You might not be spending any more money, but chances are your closet is packed with 60 percent more clothing than a decade ago. That's because we're demanding new garments and forcing a fast fashion industry that can produce disposable clothing at lower prices, said Sheri Marnell, program director for apparel design and development at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie. "Oftentimes things that are very affordable come with poor quality," she said. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 2 million tons of textiles were recycled in 2015, and more than 10 million tons were discarded into landfills. Although data vary based on the kind of research done, one statistic says Americans discard 70 pounds of clothing each year, with 85 percent of that ending up in landfills, Marnell said. Throwing away textiles, which can include towels, shoes, curtains, sporting equipment and anything else made out of fabric, means those items will end up in the landfill. Since 2003, she noted, the percentage of textiles in landfills has increased 38 percent. And to make matters worse, manmade fibers such as plastics or nylons don't break down nearly as easily as natural fibers, such as cotton or wool. But getting rid of clothing doesn't need to be so environmentally taxing, said Marnell, who offered other options for getting rid of closet clutter.

Donate

An obvious option is donating clothing to organizations such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army that can give your garments a second life. You can also try online recycling options such as ThredUp, Bra Recycling or Terracycle to dispose of your worn-out wear. According to international trade association Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles, 45 percent of donated items are worn again, 30 percent become rags for industrial use and 20 percent broken back down into fiber to be used in new products. The remaining 5 percent is unusable because of contamination. If donation sites can't resell your clothing, they might send them to overseas locations or homeless shelters, Marnell said, or send them to a company to convert them back into fibers.

Learn To Sew

While donating items is a much better alternative to throwing clothing in the trash, Marnell said learning how to sew will help keep your items usable for longer and keep them out of the trash. Sewing a button, learning how to get stains out or covering up flaws with iron-on patches might just be a garment-saver. "Not everyone has access to a sewing machine, but it's very easy to get a needle and thread," she said. Or consider buying from brands that will mend clothing you purchase from them, such as Patagonia, The North Face and Lululemon, among others.

Try Capsule Wardrobes

Depending on who you ask, these wardrobes feature a few timeless, classic pieces that can be paired with more seasonal items. The trick is to limit items in your closet to 50 at the most, and 10 at the least. Choose items that look good on you and are versatile, so that you can wear them in numerous ways. "We're moving towards that movement to really simplify that wardrobe," she said.

Change Your Perspective

A culture that values new clothing might turn up a nose to used garments. But Marnell said people should be better at showing pride in their long-worn items or secondhand-store finds. "Let's change our mindset and be happy and proud of things that are old or upcycled or that you were able to fix," she said.

Educate Yourself

Look at the labels of your clothing, Marnell said, to see if the products are made out of recycled cotton or polyester. "I think just taking baby steps, especially for a fresh new start of the 2019 new year — start educating yourself on a company's brand and in reading the labels that are in garments," she said. Investigate which brands prioritize sustainability by paying attention to their social responsibility plans.

Make Clothing Last Longer

Instead of constantly replacing clothing that's tattered, frayed, pilly or faded, try not washing your clothing as often, Marnell said. The friction on your garments when you wash them can cause some serious deterioration. Plus, you'll be conserving water and electricity with each load you choose not to do. "I think we all need to do better and that's a very simple way to help the environment," she said.

