Flavor innovation continues to drive growth across the three categories.

With chewy texture profiles continuing to dominate the sugar confectionery market, the jellies, licorice and chews categories are seeing steady growth. The non-chocolate chewy candy segment generated $4.23 billion in the year ending May 16, according to IRI, a Chicago-based research firm. That’s up 10.8 percent from a year ago. Mars Wrigley leads the category with a nearly 24 percent market share, bringing in just over $1 billion over the same period. Ferrara Candy Co. follows with just under 16 percent of the category, generating $656.8 million in the 12 months ending May 16. Ferrara’s growth in the non-chocolate chewy category — 14.8 percent — rivals Haribo of America’s. Haribo’s sales were up 14.9 percent, generating just over $409 million in the year ending May 16. Meanwhile, Mondelēz International pulled in $480.4 million, up 11.5 percent from a year ago.

Jellies

Made with pectin and starches, jellies typically have a softer texture than their gelatin-based gummy counterparts. Mondelēz International’s Sour Patch Kids is the top jelly product tracked by IRI in the non-chocolate chewy category, generating $223.6 million in the year ending May 16. That represents a 12.4 percent increase from a year ago. In April, the Sour Patch Kids brand introduced its first mystery flavor, giving its social media followers cryptic clues and an opportunity to win a $50,000 prize this month. The brand will reveal the mystery flavor in August. Swedish Fish, another Mondelēz offering, pulled in $126.8 million in the 12 months ending May 16, up 4.7 percent from a year ago. Last month, the brand announced a partnership with TerraCycle, giving fans an easy way to recycle their Swedish Fish packaging. “We’re excited to start this partnership with TerraCycle for our Swedish Fish brand,” said Mili Laddha, Mondelēz International associate director equity candy. “As part of Mondelēz International, we are on a mission to lead the future of snacking by creating snacks the right way for both people and the planet to love. We’re continuing to make progress and scale our efforts to deliver meaningful change.” Though Jelly Belly Candy Co. is a longtime mainstay in the jelly category, the company debuted a new format last summer: Jelly Belly Gummies. Made with modified potato starch and sweetened with tapioca syrup, these vegan pieces are available in sweet and sour varieties in five flavors: Berry Blue, Green Apple, Lemon, Orange and Very Cherry. Fruit snacks fall somewhere between jellies and gummies, featuring both starch and gelatin. In March, PIM Brands introduced Welch’s Juicefuls, made with real fruit on the outside and juice on the inside. They’re available in three varieties: Mixed Fruit, Berry Blast and Island Splash. "Welch's Juicefuls offer consumers of all ages a unique experience to enjoy a surprising twist on our beloved classic snacks,” said Nicole Luisi, brand manager for PIM Brands. “They feature next-level bursts of fruit juice in the centers for added goodness and are a unique and authentic alternative to other snacks.” Ferrara also relaunched Kellogg’s Fruity Snacks as Funables, a fruit snacks master brand featuring better-for-you ingredients and engaging on-pack experiences.

