, area vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Vision Care, Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH. “As a business, we are committed to doing our part to combat climate change, protect our planet’s natural resources and reduce waste, and this new U.K. recycling program represents the next step in our company’s sustainability commitment.” Johnson & Johnson Vision is collaborating with TerraCycle, a world leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste to run the program. Open for all in the U.K., contact lens wearers are encouraged to check the Acuvue and TerraCycle websites for details on their nearest public drop-off location points or to recycle from home via courier collection. Alcon According to a spokesperson from Alcon, “the company seeks to design packaging that both minimizes environmental impacts and meets all regulatory, quality, functional and design requirements.” Toward that end, Alcon has: • Developed and issued a sustainable packaging guide for their packing design teams. • Utilized best practice packaging case examples that are collected and shared among packaging designers across the company. • Made sure their design and development program ensures products are manufactured and placed on the market in conformance with global product-related legislation, including EU Medical Device Regulation, REACH, RoHS, Packaging Waste and global equivalents. CooperVision Pamela Jackson, senior director of Global Communications, CooperVision said, “We believe that the greatest possible impact today relates to maintaining a sustainable production environment. It offers the greatest direct reduce/reuse/recycling control of the highest volume of materials—for instance, water conservation, responsible energy use, and materials recycling.  “While we’re focused on the less visible but more meaningful production side of the equation, we’re also investigating other consumer-facing programs that may offer meaningful returns, and even piloting them outside of the U.S,” she said.

How ECPs Can Advise Patients on Recycling Contact Lenses  To help bolster awareness around proper contact lens disposal, the AOA's Contact Lens and Cornea Section (CLCS)  developed a resource to help doctors educate their patients. Here are three tips: 1. Inform patients about recycling programs available for contact lenses and packaging, including terracycle.com, or consider turning your practice into a recycling drop-off site. 2. Although most contact lens packages are stamped No. 5 for recycling, according to Terracycle, the size is what causes them to either contaminate other recyclable materials or be diverted to landfills. In fact, The Association of Plastic Recyclers confirms this fact, stating that the industry standard screen size, which identifies and removes unrecyclable plastics, filters out materials that measure less than three inches in diameter. Meaning standard recycling facilities are unable to process these small items. 3. Remind patients that boxes and cleaning solution bottles may be recyclable, too. Click here to access the AOA CLCS Proper Contact Lens Disposal fact sheet and click here to download an infographic for patient education.

   