Did you get a new phone recently? How about a laptop, printer, TV, electronic game, toy or small kitchen appliance? We are constantly upgrading and buying new electronics, but what do we do with the old ones we no longer want, or are no longer working? We are producing more and more electronic waste (e-waste) than ever before, and only 20 percent of it is recycled worldwide. Here are some facts about e-waste, including what you can do to reuse or recycle it responsibly. According to the United Nations, almost 45 million tons of e-waste were discarded globally in 2016, and this amount is projected to increase 3-4 percent every year. About 20 percent is recycled safely, 4 percent is disposed of in landfills, and the fate of the remaining 76 percent is unknown, but is likely either dumped or recycled in unsafe conditions. According to the UN, about a third of e-waste from the U.S. is shipped to developing countries, where it is often recycled in a way that is unsafe to both human health and the environment. Electronics contain valuable metals that are extracted during the recycling process. According to the EPA, for every one million cell phones that are recycled, 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium (a precious metal) can be recovered. Electronics also contain heavy metals which can leach into soil and water when dumped or placed in a landfill, and can be dangerous to workers who recycle them without proper safety equipment. Knowing all of this, how can you dispose of old electronics responsibly? If they are still working, you can sell or donate them. Bring working electronics and small appliances (no old CRT TVs and computer monitors) to Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers, or call Hartsprings Foundation (Big Brothers/Big Sisters) to pick them up. The Hospice Shop in Northampton takes small household appliances, but no computer equipment. If electronics are non-working, bring or send them for recycling to: Staples — They accept computers and accessories, audio and video devices, phones, video games, and a few kinds of small appliances at no charge. No TVs, lamps, or kitchen electronics. Search Staples Recycling to see the full list. Best Buy — They accept computers and accessories, audio and video devices, phones, video games, cameras, and a short list of small appliances at no charge. $25 charge for TVs and monitors. Search Best Buy Recycling for the full list. Goodwill — Through the Dell Reconnect program, you can bring any brand of desktop or laptop computers and accessories to Goodwill, and Dell will collect and recycle them. Northampton Computer Repair — They take all desktop and laptop computers, phones, and flat panel monitors and TVs under 40” at no charge. Check to make sure they have storage available. Valley Recycling — They take any electronics or small appliances for a small fee. Fees vary. Check their list at https://www.valley-recycling.us/. Municipal Transfer Stations — Most transfer stations take electronics and appliances for recycling (fees apply) if you have a sticker. Some towns also have electronics collection events. Hasbro and Terracycle Toy Recycling Program — These companies have teamed up to offer free recycling for any old toys and games, including electronic ones. Go to www.terracycle.com and search Hasbro Toy Recycling Pilot Program. Cell Phones for Soldiers — Donate working phones for soldiers to use overseas. They also accept non-working phones for recycling. See www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. Mimi Kaplan is the waste reduction coordinator for the Town of Amherst Department of Public Works.

As kids grow older, they inevitably grow out of their old toys. As a parent, you may be left wondering what to do with the toys they no longer play with. Responsible toy disposal and recycling are challenging issues, but this article should help bring some clarity.   If the toy is broken or damaged beyond reuse, recycling is the next best thing. To recycle children’s toys, you’ll most likely need to break them apart into separate materials. While metal and electronics components can be easier to recycle, toy pieces made of plastic and wood may be more difficult.  

Recycling Plastic Toys

  Recycling plastic toys is difficult. You are unlikely to find municipal programs that accept them. The main problem is identifying what type(s) of plastic the toys are made from. If the plastic pieces have recycling codes stamped into them, you can use the Earth911 Recycling Search and search by the plastic code to identify local recyclers of that type of plastic. But you’ll need to call the recyclers to find out if they accept toy pieces. Recyclers often accept only certain shapes of each plastic type.   As far as recycling programs specifically for toys, it’s a good idea to check with the toy manufacturer to find out if they offer a recycling program for their products. If they don’t, you can still let them know that, as a consumer of their products, you expect them to offer a responsible disposal option.   The only other recycling program you’re likely to find is run by TerraCycle. TerraCycle runs numerous recycling programs for hard to recycle items. Consumers purchase boxes for recycling a particular category of item, fill up the box and send it back. TerraCycle takes care of the recycling process.   TerraCycle runs a recycling program for toys. According to their website, these are the toys they accept:   Toys or toy pieces, cards, dice, game boards, packaging from board games, books with sound, handheld electronic games and players, remote control vehicles, electronic stuffed animals, baby toys, building sets, stuffed animals, puzzle pieces, game pieces, and action figures.   This TerraCycle program is a fantastic option, but costly. You may want to consider getting together with a few like-minded parents who also have toys to recycle so you can share the cost of a larger box.  