Chews

Among the Top 20 non-chocolate chewy products IRI tracks, Mars Wrigley’s Starburst chews took the No. 5 spot, earning $213.8 million in the 12 months ending May 16. That’s down 3 percent from a year ago. Meanwhile, Starburst FaveREDS, featuring Strawberry, Cherry, Fruit Punch and Watermelon flavors, brought in $76.3 million, up 9.4 percent from a year ago. Following at No. 7, Perfetti Van Melle’s Airheads pulled in $139.8 million over the same period, dipping 1.3 percent from a year ago. Ferrara’s Laffy Taffy brand just made the Top 20, generating $58.5 million in the year ending May 16. That’s up 6.3 percent from a year ago. To reinvigorate the Laffy Taffy brand, Ferrara introduced Laffy Taffy Laff Bites in August 2020. First available in a mix of Cherry, Strawberry, Green Apple and Blue Raspberry flavors, Laff Bites are bite-sized taffy pieces coated in a candy shell. “We’re thrilled to welcome Laff Bites into our Laffy Taffy family of products this year,” said Katie Duffy, v.p., marketing, Ferrara Candy Co., after the launch. “The brand has always been known for a fun-to-eat taffy experience, and with Laff Bites, we are offering a unique, poppable candy experience.” Ferrara followed it with Laff Bites Gone Bananas in December 2020, and the company plans to launch a tropical version, featuring Guava, Pineapple, Mango and Red Orange flavors, in November 2021. Morinaga America’s HI-CHEW brand’s sales climbed by 25 percent over the same period — the only chew product to produce double-digit growth. It generated just over $87 million in the year ending May 16. Product innovation, along with collaborative brand partnerships, has driven the HI-CHEW brand’s growth. In February, HI-CHEW launched Berry Mix, featuring Black Cherry, Raspberry, and Blueberry flavors. The brand highlighted its Raspberry offering in a collaboration with frozen yogurt chain Menchie’s this month. “We’ve seen a high demand for berry flavors within the market, with Black Cherry, Raspberry and Blueberry consistently showing up as fan favorites in the States,” said Tatsuya Takamiya, chief marketing officer of Morinaga America, Inc. “Tapping into consumers' excitement for authentic fruit flavors, our research and development team was able to perfectly capture the true-to-life flavor and give consumers a vibrant experience with each bite. We’re excited to reveal these new offerings that showcase a delightful and refreshing take on Americans’ favorite berry flavors.” HI-CHEW relaunched Plus Fruit in March. Available in Orange & Tangerine and Red Apple & Strawberry flavors, each bite-size chew features real fruit pieces. In April, HI-CHEW reintroduced Fruit Combos with the addition of Strawberry Lemonade, the winner of the fan-voted 2020 Flavor Games. "We are thrilled to be able to launch this flavor in our new Fruit Combos Stand Up Pouch, which perfectly compliments Tropical Smoothie and Piña Colada,” Takamiya said. “The three refreshing flavors tap into consumers' excitement for tropical beverages and we're looking forward to seeing the response to the fan-chosen flavor." In the organic space, YumEarth debuted Chewys Fruit Chews in February. Available in four flavors — Lemon, Orange, Strawberry and Cherry — these candies are free of the Top 8 allergens. They’re also vegan, gluten-free and made with simple ingredients. "Fruit chews are an iconic and beloved candy, and as a brand devoted to producing allergy-safe and yummy treats, we knew Chewys would be a great addition to our allergy-friendly product line," said Sasha Auguste, head of marketing for YumEarth.

Licorice

The licorice category is up 3.8 percent from last year, generating a total of $506.5 million in the 12 months ending May 16, IRI data reveals. The Hershey Co. represents just under 65 percent of the category, thanks to the Twizzlers brand, which pulled in more than $301 million across four product types: Twizzlers Twists, Twizzlers Pull ‘n’ Peel, Twizzlers Nibs and Twizzlers Filled Twists. In March, the brand introduced a Mystery Flavor, building on the recent trend of mystery and surprise products. Twizzlers will reveal the mystery flavor later this summer. Though the Twizzlers brand earned four of the Top 10 brand IRI tracks, Hershey’s classic Good & Plenty brand took the fifth spot, generating $23.9 million in the year ending May 16. American Licorice Co. — the second largest player in the licorice market, according to IRI data — occupies just over 16 percent of the market. Its Red Vines brand brought in just over $69 million in the year ending May 16. In November 2020, Red Vines introduced its pull-apart SuperStrings, originally only available in the Red Vines California Collection, in a 14-oz. package. At the 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo, American Licorice announced it would build on the success of its Red Vines Made Simple sub-brand, launching black licorice and blueberry pomegranate varieties. Made Simple products feature natural colors, natural flavors, real cane sugar and non-GMO ingredients. American Licorice’s Sour Punch brand generated $7.7 million in the year ending May 16, marking a 4 percent drop from a year ago. However, Sour Punch Bites pulled in $5.4 million over the same period, representing a 39.3 percent increase. In November 2020, the brand launched Sweet Bites, its first sweet, non-sour product in four varieties: Dream Berry, Passion Punch, Grateful Grape and Cotton Candy. Sour Punch also launched Fan Favorite Bites, an assortment featuring four top-requested flavors: Grape, Tangerine, Fruit Punch and Lemon. The growth of Kenny’s Candy & Confections’ Australian-style licorice brand Wiley Wallaby compares to Sour Punch Bites, rising 38.6 percent over the year ending May 16 to earn just over $15 million. Last year, Wiley Wallaby introduced Berry Blast, its first mixed-flavor assortment, featuring Triple Berry, Huckleberry, Blueberry and Pomegranate twists. The brand also introduced Sourrageous Drops, which are bite-sized pieces of Wiley Wallaby’s classic red licorice in sour Watermelon, Green Apple and Lemon candy shells. At the 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo, Kenny’s Candy unveiled Wiley Wallaby Very Berry Low-Sugar Gluten-Free licorice. Sweetened with allulose and stevia, each serving contains 1 gram of sugar and no gluten, dairy or high fructose corn syrup. Earlier this year, SmartSweets also launched gluten-free licorice twists. The company’s eighth innovation, the plant-based Red Twists are made without added sugars, sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners. “We are super proud of the Red Twists innovation, not only because they kick sugar, with only 2 grams of sugar per bag, but our squad has also innovated around gluten, creating a gluten-free licorice,” SmartSweets founder Tara Bosch said.