These nontoxic biodegradable pencils will sprout when you plant them. From EcoshopGirl.com.   Aug. 22, 2019   Going back to school is a perfect time to share our love of the planet with our kids. Choose earth-friendly school supplies so that the younger generation gets a lesson in green along with their math and geography. Here are some eco-friendly options we found: ECO SCHOOL KIT Start your student off right with this Eco School Kit ($32.99 at Amazon) that includes a Stone Paper Notebook made of real stone, recycled from construction site debris, three retractable pens made from recycled milk cartons, 10 pencils made from recycled newspaper, three erasers made from recycled rubber, plus a double pencil sharpener with casing made from 100 percent bamboo – all packed in a reusable burlap linen bag. The products are created by Onyx and Green, known for their eco-friendly office and school supplies. Other choices include a 12-pack of Colored Pencils made with recycled newspaper ($6.99), and 3-pack of Mechanical Pencils made from recycled water bottles ($6.08). All packages are recycled and printed with soy-based ink. Amazon offers many other eco-friendly school supplies. SPROUTABLE PENCILS These amazing pencils actually grow plants when they become too short to use. Simply insert the nubby pencil into soil and watch it sprout! Pack includes eight biodegradable and non-toxic graphite pencils tipped with seed capsules for growing herbs such as basil, flax and thyme (varieties vary). What a great way to teach your child that nothing should go to waste! $17.99 at EcoGirlShop.com. BENTO BOX MANIA The Japanese art of lunch packing is rising in popularity, partially due to handy compartmentalized kits called bento boxes. Office Depot offers several colorful and fun choices such as this delightful Llama pattern, by Bentology. Two containers inside help keep food fresh and squish-free. Front pocket holds snacks and side pouch can fit most reusable bottles. Includes matching ice pack. Lunchbox is fully insulated and washable. Bento containers are phthalate-free, BPA-free, lead-free and PVC-free. $19.99. Mate up with an Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, made by Ello, $14.99. Keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Both at Office Depot around town or OfficeDepot.com   FREEZABLE BENTO BAG If your kids complain that their “cold” sandwich is warm by the time that they can eat it, grab a Packit Bento Container & Bag and you’ll be the coolest parent in town! Freeze the entire bag and everything inside will stay chilled for up to 10 hours. Features a patented gel liner that stays in place over the entire surface of the bag. PVC and BPA free, it slips easily into backpacks. Other sizes and styles available. Style shown is $19.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond. REUSABLE AND COMPOSTABLE BAGS Single use plastics have been the bane of this planet’s existence – but now there are choices that minimize negative impact. Check out Full Circle’s Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bags in colorful patterns. $6.99-7.99/2 pack at Container Store and Target. You’ll also love Open Nature’s plant-based zippy bags. Offered in snack-sized to quart-sized, they are tough enough to be used multiple times and then composted when they wear out. From $2.99-$3.99 per 20-30 pack at Albertson’s and Tom Thumb. Bright and inexpensive are Lunchskins (pictured), similar to the wax paper bags that we had as kids – only $4.99/50 pack at Target. Simply discard them into your compost heap after use. Great for birthday party goodie bags too with their shark and apple patterns! Lunchskins also makes reusable sandwich bags in fabric similar to food storage used in bakeries and restaurants. Lots of fun patterns and colors. $6.99 at Lunchskins.com. Dolphin Blue offers Eco-Ditty Sandwich Bags in 100 percent organic cotton. Nifty designs for kids and adults, they can be washed and re-used hundreds of times! On sale for $12.37 at DolphinBlue.com.

As consumers become more conscious of their shopping habits, they’re looking not only for sustainable products but businesses dedicated to being environmentally friendly in all aspects of their operations. Shipping is an essential part of running an online business, with close to 600 million items mailed on a daily basis in the United States alone. The way these purchases are packaged and shipped has a major impact on the planet—and customers are taking note. We spoke to eight merchants about their business journeys and how they’re packaging, shipping, and fulfilling their orders with the environment in mind. Here are some of their tips for sustainable packaging and shipping:

• Offer carbon-neutral shipping by offsetting emissions
• Ship items in bulk
• Use sustainable packaging that can be repurposed
• Offer a returns program for your empty product containers 
• Recycle on behalf of your suppliers and offer shipping-friendly items
• Work with wholesalers to reduce individual shipments and limit return shipping
• Reduce the size of your packaging
• Use compostable mailers

Offer carbon-neutral shipping by offsetting emissions

Eric and Yana Dales met while doing humanitarian aid work in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Being in a garment manufacturing hub, the Dales saw the environmental and social drain from fast fashion’s use of unsustainable raw materials and labor conditions. Instead of complaining about the bigger players, they decided to create the fashion company they wanted to see in the world. The couple started TAMGA Designs to create a sustainable movement within the fashion industry and build a company that is style, people, and planet conscious. Their main objective is to not contribute to the deforestation taking place in ancient Indonesian jungles. They found a production partner that produces fabric from sustainably grown eucalyptus and beechwood trees to create pieces colored with low-impact dyes. As they’ve successfully scaled, Eric notes that their garments are sourced in Asia, travel to their facilities in Canada, then ship out to consumers in more than 25 different countries. With all the miles that their garments are traveling, the Dales set their sights on becoming a carbon-neutral company by offsetting the emissions that came from fulfilling orders. “We looked at the carbon emissions per kilometer per kilogram of garments on different modes of transportation,” says Eric. “We have a big spreadsheet and at the end of the month, we put together a tally and purchase offsets on those emissions.” TAMGA shares its process openly in the hope of creating systems other business will follow. TAMGA Designs packages each of its garments in 100% biodegradable cassava-based mailers that require no air exposure to compost. Eric believes financial costs incurred and the time invested for research are well worth the effort. “It’s really important for small businesses to know this isn’t something that is going to take away from their profitability,” he says. “In the long run, we honestly believe it’s a net-positive impact on our bottom line because customers do see it and they do value it.”