Recycling Metal Toys

  All-metal toys, or the metal components of toys, are probably the easiest to recycle. Most scrap yards will accept and recycle a wide variety of metal items. Just be sure to give them a call ahead of time to make sure. In most cases, you won’t need to know exactly what type of metal the items are; they’ll figure that out at the scrap yard. Check out Earth911’s listings for scrap metal recycling centers near you.  

Recycling Electronic Toys

  Most electronic toys are a combination of metal and plastic, so these can be a bit tricky. Try to separate the metal, plastic, and electronic components (circuit board and cables) of the toy so you can dispose of them separately. For the electronic components, you can try calling a local electronics recycler to see if they’ll take them.   You can use Earth911 Recycling Search to find electronics recyclers in your area. Try searching for electronics, desktop computers, or cables at your zip code. If the toy includes a lithium-ion battery or another type of battery, you can also search the directory for a facility in your area that accepts those items, too.

Recycling Wooden Toys

  Fortunately, given the durability of most wooden toys, you should be able to give away wooden toys for someone else to use. In the rare case that the toy is completely beyond reuse, your disposal options depend on what the toy is treated with.   If the toy has an all-natural wood stain, you may be able to compost it in a commercial facility (but check with your city if they’ll accept it). If it has been painted, you’ll have to dispose of it in the garbage, as facilities can’t accept it for composting.  

Give Away or Resell

  If the toys you’re looking to dispose of still have life left, it’s always a better option to give them away to someone else who can use them. Nearly every thrift store and donation center will take toys, but if you’re not sure, head over to the Earth911 Recycling Search and take a look (the recycling search isn’t just for recycling options; reuse is a huge part of it as well). Also, consider asking local shelters or churches to see if they take toys that are in good condition.   You can also sell the toys at garage sales, on Facebook garage sale groups, and apps like Letgo. Some toys, like Legos, Hot Wheels, and Barbies actually hold their value quite well. But be honest about the condition of the toys, so people know what they’re getting.   Have you found a good option for recycling toys? Share your knowledge with the community in theEarthling Forum.

A New Year, a new resolution and probably, another futile attempt at personal development. This year, for sure, absolutely, I am determined to reduce my use of single-use plastic. Among other things, that means putting more leftovers in glass containers, swearing off plastic bottled water and—Lord knows I’ll try—trading in bags of Doritos for homemade popcorn. Why the focus on packaging? The news is loaded with articles on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, unrecyclable recyclables and growing sentiment around the world that less is more when it comes to consumer packaging. The Happi staff spent much of December on the road, at conferences and press events throughout the US. At nearly every stop, we heard experts in all household and personal product categories demanding more action to eliminate unnecessary packaging materials. Someone is already taking action. Years ago, as a teenager, Tom Szaky was appalled at the amount of material that was discarded and sent to landfills. Today, the company he founded, TerraCycle, works with some of the leading household and personal products makers in the US and around the world to uncover new ways to reuse packaging waste. Want to learn more? Visit Happi.com where Szaky is a regular contributor to our Expert’s Opinion section. Szaky isn’t the only one thinking about packaging reduction. According to Mintel, sub-zero waste will impact the beauty industry in the future (see p. 12). Seventh Generation and Procter & Gamble are rolling out lighter detergent bottles that use less material than standard packs. Read about how they’re doing it on p. 52 in this issue. The demand for less packaging is even helping bar soaps make a comeback in Europe, according to our EuroTrends Columnist Imogen Matthews (p. 28). Also this month, we report on the skin care trends that will impact 2019 (p. 41) and the household cleaning scents that make the most sense (p. 47). Back to those Doritos. During my last business meeting of 2018, the lunch buffet included a bowl of single-serve packages of snacks. After mulling the situation, recalling those images of plastic waste floating both far out in the ocean and along the shoreline, and depressing photos of autopsied seabirds loaded with microplastics, I grabbed a bag and ate the damn chips. In 2019, I swear, things will be different!