Future outlook

As consumers continue to gravitate toward non-chocolate chewy candy, interest in — and sales of — jellies, chews and licorice are likely to grow. In a November 2020 report, Technavio projected global sales of jelly candies to grow by $422 million between 2020 and 2024. The research firm noted 38 percent of the growth will come from the Asia-Pacific region, with China and Japan at the forefront. Rising disposable incomes, along with more distribution channels, such as convenience stores, independent stores and ecommerce, are expected to drive the growth. Meanwhile, research from Global Market Insights put the North American fruit snacks market at $1.8 billion in 2026. The market research firm cited their texture and ability to deliver functional ingredients, such as fiber and vitamins, as factors advancing their growth. Grand View Research valued the global fruit snacks market at $5.52 billion in 2020. The research firm projected it will approach $10 billion in 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.2 percent. “Consumers have been opting for healthy treats to consume these between their meals, sometimes as meals,” the firm said. “Furthermore, with the rising preference for convenience food products due to the consumers' busy lifestyle, the sales of ready-to-eat healthy foods are expected to increase remarkably over the next few years. Vegetable and fruit-based foods that provide nutritional benefits without compromising on texture and taste are gaining traction among all the age groups, including kids, Millennials and Generation X, across the globe.”

POSTED BY: RETROFIT MAGAZINE EDITOR JULY 1, 2021

Though single-use plastics have been arguably necessary to combat the pandemic, it is important that hard-won progress toward a circular plastics economy is not reversed. By Carli Schoenleber and Farah Lavassani Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly shifted plastic consumption and waste management practices (see Figure 1). Despite political and cultural movement away from single-use plastics in the past decade, products needed to fight COVID-19 (e.g., masks, gloves, gowns, testing kits) and adapt to life at home (e.g., takeout containers, delivery packaging) likely resulted in a higher proportion of single-use plastics in the waste stream. Consequently, many are concerned the pandemic accelerated negative environmental impacts from plastic waste.1 It is currently unclear to what extent COVID-19 impacted plastic waste generation in the U.S. Several sources suggest the pandemic increased plastic demand, particularly for single-use plastics.10, 11, 12

It has been estimated that the U.S. created an entire year’s worth of medical waste in just two months of the pandemic,13 primarily due to greater use of disposable plastic gloves, masks, and gowns.12 Moreover, many believe single-use plastic consumption has been elevated due to heightened hygiene concerns and increased demand for household products, online orders and takeout dining.11, 14 Because of mandated stay at home orders and work from home policies, there is at least evidence that residential solid waste increased in many areas throughout the U.S., though it is still unclear how much waste has been comprised of plastic. SWANA observed a 20 percent increase in residential waste at the start of the pandemic15 and a 5 to 10 percent increase by December, 2020.16 Likewise, residential solid waste in Los Angeles (LA) increased by 15 to 20 percent.17 However, because COVID-19 shut down many commercial sectors and caused widespread unemployment, it is unclear how overall waste generation, and by extension plastic consumption, was impacted in the U.S.18 In LA, the Los Angeles Times reported commercial waste had decreased by 15 percent.17 Nonetheless, a change in the amount and type of plastic pollution was observed, suggesting an increase in single-use plastic use.