Ship items in bulk

Harriet Simonis, David Fragomeni, and Scott Ferguson first became friends while living in Bali. When surfing the local waves, they were distressed to find that the ocean was overflowing with single-use plastics and discarded fishing nets. That moment served as the catalyst to adopt the zero-waste lifestyles they still practice today. As they searched for plastic-free and environmentally friendly products, they realized something ironic. “A lot of eco-friendly products come affixed in plastic,” Harriet says. “It almost undoes the good.” Determined to create a solution without the same compromise, the trio founded Zero Waste Cartel to offer environmentally friendly bath, body, and kitchen products in packaging that’s either reusable or biodegradable. Their pledge to go plastic-free came with its own set of distinct challenges. For example, Harriet says the company had a hard time finding a warehouse that would actually use the compostable mailers they provided because of the additional time and effort involved. They’ve since found a suitable partner in the United States, where most of their orders are placed, which further reduced their environmental impact by shortening the shipping distance between warehouse and customers. “We prefer to ship in bulk, for the dual reason that it’s a better value for customers and better for the environment too,” Harriet says. Living up to their commitment to stay environmentally conscious has even required a few firm stances. For example, Zero Waste Cartel only sells its bamboo toothbrushes in packs of 10 to encourage customers to plan their purchases or share orders, so that products can ship in a more sustainable manner. What might otherwise seem like an inflexible policy has resonated with Zero Waste Cartel’s customers, who see value in bulk purchases for the planet and their own wallets.

Use sustainable packaging that can be repurposed

Since 2016, Roth Martin and Stephen (Hawthy) Hawthornthwaite have created beautifully designed, durable, machine-washable footwear made from plastic water bottles, under the moniker Rothy’s. With products that place style and sustainability on equal footing, Rothy’s counts Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and supermodel Karlie Kloss as fans Lauren Taflinger, Rothy’s director of production, says the company has repurposed more than 34 million water bottles to date. Rothy’s production process also knits shoe uppers to shape, which creates virtually zero waste, unlike traditional cutting, where 30% to 40% of material is wasted. Like TAMGA Designs, Rothy’s also offsets its carbon emissions from production and fulfillment by partnering with the Envira Amazonia Project to fund ecosystem services and forest conservation projects.