A GREENER NEW YEAR IN THE KITCHEN  New Year is a good time for fresh starts and resolutions. How about adopting environmentally friendly habits for 2019? Looking after our planet is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year and beyond, and after all, it’s the only one we’ve got. BUY SUSTAINABLE FOOD Choose locally grown, in-season, plant-based foods with minimal packaging. Foods that are not in season have been transported further, producing more greenhouse gases. Choose more plant-based foods as they have a smaller environmental impact than meat, dairy and eggs. Why not visit your farmers market for the best local and seasonal produce and support local agriculture? Buy fruits and vegetables without plastic packaging – Mother Nature already gave them compostable packaging. Bring your own re-usable bag and skip the receipt if you have no intention of returning your purchases. REDUCE YOUR FOOD WASTE Food rescue charity Oz Harvest reports that a massive one-third of all food produced globally is wasted! Make a habit of planning your meals each week, buying only what you need and saving your hard-earned money from going to waste. Even better, cook a few plant-based meals on the weekend and freeze them in reusable storage containers to have quick, healthy and sustainable meals on hand for days when you get home late. Invest in some good glass or metal storage containers with lids instead of covering food with plastic wrap. Or clean old peanut butter jars or spaghetti sauce jars and use them to store foods like overnight oats or baked beans. If you are time poor and tend to drop by the local supermarket and pile the trolley on the way home, investigate subscription food boxes or meal delivery services, many of them feature fresh locally grown foods. Choice magazine reviews Australian offerings here. BE AN ECO-FRIENDLY DINER Disposable plastic plates, cups, straws and cutlery are used for only a few minutes but ultimately spend hundreds of years in landfill. Cutting down on single-use plastic is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste. When eating out, choose to dine inside the restaurant using real reusable tableware rather than ordering take away. If you must have your food on the run, let the restaurant know you don’t require straws, plastic cutlery, napkins, moist towelettes and plastic bags. Keep a reusable coffee cup, water bottle and metal ‘spork’ in your bag instead of using disposables. Leave a reusable plate at work. BE A BETTER RECYCLER Most of us are already using our council recycling bins to recycle glass and plastic bottles, aluminium cans and paper. But if you have a garden, there are more materials that you can divert from landfill. Fruit and vegetable scraps, tea, corks, eggshells, newspaper and tissues don’t breakdown properly in landfill, but they can be composted! Keep a mini compost bin in your kitchen for easy access; when full, transport it to a larger compost bin or worm farm outdoors where it will eventually turn into free garden fertiliser. Keep a bag handy in your kitchen or garage and fill it with any soft plastics that can be scrunched into a ball such as bread bags, plastic toilet paper wrapping and rice bags. When full, take it to a supermarket that has a soft plastic collection bin to be recycled. If you are in Australia, Canada or the US, set up some boxes in your garage to collect used cosmetics containers, coffee capsules, toothpaste tubes and postal bags, when full post them to a company like TerraCycle so they can be recycled and used to make park benches and other useful things. HERE’S A TIP TO HELP YOU STICK WITH YOUR RESOLUTIONS The problem with New Year resolutions is that they all too often fall by the wayside as willpower fades. The key to sticking with them is to create habits you can do on autopilot. Remember that every change starts with a single step, so start with one goal at a time. Once it becomes second nature, choose another. Lose that “all-or-nothing” mindset. And don’t over-commit. Greener Resolutions in a Nutshell 

• To make your resolutions stick, create habits rather than relying on willpower.
• Try one new change at a time rather than an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach.
• Avoid food waste.
• Avoid single-use disposable plastics.
• Recycle as much as you can.

Happy New Year!