Some of these changes can likely be attributed to the suspension of laws aimed at plastic waste reduction, namely single-use plastic bag bans (see Figure 2). Given evidence that reusable bags are rarely washed and COVID-19 can survive on surfaces,21 elected officials were initially urged to suspend or delay the implementation of plastic bag ban policies to reduce transmission risk to retail and grocery workers. The Plastics Industry Association capitalized on this moment in a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reinstating arguments that reusable bags present a high risk of disease spread and framing single-use plastics as the safest choice.22 Throughout states and municipalities, approximately 46 plastic bag bans were delayed or temporarily suspended and 15 policies banning reusable bags were implemented (see Figure 3); as of February, 2021, about half of these plastic bag bans were still delayed or suspended and all 15 reusable bag bans had been lifted.23 California was among the many states that temporarily suspended its single-use plastic bag ban in April 2020, though the policy was reinstated by June 2020.24 Californians Against Waste reported that during this suspension, an estimated 1 billion single-use plastic bags were distributed throughout the state in May and April alone.25

Plastic Waste Management Nearly 150 recycling programs in the U.S. were temporarily suspended and many were cut altogether due to COVID-19.26, 27 In California, operations at several Waste Management-run Material Recovery Facilities (MRF), including the Claremont MRF in LA County, were temporarily suspended following the California stay at home order.28 Alex Helou, the City of LA Sanitation Assistant Director, reported to the Los Angeles Times in December 2020 that only five of 17 LA recyclable collection facilities had been fully operating throughout the pandemic, challenging the sorting capacity for the recycling centers that remained open.17 Consequently, thousands of tons of recycled materials were directly sent to landfills, particularly at the onset of the pandemic; in May 2020, Helou reported to KCRW that 50 to 70 percent of trucks carrying recycled materials were going directly to the landfill.29 Along with concerns of virus transmission among recycling center workers, reduced plastic recycling rates can largely be attributed to the drop in oil prices triggered by the pandemic, resulting in the lowest virgin plastic (i.e., produced from raw fossil fuels) prices seen in decades. As production costs dropped for virgin plastic, producing recycled plastic became even more expensive, with recycled plastic bottles costing 83 to 93 percent more to produce than virgin plastic bottles.4 In the same KCRW article cited previously, Alex Helou noted that the price of processing recycled materials in LA had roughly doubled from $70/ton to $150/ton.29 With greater economic incentive to use virgin plastic, demand for recycled plastic plummeted worldwide, even for the most recycled categories of reclaimed plastic (i.e., PET(#1) and HDPE(#2)).15 For example, several recycled plastic film manufacturers reported a significant decrease in demand following California’s temporary suspension of its single-use plastic bag ban, which also suspended requirements for plastic bag manufacturers to use 40 percent recycled plastic film.30 Yet, recycling companies in the U.S. and California had already been struggling since 2018 when China and other Asian countries widely stopped buying U.S. plastic waste. Between 2017 and 2019, U.S. plastic exports decreased by about half, from 750,000 tons to 375,000 tons.31 A 2019 report from Consumer Watchdog found 40 percent of California’s recycling centers had permanently closed since 2013.34 For years before the pandemic, it was simply cheaper to dump most plastic waste in a landfill instead of recycling it. Mitigating Plastic Waste During and After COVID-19 Replacing Single-Use Plastics with Reusables With fewer people occupying offices, restaurants and other commercial establishments due to COVID-19, an opportunity is presented to business owners and sustainability managers to implement simple but effective plastic waste reduction practices (see Figure 4). Though recycling has historically been the primary approach to sustainably manage plastics, businesses actually have the most to gain financially and environmentally by preventing plastic waste from being used in the first place (see Figure 4).38