Using tote bags at the grocery store. Refusing straws. Taking my reusable coffee mug to a local cafe. But after another Plastic-Free July, I realized that my plastic-free efforts weren’t anything new. And actually, my efforts no longer felt good enough compared to being a zero-waster—that is, fitting a year’s amount of trash in a single mason jar. Ten years ago, I saw the documentary Bag It and started advocating against plastic bags and began using reusable water bottles and carrying tote bags everywhere. That’s when I first learned about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and how plastic waste harms marine life. As the film predicted, things have gotten way worse. Every year, eight million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean on top of the estimated 150 million metric tons currently circulating in various marine environments. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of Texas, and 10 years ago, it was already the size of Texas. The Ocean Cleanup gives me hope, along with local groups like Recology and the Surfrider Foundation, but there’s also the problem of the U.S. running out of landfill space. Australia may be the world leader of Plastic-Free July, but more people in the Bay Area are taking action by joining the zero-waste movement. Inspired by local zero-waste bloggers Bea Johnson at Zero Waste Home and Kathryn Kellogg at Going Zero Waste, I wanted to step up my “saving the world” game. But instead of tallying up what’s in my stinky bins, I thought I’d try being a zero-waster for one day. The rule of thumb is what you would think: throwing zero (or fewer) things away, especially single-use plastics, which end up in landfills or the ocean. Easier said than done. Here’s how my day of trying to be a zero-waste supermom went: 6:45 a.m. I wake up and go to the bathroom. Dang, I just used some toilet paper. Reminder: use a washcloth, or get a bidet attachment to minimize T.P. I spritz my face with White Sage Wellness’ Triple Goddess Anointing Spray. The bottle is made of reusable brown glass, but the top is comprised of two pieces of plastic. I could reuse it or list any used bottles on a freecycle site, like Bunz. Our son, Donovan, likes to pick the plastic stickers off store-bought fruit, and I tell myself we’re reusing them as fine-motor-skill toys. I brush my teeth with a bamboo toothbrush. I realize that when I replace it, I’ll have to pluck out the plastic bristles with pliers and throw them away because the plastic won’t decompose like the bamboo will. But that’s better than throwing away a chunky plastic toothbrush. I throw on some clothes from before my son was born, about two years ago, so they could be considered vintage. They certainly feel used. 6:55 a.m. I enter my son’s room singing “Good Morning, Starshine,” change his diaper, and dress him. We don’t use cloth diapers or a local diaper service, but we use Seventh Generation, which seems like a better sustainable baby product because they use recycled content. If there’s a number-two waiting for me, I flush the poop but death-grip the diaper so I don’t accidentally drop any wipes in the toilet and contribute to a massive fatberg in Bay Area sewers. His wardrobe is a mix of hand-me-downs and gifts from Grandma. We use diaper-pail garbage bags made from 20% recycled materials, but—sigh—we can do better. 7:15 a.m. My husband has already made French-press coffee and cut up some fruit — bonus points when they’re from our fruit trees. Our son, Donovan, likes to pick the plastic stickers off store-bought fruit, and I tell myself we’re reusing them as fine-motor-skill toys. But it could be worse. If given a choice between balloons or stickers, I choose stickers all the way because we all know where balloons can end up. Parental side note: there are compostable Band-Aids! I pack my son’s food in his lunchbox. I cringe when I throw in string cheese. I’m transitioning our family from Tupperware to ECOlunchbox and Stasher Bags, but what am I supposed to do with old Tupperware? My breakfast is homemade granola (gold star for me) and store-bought yogurt (minus a gold star). I have yet to find a grocery