Everyday medical facilities face numerous compliance challenges from federal and local agencies all with an eye on patient and staff safety. As a result, the disposal of something as mundane as lighting, which can vary from room to room and floor to floor, is often overlooked.   While fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge bulbs (HID) and sodium lighting provide strong, consistent illumination for a number of applications, all of them contain mercury that if allowed to become airborne and enter the environment can be harmful. However, there seems to be some confusion among facility managers and administrators as to what it actually means to properly dispose of mercury-containing bulbs.   Many facilities are not aware that they are breaking the law if they dispose of the bulbs in dumpsters. If discovered, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can levy fines and report violations at facilities that fail to properly dispose of fluorescent lamps properly.   Here we’ll help you assess the needs of your facility, examine available disposal options and weigh the pros and cons of each.   Where to Begin? Assess the Facility Gathering the appropriate information will help managers assess their medical center and determine what type of recycling services are required to properly manage lamp disposal. Below are a series of questions that will help determine your needs.  

• How many fluorescent lamps are in your facility? Where are they located?
• How often do you re-lamp?
• How many fluorescent lamps are you disposing of each month? Each year?
• What types of fluorescent lamps do you buy? Are they energy-efficient lamps?
• How are spent lamps handled and stored?
• Do all employees know what to do if a fluorescent lamp burns out or breaks?
• Is the organization in compliance with all hazardous-waste regulations?

  Select a Recycler There are numerous lamp-recycling companies that operate in the United States, but as with any other service, they are not all created equal. Facility managers are encouraged to audit the vendors under consideration to verify that their permits, recycling technologies, transportation operations and bookkeeping practices meet all state and federal regulations.   Additionally, some recyclers manage other universal waste streams, such as batteries, electronics and medical waste, so be sure to ask the vendors about any other services they provide in the event you can combine recycling contracts.   Best Practices When lighting burns out or is replaced in a lighting system retrofit, facility managers typically have three options for recycling them: mail-in boxes or containers, a pickup of intact lamps in bulk quantity, or crushing lamps for storage and eventual pickup.   Mail-In Boxes The mail-in box option offers facilities the flexibility to mail small quantities of spent bulbs in EPA-compliant boxes to material recovery facilities for processing. While containers will vary widely, many utilize a combination of cardboard to hold the lamps and a plastic liner to contain mercury vapor in the event of breakage.   While probably the most common method of recycling lamps, the mail-in box can be contracted through recycling providers such as TerraCycle Regulated Waste, Waste Management and Veolia. Simply order a container, fill it with spent lamps and ship it to the designated recycling center using the included prepaid mailing label.   However, it is important to note that this option is intended for facilities that are less than 150,000 square feet and might not meet the needs for large producers of lighting waste.   Bulk Pick-Up of Intact Lamps Facilities over 150,000 square feet in size with ample storage space might want to consider bulk pickup of intact lamps. This option requires facilities to retain spent lamps until they have accumulated enough to fill a truck, at which time they arrange for bulk pickup and disposal.   While a viable solution, and a service that is available through recycling providers like the companies mentioned above, a few key limitations should be considered. The EPA enforces a one-year legal limit on accumulation of universal waste which starts at the time the spent bulb is removed from the lighting fixture. So, if it takes a period longer than a year to accumulate the required amount of waste to warrant the cost of a bulk pick-up another solution should be considered.   Additionally, storage of the lighting waste for an extended period significantly increases the odds of an accidental mercury release and potential exposure to facility occupants and staff. Lastly, this option requires a large amount of space to warehouse the spent lighting – space that might be better utilized though therapeutic or administrative purposes.   Lamp Crushing A lamp crushing machine quickly and efficiently crushes linear bulbs while separating the mercury and segregating the aluminum fixtures, glass tubing and other materials, allowing them to be reclaimed for reuse. This option is the ideal solution for facilities over 150,000 square feet and those that produce large amounts of lighting waste but do not have ample space to store it.   By compacting spent lamps with a lamp crusher, facility managers significantly reduce the labor associated with the proper packaging of the waste in advance of shipping or bulk pick-up, minimize recycling costs and eliminate the storage space required from warehousing the spent bulbs.   Leveraging a Facility Lamp Recycling Program Many facility managers hear the word “sustainability” and immediately think it means an extra cost to them. However, investing in responsible disposal and recycling practices ultimately cuts overall costs, improves employee safety and keeps the facility EPA compliant. With healthcare inherently scrutinized by EPA inspectors, it makes good sense to incorporate a proactive fluorescent lamp disposal plan and minimize the mercury risk that fluorescent lighting poses to an efficient, safe workplace and a safe environment.   Bobby Farris is General Manager at TerraCycle Regulated Waste.  