With this in mind, it is unsurprising that UCLA’s 2020 “Plastic Waste in LA County” report found that replacing single-use plastic food items with reusable items had “the greatest potential to reduce the negative impacts associated with plastic waste in LA County.” Furthermore, compared to bioplastic/compostable alternatives or by-request single-use disposables, reusable alternatives to food-related single-use plastics offered the greatest opportunity for operational cost savings. By investing in reusable items (e.g., dishes, utensils, coffee cups) and the infrastructure to clean them (e.g., dishwasher), available evidence suggests that businesses will break even in the first year and subsequently save thousands of dollars per year via reduced waste processing, litter clean-up and disposable item costs. As dishwashers become more energy and water efficient and the energy grid is decarbonized, the lifetime impacts of reusables will be continually reduced over time compared to single-use disposables.33 TRUE Zero Waste Certification To reduce plastic waste unrelated to food, business owners and facility managers would also benefit from the structure and guidance offered through the TRUE program for zero waste certification. Similar to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification, TRUE offers a blueprint to increase circularity in facilities, with the ultimate goal of diverting at least 90 percent of solid waste from landfills, incineration and the environment. The program provides expert guidance to divert waste via four main avenues: reduction, reuse, composting and recycling. When systematically implemented throughout upstream supply chains and downstream waste management practices, the TRUE system reduces negative environmental impacts of waste while cutting operational costs and supporting new zero-waste markets. In addition to reusable food serviceware infrastructure, TRUE offers several strategies to reduce plastic waste generation. For example, facilities can achieve several credits within the TRUE zero waste rating system by working with vendors to reduce upstream waste. Some strategies include reducing unnecessary single- use packaging, increasing the recyclability of packaging, sending unused packaging back to vendors for reuse, and selecting vendors that embrace zero-waste or low-plastic principles.39 Education and Awareness With evidence showing public education campaigns can reduce plastic pollution40 and increase recycling rates,41 similar campaigns should be used to dispel myths around COVID-19 and single-use plastics. Based on our review of how COVID-19 shifted plastic consumption and management above, we recommend campaigns focus on two false beliefs: 1) single-use plastics are safer than reusable alternatives and 2) all plastics accepted in our recycling bins actually get recycled. Are Single-Use Plastics Safer than Reusables? Because many single-use plastic bag laws were suspended or delayed for COVID-19 related safety reasons, it is important to provide awareness on the safety of reusable items. In the case of suspending single-use plastic bag bans, health experts were quick to point out there was no evidence that single-use plastic bags were less likely to spread COVID-19 than reusable alternatives.21 In fact, a 2020 study concluded reusable grocery bags presented a very small risk of COVID-19 transmission compared to human-to-human contact via respiratory droplets.42 Moreover, more than 125 health experts around the world signed a statement in June 2020 that reusable items can be similarly hygienic if they are washed and/or disinfected before use.43 Neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have indicated reusable items present any public health risks when it comes to mitigating COVID-19.44 Furthermore, some experts have questioned the underlying assumption that single-use plastic bags are reliably sanitary. Dr. Kate O’Neil at the University of California Berkeley maintained that in comparison to sterile gloves and masks used in a doctor’s office, single-use plastic bags are not held to the same hygienic standards and thus cannot be assumed to be sterile.45 Before the pandemic, California was headed in the right direction by enacting AB 619 in 2019, a law that now requires restaurants to allow customer use of clean reusable cups and containers.46

Do All Recyclable Plastics Get Recycled? Another belief that should be targeted is the false perception that plastic placed in a blue bin will actually get recycled. In reality, the amount of plastic recycled is not just dependent on what can technically be recycled but rather on demand for recycled plastic materials and local availability of recycling technology. Despite the fact that most plastics are recyclable, many MRFs will not recover and recycle single-use plastic products due to difficulty in sorting and the high likelihood of food residue contamination.33 As noted previously, only 8 percent of plastics in the U.S. get recycled. Likewise, in LA County, only PET(#1) and HDPE(#2) plastics are commonly recycled (e.g., milk jugs, detergent bottles and drink bottles) and plastic resin types 3, 4, 6, and 7 (e.g., medicine bottles, yogurt cups, plastic bags), along with all single-use plastic foodware, are likely to head straight for a landfill.33 Part of the publics’ confusion around plastic recycling has been attributed to plastic resin codes (e.g., #1=PET) stamped on most plastic items, which also includes the three arrow recycling symbol. According to 2020 reporting from National Public Radio, the plastic industry began lobbying to put this misleading symbol on plastic items in 1989, allegedly to subdue public concern around the environmental impacts of plastic. Unsurprisingly, once this symbol became standard, consumers began throwing plastic items in their blue bins that local recyclers could not actually sell or reclaim.47 To combat this misconception, recyclers and municipalities should work together to educate consumers on what resin codes actually translate to recyclability in their local area. In theory, if the public is aware plastic recyclability does not necessarily translate to plastic recycling, people may be more apt to reduce consumption of single-use plastics and adopt reuse practices (see Figure 5).

Reducing and Recycling Disposable PPE It will also be important in the short term to minimize the negative impact of disposable PPE (e.g., masks, gloves) as these materials are difficult to recycle and negatively impact the environment.48,49 In addition to harming marine ecosystems when littered, a study from the University College London estimated disposable masks have 10 times the climate change impact than reusable cloth masks.50 Given multi-layered cloth masks have been recommended by the CDC to prevent community spread of COVID-19,51 encouraging the public to replace disposable masks with reusable cloth masks is a sound option to both mitigate plastic waste and slow the spread of COVID-19.