store close to me that sells yogurt in glass jars, but I’m keeping my eyes peeled. Food waste goes into our compost bucket, which we empty into our green bin at the end of each day. 7:45 a.m. I drive Donovan to his nanny share. We live in the ’burbs, and it would take 45 minutes for me to bike there. Driving takes 15 minutes. Plus, I can run errands on the way home. Plus, I haven’t ridden my bike since before he was born, so I’m just circling around the fact that I’m being lazy. If his daycare were closer, I would try to get back in the saddle (or have my husband do it). On the drive, I finish my coffee in my reusable to-go cup. If I were in Berkeley and wanted a refill, I could take advantage of their reusable-coffee-cup program. I don’t take public transportation for daycare trips, but my husband and I share one car, so that’s less waste, right? 8:45 a.m. I arrive back home and take a shower. I use a bar of soap (not body wash in a plastic container) and usually shampoo and condition my hair every two to three days—due to equal parts lack of effort and conservation of the plastic bottles they’re in. I haven’t found bar shampoo I love (but please let me know if you have). I should use my husband’s metal razor for shaving, but I still use my girlie plastic razor with a refillable blade. When that razor dies, I’ll get a stainless-steel safety razor, which should last me an eternity. A phaseout was announced for banning single-use plastic food containers by 2030. That’s in 11 years. We need to make changes now, people. Beauty and makeup products are a zero-waste challenge, as I like trying new things. Lush is the original reusable beauty brand, but if you go to Credo in SF, you’ll find modern brands, such as Axiology’s recycled aluminum lipsticks and Kaejr Weis’ refillable mascara. I wear minimal makeup on most days, but I have dry skin, so I need moisturizers. For body products, I support local brands with glass packaging and plant-based ingredients, like Earth Tu Face. Admittedly, $52 for a face wash is crazy, but how many glass containers can you find at Rite Aid? The thrifty option would be making my own products. That’s not high on the list because of a lack of time and energy — maybe for DIY Christmas presents. My husband and I share a natural deodorant, but I’d like to try a reusable-deodorant company, like by Humankind. I get dressed in clothes from my pre-child vintage wardrobe or in a consignment buy from a local shop such as Labels Luxury Consignment, Goodbyes, or Poshmark. 9:30 a.m. I fill up my mason jar with water from our Soma water filter and get to work. When our filter wears out, I decide I’ll get an activated-charcoal stick to use with a glass bottle. As a writer, my job is relatively waste-free; most of my waste is banana peels and Post-its. A protein-bar wrapper often makes its way into my trash too; if it’s a Clif Bar, I could collect and recycle the wrapper through their TerraCycle program. When I go into offices or have appointments in the city, I take BART, bring a reusable water bottle, and pack snacks. Retailers and vendors in San Francisco have recently stopped selling plastic straws, stirrers, and other small plastic pieces with food items, replacing them with paper and reusable materials. Right on. But in February, a phaseout was announced for banning single-use plastic food containers by 2030. That’s in 11 years. We need to make changes now, people. Recycling isn’t enough to make a difference anymore, especially since China is no longer accepting our recycling. But if I haven’t mastered the art of buying a to-go lunch using my containers (versus using the supplied single-use plastics), how will everyone else? I’d need to leave the house with a backpack full of Tupperware and mason jars, with some for lending to others. Or I can assemble a zero-waste travel kit, a kit that I could bring everywhere with a water bottle, cloth napkins, a reusable straw, a food container, and reusable cutlery. 