Despite mixed responsi­veness from global governments, the beauty industry is racing ahead with its own sustaina­bility efforts, reshaping ingredient innovation, packaging design and brand strategies. This was a core topic of the 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting & Technology Showcase presented by the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. Here are five highlights of the industry’s sustainable future, as presented at the event.  

1. Slow Beauty

  The fast pace of the beauty industry’s expansion in recent years and the attendant explosion of indie brands, rapid product release schedules and rising e-commerce-related shipping have not gone unnoticed.   A backlash against fast beauty is emerging, said Mintel’s Sara Jindal. Shoppers are increasingly seeking simple beauty routines and reward brands that share their more conserva­tionist attitudes—as long as those brands make it easy.   Jindal noted that 74% of Spanish beauty and personal care consumers are concerned that ingredients used in natural products are not sustainable, while 24% of Indian consumers are motivated to live a more natural lifestyle to support environm­entally conscious businesses.   And, following a number of frustrated posts by key influencers, many beauty brands are rethinking excessive packaging for PR mailings and unboxing videos.   In short, sustaina­bility matters to the planet and the market.   Consumer products giants are not alone in this effort, but their actions have the largest impact system-wide. Companies like Unilever and P&G are finding ways to reintegrate waste and design products for reuse or repurposing.   Jindal explained that brands have to engage their consumers in order to ensure they take advantage of refillable packaging—this requires engagement post-purchase. In addition, some companies may wish to encourage consumers to upcycle products, as on the makeup reselling platform Glambot.   There is also a movement underway to extend the life of products to reduce waste. This can be a contentious process, pitting preservative-free demands against shelf-life concerns.   Brands have found creative ways to hack existing products for extended life. For instance, Italian manufacturer Gotha produced “Second Chance” Mascara Drops to extend the use of every bit of a product.   These organizations have also created marketing to educate consumers on how to use products efficiently and dispose of waste. For instance, Garnier partnered with TerraCycle to produce educational videos on how to recycle, making the entire product experience through disposal seamless and as easy as possible.   Jindal concluded: brands of every scale can play to consumer sentiment by offering simple solutions that feel good and save money and time.  

2. The Benefits of Fermented Ingredients

  Taking a page from the ongoing intersection of food and beauty, Steven Schnittger, vice president of global microbiology and fermentation R&D at the Estée Lauder Companies, discussed the future of cleaner, greener formulations driven by fermented products.   These materials meet the natural criteria detailed in ISO 16128-1:2016, said Schnittger, because they are obtained by microbio­logical processes. Furthermore, he argued, fermentation is safe, consistent and economically viable.   Fermented materials can be produced independent of weather and climate conditions, and require no pesticides, fertilizers or chemical extraction, resulting in a low carbon footprint. In addition, the results are highly reproducible due to controlled process conditions. Meanwhile, downstream processes can further modify and improve the activity of ingredients.   In addition, fermented ingredients are easily incorporated into emulsions. They can appear in the form of a spray-dried powder, freeze-dried crystals or aqueous-based formats. Fermented ingredients also allow formulators and brands to minimize preservation through process and engineering techniques.   The result is green innovation with little impact on the overall cost of goods.  