For disposable, PPE that is unavoidable and not used in a medical setting, the environmental impact of PPE can be reduced by recycling it through programs like Terracycle and Rightcycle. Recognizing PPE cannot be recycled through most public services, Terracycle offers a mail-in Zero Waste Box that makes it easy for facilities to recycle single-use PPE such as masks, gloves and safety glasses.52 Similarly, non-medical facilities that use Kimberly-Clark PPE can use the RightCycle program to mail back used plastic gloves, glasses and protective clothing, which are then recycled into plastic pellets and used to manufacture new consumer goods. The RightCycle program has been successfully implemented in facilities such as breweries, zoos and science laboratories.53 Policy Mechanisms Much like other environmental crises, government interventions will likely be necessary to fully shift to a circular plastics economy.2 Prominent policy ideas include taxing virgin plastic, subsidizing recycled plastic and investing in recycling technology. Taxing virgin plastics or difficult to recycle plastics is a commonly cited strategy to target single-use plastics.56, 57, 58 Currently, the price of virgin plastic does not reflect the true cost of plastics’ negative impacts on the environment and society (e.g., harm to marine ecosystems, GHG emissions, litter clean-up), thus taxation could help raise funds to mitigate these impacts. Taxation also has the potential to reduce unnecessary plastic packaging in manufacturing, drive demand for recycled plastic, and encourage innovation in recycling technologies.59,60 Similarly, landfill tipping fees could be increased to make recycling a more economic choice.61 As there is a lack of applied research on positive or negative consequences of plastic taxes, care should be taken to ensure taxes would not increase consumer good prices for low-income communities; a plastic tax dividend returned to taxpayers may help mitigate this issue.56 On the other hand, subsidies or tax breaks could help make recycled plastic less expensive to produce and thus more economically competitive with virgin plastic. Beyond subsidizing recycled plastic and easily recycled plastics, subsidies could also be directed towards efficient recycling facilities, thereby incentivizing innovation towards more effective sorting technology.62 Emerging technologies (e.g., machine learning, chemical recycling) exist, but further investments are needed to scale up recycling of mixed plastics beyond PET (#1) and HDPE (#2)63 as well as compostable bio-based plastics that currently lack adequate industrial composting infrastructure to bring to scale.64 State and Local Plastic Policies Unfortunately, the California Circular Economy Pollution Reduction Act (Senate Bill 54) was rejected by California lawmakers in 2020. This policy aimed to drastically reduce single-use plastic waste by requiring all food- and packaging-related single-use waste to be recyclable or compostable by 2032, aiming for a 75 percent reduction in waste from single-use products. If passed, it would have been the strictest single-use plastic law in the U.S., but there is some hope it will be reconsidered in 2021.65 On the bright side, California lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 793 in 2020, which requires all plastic bottles to contain at least 15 percent recycled plastic by 2022, 25 percent by 2025, and 50 percent by 2030, and allocates funding for recycling infrastructure.66 Moreover, since Assembly Bill 1884 was enacted in 2018, food vendors throughout California have only been allowed to distribute plastic straws upon request.67 Locally, LA County similarly approved a plastic straw and stirrer ordinance following AB 1884.68 In 2019, the City of Santa Monica implemented a Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance, that prohibits all non-marine-degradable food service ware, including all types of plastic.69 Lastly, LA County indicated they were in the process of creating a policy to target food-related single-use plastic waste immediately before the pandemic, however, as of February 2021, no details on such a policy have been released.70 Investing in Infrastructure Because comprehensive waste data throughout the pandemic has yet to be released, it is still unclear as to what extent the pandemic impacted overall waste and plastic waste generation in the U.S. and LA. As it stands, it appears the pandemic increased use of single-use plastics due to heightened demand for PPE, takeout dining, online orders and household products. Data is similarly decentralized when it comes to plastic waste management, but available evidence suggests the pandemic further hampered the recycling industry’s ability to reclaim plastic waste, largely due to the drop in oil prices that shifted demand away from recycled plastic towards virgin plastics. To both reduce the use of single-use plastics and increase plasticrecycling rates during and after the pandemic, we recommend that leaders invest in infrastructure to support reuse practices in commercial buildings to reduce use of food-related single-use plastics, the most impactful plastic waste category in LA County. The TRUE zero waste rating system may be particularly useful for facilities to streamline more sustainable plastic waste management systems. Other solutions include dispelling public misinformation around the safety of reusables, decreasing the use of disposable masks, and increasing recycling rates for PPE.