12:30 p.m. Lunch is usually a homemade sando or salad, and I squeeze in a quick trip to the grocery store. I bring my own tote bags — I keep a stockpile in my car — and also try to keep used plastic bags inside those for wet or bulk items. But the grocery store is arguably the biggest zero-waste challenge of all. If I want strawberries, am I supposed to take them out of the plastic container? No, not cool. I can put potatoes in my cart, but what about items in sealed containers, like those plastic-suctioned beets, refrigerated pasta, and Talenti Gelato? Lucky for us, Rainbow Grocery and Berkeley Bowl have refrigerated bulk sections where you can stock up on some of these provisions. The best habits to get into are buying from the bulk sections and shopping at farmers’ markets. (Don’t forget your refillable bags and containers.) 3:45 p.m. I got my period–bleh. I’ve been using a menstrual cup for years, which is better than wasteful tampons. I could take it a zero-waste step further with Thinx period-proof underwear. Are they gross? Not as gross as the chemicals in tampons, which could make my cramps worse. 4:45 p.m. I leave to pick up my son from daycare. Where did that Pellegrino in my drink holder come from?! I grabbed one from the fridge for the drive. Why am I not using my SodaStream and reusable to-go cup? Because it’s the end of the day, and I’m rushing. At least the can is recyclable. But not everything is, and many of us are confused about what we can and can’t recycle. If you’re wondering what to do with those paint cans sitting in your garage or what to do with those empty medication bottles, local recycling resource RecycleWhere has the answer. 5:45 p.m. We arrive home, and it’s straight to my husband and I tag-teaming dinner and playtime. For my sanity, I usually plan meals a day or two ahead, which reduces food waste and saves money. On other days, we rely on heaven-sent Planted Table, an Oakland-based meal provider committed to zero waste. We usually go out for one meal or order in once a week. I wonder how I can make our favorite Chinese-food restaurant halt their use of plastic to-go containers. And I usually forget to bring containers for leftovers. Inspired by California lawmakers who’ve challenged the plastic industry to reduce production, I realize I can set an example in my local community. I could tell the Chinese restaurant to use eco-friendly containers. I could host a “how to live zero-waste” powwow among my mom friends. Then my son makes me laugh, and I temporarily forget about my zero-waste-supermom ideas. 7:30 p.m. After Donovan goes to bed, my husband and I clean up and catch up. Sometimes we talk about home improvements, like how to fashion a custom kitchen island from a place like Urban Ore. I also scour local buy/sell/trade Facebook groups for used toys and furniture. I consider the pros of renting furniture or just throwing more pillows on the floor since we have a toddler. 9:45 p.m. I meditate and replay my day, thinking about what I could have done differently, including 10 things I could do to seriously live zero-waste. Then I’m grateful for another good day and everything I have. I read Stealing Fire, purchased from Amazon. I get library books for my son, but I like buying my books new from Amazon or used from a local bookstore, like Spectator Books. But, as I remember, Amazon really needs to figure out their packaging-waste issues. If the world’s biggest retailer and shipper can’t get their act together — and they’re trying — it must be because it’s more costly. Being a zero-waster when you’re living on a budget is doable in the Bay Area, where there are even zero-waste school supplies, but what about the rest of the country? Where Walmart and Starbucks reign, single-use plastics are still king. This is yet another progressive movement that the Bay Area is at the forefront of. However, it’s cheaper to make your own coffee and prepare your own food at home — those are zero-waste basics anyone can adopt. I open my book. There’s beauty in the crisp feel and paper smell of a new book. There’s also beauty in a book with weathered edges and a past life. New or old—it’s about the mix for me and when it makes sense to conserve or reuse. For now, I’m OK with being a less-waster rather than a zero-waster. But let’s talk in 10 years. If Earth still exists