3. Preservative-free Probiotics?

  Topical probiotics can potentially address dermatitis, eczema, burn and scar healing, skin rejuvenation and other common issues, said Jennifer Cookson, director of product development for Mother Dirt.   However, she argued, because preservatives are built to inhibit growth of microorg­anisms, strategies are needed to formulate without them in order to engineer better probiotics.   These could include “hacking” water activity, extending low pH exposures, and including multifun­ctional ingredients such as MCTs and other hurdles to achieve desired anti-microbial activity without damaging probiotics that brands want delivered to the skin.   Packaging can also play a role, said Cookson. Technologies such as pump seals that prevent product that has come into contact with the skin from reentering the bottle, vapor-resistant bottles, sterilizing filters in dip tubes and package nozzles, and airless pumps can all play a role in diminishing threats to product integrity.   Cookson noted that trial and error is required to find the right mix of hurdles for each product—there is no single strategy that can be universa­lized.  

4. The Future of Ingredient Testing

  Manasi Chavan, marketing manager, face care, at BASF, outlined the company’s partnership with Poietis to develop 3D-printed physiological human skin tissue models that will one day bestow BASF with a more predictive in vitro assessment of the toxicity and efficacy of cosmetic ingredients.   Chavan noted that the companies have been working to improve the 3d laser-assisted bioprinted skin models that can offer a high degree of flexibility and repeatab­ility. Currently, it takes about 15 days to bioprint a sample of skin, with researchers finding new ways to improve the structure and organization of the models.  

5. Plant-based Anti-aging

  Ilya Raskin, a professor at Rutgers University, discussed the application of natural ingredients in beauty products.  

The Power of Moringa

  Raskin noted that isothioc­yanates can mobilize cell defenses against aging, stress and inflammation. These materials can be derived from sources such as cress seed oil and Moringa oleifera Lam., the so-called drumstick tree.   The technology stimulates the Nrf2 protein, which Raskin described as a “master control protein” that supports cells against stress and damage. Estée Lauder developed its technology to support Nrf2 function to boost antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the skin.   The ingredient is highlighted in Estée Lauder’s Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Crème. The product comprises the company’s RevitaKey Technology, featuring morning extract.   The brand states: “this silky-soft, deeply nourishing multi-action creme encourages skin's natural power to amplify collagen and elastin. Lines and wrinkles look dramatically reduced. Skin’s visible firmness, density and elasticity is significantly improved.”   Furthermore, the product stimulates skin repair with the inclusion of Narcissus tazetta bulb extract.  

Phenolics

Phenolics are another attractive area of interest, said Raskin. These materials comprise chlorogenic acid, which stimulates melanogenesis suppression for an anti-inflammatory effect. Phenolics can be found in scarlet lettuce, which has three times the antioxidants and polyphenols of blueberries, as well as in chicory.  