Though single-use plastics have been arguably necessary to combat the pandemic, it is important that hard-won progress toward a circular plastics economy is not reversed. From GHG heavy plastic production processes to the profound impact of plastic waste on our oceans, with or without a pandemic, it is critical that our society move away from the mainstream linear plastic economy and its associated negative environmental and economic impacts. | WA Carli Schoenleber, USGBC-LA, is a Los Angeles based freelance writer with 10 years of experience in sustainability and environmental science. She holds a M.S. degree in Forest Ecosystems and Society from Oregon State University with a research focus on conservation psychology. Specializing in a range of complex sustainability topics, she is currently writing a sustainable real estate textbook series for the Verdani Institute for the Built Environment. Farah Lavassani serves as the Marketing Manager of the U.S. Green Building Council, Los Angeles. After studying Social Work with an emphasis on both Childhood Development and Urban Planning, Farah pursued higher education in environmental sciences with a focus on marketing. With more than five years of experience in non-profits, forming her own organic clothing line, and managing a sustainability lifestyle blog, she is proud to bring her dual experience with advocacy and marketing skills to USGBC-LA. Farah is a LEED Green Associate, ENV SP, and Living Future Ambassador with primary interests in forming sustainable infrastructure for our communities and optimizing sustainable strategy + programs for the professional world. For more information, contact Ben Stapleton, Executive Director, USGBC-LA, at Ben@usgbc-la.org. This excerpt is part of the white paper of the same name, which appears in whole on the U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles Chapter’s website: https://usgbc-la.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/USGBC-LA-Whitepaper-Series_-Covid-19-Single-Use-Plastics-1.pdf

Recognizing that busy business owners, facilities managers, and contractors may only have a few precious moments to spare for their sustainability programs on a daily basis, TerraCycle Regulated Waste (TCRW), a commercial recycling solution provider that specializes in the collection and repurposing of complex regulated waste streams, has launched a new and improved website to make it easier than ever to establish, implement and meet sustainability targets. In order to facilitate the effective and compliant management of regulated, universal and hazardous waste such as florescent lamps, batteries, aerosols and personal protective equipment, TCRW has implemented enhanced website functionalities for an improved e-comm experience with robust new features. TCRW customers can now enjoy guest checkout and QR code functionality on a new mobile-friendly website for quick, on-the-go recycling access. That, coupled with the new ability to track shipments in real time, ensures that they are never caught without a recycling solution. All of this, packaged in an improved and streamlined user interface, is ready to take the guesswork and headaches out of overseeing a sustainability program of any size. To summarize, the added features are listed below: - Guest checkout implemented for quick purchases. - QR Code functionality added to EasyPak boxes so team members on the warehouse floor can scan a box with their smartphones and jump to the new website. - Website optimized for mobile use for on-the-go access. - General streamlining of user interface to ensure the most efficient experience. - Free shipping for all online EasyPak purchases. “TerraCycle Regulated Waste has always been committed to helping businesses meet their sustainability goals efficiently and without any of the guesswork,” said Kevin Flynn, global vice president of TerraCycle Operations and director of TerraCycle Regulated Waste. “This website refresh is our way of doubling-down on this commitment as we give our customers new powerful tools to help get the job done.” The new website can be viewed at tcrwusa.com

Biodegradability Is More Complicated Than You Think

In simple terms, a biodegradable object gets naturally broken down by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, and is returned to nature instead of contributing to pollution. Unfortunately, it’s not like magic; you can’t just toss any finished product into the trash bin expecting it to disintegrate. For an object to biodegrade, it has to be done in the right environment and conditions, and sometimes that means an industrial composting facility. This can be incredibly confusing for consumers when they see the term “biodegradable” printed on the label or used in a brand’s marketing without any further explanation.    

Dr. Royer also encourages using products that come in something that can be reused and refilled, like a stainless steel container or glass, and surprisingly sometimes even plastic, albeit with one caveat: no single use. “If you use it for 20, 30 years, and don't discard it in the environment, it isn't that bad.”

US-based premium horse feed manufacturer has announced a new recycling program in partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle.