Isopor para o hambúrguer, pote plástico para o açaí, um canudo para o refrigerante, talheres de plástico e uma sacola para a entrega. E, claro, não pode esquecer dos 20 sachês de mostarda e ketchup. Assim é formada a cadeia dos serviços de delivery (entrega, em tradução livre) — com excesso no uso de plástico que, posteriormente, será descartado de forma irregular. Justamente pensando em mudar esse e outros hábitos, que pessoas aderem ao conceito do Lixo Zero (ou Zero Trash, em inglês).

A monthly look at some of the hits and misses in the packaging world from the viewpoint of Joe Public, Canadian Packaging magazine’s revolving columnists. From the July/August 2019 issue. When I first learned legal recreational cannabis use was to become a reality, like a true Checkout columnist, I wondered what the packaging paradigm would come to look like. Would we be forced to buy legal weed in pimped out packages covered with indulgent pot-memes? Or would dreadlock stereotypes give way to a more refined experience, like purchasing a fine wine or a well-aged cheese? After finally venturing out to purchase some legal weed, it turns out to be neither. Strict rules aimed at ensuring young people aren’t enticed into using cannabis have pretty much legislated the fun out of things from a packaging perspective. For once, package design has had nothing to do with the insatiable demand for a product that has led to shortages in availability and a bit of a backlash against the way some provincial governments have rolled legalized weed out to consumers. In the end, I’m glad it’s legal because it was the right choice for a mature society. That said, I wish the industry could have been given the creative leeway that its primary competitors—namely the wine, spirits and beer industries—enjoy to market their products. In lieu of exciting marketing options, most pot shops have had to rely on personal service and store set-up to gain that competitive edge. On my first visit to one of Toronto’s recently opened storefronts, the service and selection happened to be as bland as the pot packaging itself. In the end, I settled on a one-gram box of a strain called Harmonicproduced by AltaVie, the recreational offshoot of Markham, Ont.-based medical marijuana producer MedReleaf. The red-eyed salesperson handed it to me in a grey cardboard box, which is consistent with the government’s rule limiting packaging to a single, uniform color. A little larger than a deck of cards, the most prominent elements on the package were the “stop sign” logo that denotes it as a cannabis product, and the large black-on-yellow health warnings cautioning users about weed’s darker side. The only real packaging innovation I could detect was how AltaVie dealt with the childproofing requirement. As the handy infographic located on the top panel indicates, people need to simultaneously push in two tabs along the backside of the box in order to slide the inner plastic packaging free from the cardboard. Hopefully, this doesn’t get more difficult as users indulge. While regulations require the containers to be intentionally bland, the government did give producers some leeway on the size, shape and packaging materials that they can use. Fittingly, Smith Falls, Ont.-based producer Tweed Inc. have used this wiggle room to distinguish themselves and their products by offering dried flowers in black plastic cube containers. The 3.5-gram container I got (empty) from a friend was about the size and weight of a standard Rubic’s Cube, which uses a child guard mechanism similar to those found on prescription pill bottles. Each strain gets its own name and color association, such as the pale-pink Balmoral strain pictured here. The only real problem I initially had with the container was on the environmental level: I would loathe to see these cubes form yet another garbage island somewhere in the middle of the Pacific. To their credit, though, Tweed has joined forces with Toronto-based upcycling specialists TerraCycle Canada to create a recycling program ensuring cannabis containers get diverted from landfill sites. Once you’re done with your cube, you can take it back to a Tweed-partnered retailer and conveniently drop it in the recycling box on-site. If that’s too much trouble, you can set up an account, print up a UPS label, and send it to TerraCycle for free. From there, TerraCycle will see that the plastic is melted down and reused in some other fashion. Pot producers certainly face heavy restrictions, but those involved in the exploding paraphernalia market have obviously been getting creative. One visit to a local head shop and you’ll see a rainbow of products, from high-tech vaporizers to blown glass bongs and pipes of all shapes and sizes. What caught my eye, however, was the colorful display of rolling papers found in the display case of the Toronto Hemp Company, where I ended up purchasing two packs of the Trailer Park Boys-branded rolling papers from Jimmy Zee’s, the Port Coquitlam, B.C.-based distributor of so-called “Man Cave” items. If you’re unfamiliar with the Trailer Park Boys television show currently streaming on NetFlix, think of it as a crass modern-day cross between The Three Stooges black-and-white films from the 1930s and 1940s and the low-budget flicks put out in the late 1970s and early 1980s by the once-groundbreaking stoner comedy duo Cheech and Chong. With 32 leaves per pack, it’s a fun and gimmicky way to inject a bit of made-in-Canada humor into one’s pot experience. My wife and I look for just about any reason to celebrate—pot legalization, an important anniversary, the arrival of the weekend, etc. As many will agree, a real celebration requires a bit of bubbly to make it official, which is why a single-serve 200-ml bottle of Freixenet from Spanish bubbly producer Freixenet S.A. is a frequent fixture of our kitchen refrigerator. Styled after the standard-sized 750-ml bottle of Brut, these mini bottles are not really all that new, but for many occasions they offer just the right amount of celebratory cheer for couples who may not necessarily consume 750-ml of the sweet and highly carbonated libation or, worse still, just leave the leftovers in the fridge to go flat, or worse. With all that celebrating, it’s important to take care of ourselves and eat well, which is what lead me to discover Fresh City, billed as Canada’s largest city farm, located at Downsview Park in Toronto’s north end. With one storefront in the city, and another on the way, the company, along with its network of member farmers and its 3,000-square-foot greenhouse, relies mainly on its delivery service and pick-up hubs to provide consumers with locally produced organic options on a year-round basis. I recently tried their delicious gluten-free, vegan Falafel salad jar, which arrived on my doorstep in a reusable, insulated tote bag, along with a cooler pack, to keep everything fresh. Layered with quinoa, chickpeas, grape tomatoes, cucumbers and falafel—and topped with a delectable tahini dressing—this healthy option is perfect right out of the jar or for sharing. shared with others. Once done I just leave the delivery tote with the rinsed out jars on my doorstep for pick-up on my next delivery date.