Efforts at home and abroad to curb the use of plastic packaging was a popular topic in 2018, especially those that involved innovative new solutions.   Amidst major strategies announced in Europe to address plastic waste, companies here at home questioned whether sustainable packaging is worth the cost and whether the issue is as important to consumers as the packaging industry believes. In 2018, GreenerPackage.com readers also wanted to learn what the largest CPGs are doing to reduce their packaging footprint.   Look for the number-one story of 2018 to be one of the largest movements in sustainable packaging into 2019 and beyond.   10. First-ever Europe-wide strategy launched to address plastic waste The European Strategy for Plastics commits to 100% recyclable plastics in the EU by 2030, a reduction in single-use plastics, and the restriction of microplastics, among other goals.   9. McDonald’s makes significant commitments to packaging sustainability Among them, 100% of materials to come from renewable, recycled, or FSC-certified materials by 2025, and recycling of 100% of packaging in its restaurants, also by 2025.   8. P&G wins Dow’s Diamond  The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) announced the winners of the 2018 30th Awards for Packaging Innovation, which recognizes the packaging industry’s top achievements in innovative packaging designs, materials, technologies, and processes.   7. PepsiCo joins NaturALL Bottle Alliance The alliance, a research consortium developed by Danone, Nestle Waters, and Origin Materials, is making progress on developing and introducing a 100% bio-based PET beverage bottle.   6. Sustainable packaging materials: worth the cost? One of the biggest challenges for producers of environmentally-friendly packaging is to convince consumers that these sustainable materials are worth the cost. 5. Green packaging: A priority for consumers? Survey looks at how consumers’ interest in sustainable packaging has changed and the extent to which this will affect brand owners’ success moving forward.   4. EUROPEN: The state of packaging policy in Europe Virginia Janssens, Executive Director of EUROPEN and speaker at the upcoming AMERIPEN Annual Conference, discusses the Circular Economy, EPR, and other European packaging policies.   3. Brand owner, consumer sustainable packaging perceptions diverge A new study uncovers how brand owners and consumers approach sustainable packaging and looks at the opportunities for brand owners to position flexible packaging as sustainable.   2. Compostable cereal bag featured in plastic-free grocery aisle A flexible pouch made from bio-based compostable materials allows Dutch organic cereal producer De Halm to showcase its products in Ekoplaza’s plastic-free grocery aisle.   1. TerraCycle to unveil ‘Loop’ TerraCycle Founder and CEO Tom Szaky shares news on the upcycling company’s work creating a supply chain for ocean plastics and provides a peek at the upcoming launch of its transformational Loop platform.    

Amidst major strategies announced in Europe to address plastic waste, companies here at home questioned whether sustainable packaging is worth the cost and whether the issue is as important to consumers as the packaging industry believes. In 2018, GreenerPackage.com readers also wanted to learn what the largest CPGs are doing to reduce their packaging footprint. Look for the number-one story of 2018 to be one of the largest movements in sustainable packaging into 2019 and beyond. 10. First-ever Europe-wide strategy launched to address plastic waste The European Strategy for Plastics commits to 100% recyclable plastics in the EU by 2030, a reduction in single-use plastics, and the restriction of microplastics, among other goals. 9. McDonald’s makes significant commitments to packaging sustainability Among them, 100% of materials to come from renewable, recycled, or FSC-certified materials by 2025, and recycling of 100% of packaging in its restaurants, also by 2025. 8. P&G wins Dow’s Diamond The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) announced the winners of the 2018 30th Awards for Packaging Innovation, which recognizes the packaging industry’s top achievements in innovative packaging designs, materials, technologies, and processes. 7. PepsiCo joins NaturALL Bottle Alliance The alliance, a research consortium developed by Danone, Nestle Waters, and Origin Materials, is making progress on developing and introducing a 100% bio-based PET beverage bottle. 6. Sustainable packaging materials: worth the cost? One of the biggest challenges for producers of environmentally-friendly packaging is to convince consumers that these sustainable materials are worth the cost. 5. Green packaging: A priority for consumers? Survey looks at how consumers’ interest in sustainable packaging has changed and the extent to which this will affect brand owners’ success moving forward. 4. EUROPEN: The state of packaging policy in Europe Virginia Janssens, Executive Director of EUROPEN and speaker at the upcoming AMERIPEN Annual Conference, discusses the Circular Economy, EPR, and other European packaging policies. 3. Brand owner, consumer sustainable packaging perceptions diverge A new study uncovers how brand owners and consumers approach sustainable packaging and looks at the opportunities for brand owners to position flexible packaging as sustainable. 2. Compostable cereal bag featured in plastic-free grocery aisle A flexible pouch made from bio-based compostable materials allows Dutch organic cereal producer De Halm to showcase its products in Ekoplaza’s plastic-free grocery aisle. 1. TerraCycle to unveil ‘Loop’ TerraCycle Founder and CEO Tom Szaky shares news on the upcycling company’s work creating a supply chain for ocean plastics and provides a peek at the upcoming launch of its transformational Loop platform.