Excel Equine Feeds, a Louisville-based premium horse feed manufacturer, has announced a new recycling program in partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle. Saddled with large empty plastic bags of horse feed which are not recyclable curbside throughout Louisville, Excel Equine Feeds has partnered with TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based recycling company that specializes in hard-to-recycle waste, to process the feed packaging and reward customers for participating in the program. To participate, Excel Equine Feeds asks customers to drop-off their empty bags at their Louisville store or to mail back their empty packaging for recycling after they receive a new shipment. The collected bags are then cleaned, shredded, melted and extruded into a pelletized format for use in recycled plastic applications like outdoor furniture and decking, shipping pallets or flooring tiles. “Excel Equine Feeds is proud to be partnered with TerraCycle to become one of the only feed companies with recyclable bags in the nation,” said Dr. Kent Thompson, owner of Excel Equine. “Through this partnership, Excel Equine BOPP plastic bags can be recycled and diverted from the landfill.” TerraCycle specializes in collecting and re-purposing hard-to-recycle waste through a variety of platforms, including large-scale recycling, which helps manufacturing facilities like Excel Equine Feeds recycle large volumes of waste. “Horse owners not only want what’s best for their animals, they also want to preserve the natural spaces where they and their horses can do what they love,” said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle founder and CEO. “Partnering with brands like Excel Equine Feeds ensures we can help limit plastic packaging in the landfill and preserve the outdoors for future generations of riders everywhere.” TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company and operates across 21 countries.

Excel Equine® Feeds Recycles Empty Feed Bags with TerraCycle and Rewards Customers for Participation LOUISVILLE, KY (June 14, 2021) – Excel Equine® Feeds, a Louisville-based premium horse feed manufacturer, has announced a new recycling program in partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle®. Saddled with large empty plastic bags of horse feed which are not recyclable curbside throughout Louisville, Excel Equine Feeds has partnered with TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based recycling company that specializes in hard-to-recycle waste, to process the feed packaging and reward customers for participating in the program. To participate, Excel Equine Feeds asks customers to drop-off their empty bags at their Louisville store or to mail back their empty packaging for recycling after they receive a new shipment. The collected bags are then cleaned, shredded, melted and extruded into a pelletized format for use in recycled plastic applications like outdoor furniture and decking, shipping pallets or flooring tiles. “Excel Equine® Feeds is proud to be partnered with TerraCycle® to become one of the only feed companies with recyclable bags in the nation,” said Dr. Kent Thompson, Owner of Excel Equine. “Through this partnership, Excel Equine® BOPP plastic bags can be recycled and diverted from the landfill.” TerraCycle specializes in collecting and re-purposing hard-to-recycle waste through a variety of platforms, including large-scale recycling, which helps manufacturing facilities like Excel Equine Feeds recycle large volumes of waste. “Horse owners not only want what’s best for their animals, they also want to preserve the natural spaces where they and their horses can do what they love,” said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle Founder and CEO. “Partnering with brands like Excel Equine Feeds ensures we can help limit plastic packaging in the landfill and preserve the outdoors for future generations of riders everywhere.” For more information about Excel Equine Feeds, visit ExcelEquineFeeds.com. More information about TerraCycle and their recycling programs can be found by visiting TerraCycle.com. About Excel Equine Feeds Excel Equine® Feeds is a premium horse feed manufacturer located in Louisville, KY. Excel Equine® has earned respect for creating premium feed blends that focus on supplying high quality nutrition in a variety of feed forms.  Excel Equine produces a variety of feeds and supplements for all lifestyles of horses, ranging from top racehorses, senior horses to broodmares and babies.  Excel Equine® manufactures all of its feed in a medication-free, equine-only facility. Excel Equine® has also launched a recycling initiative in partnership with TerraCycle® to keep as many of the company’s BOPP plastic feed bags out of landfills as possible. Feed Excel Equine® and be Fueled for EXCELlence. About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine’s list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com.

Excel Equine Feeds, a Louisville-based premium horse feed manufacturer, has announced a new recycling program in partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle. Saddled with large empty plastic bags of horse feed which are not recyclable curbside throughout Louisville, Excel Equine Feeds has partnered with TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based recycling company that specializes in hard-to-recycle waste, to process the feed packaging and reward customers for participating in the program. To participate, Excel Equine Feeds asks customers to drop-off their empty bags at their Louisville store or to mail back their empty packaging for recycling after they receive a new shipment. The collected bags are then cleaned, shredded, melted and extruded into a pelletized format for use in recycled plastic applications like outdoor furniture and decking, shipping pallets or flooring tiles. “Excel Equine Feeds is proud to be partnered with TerraCycle to become one of the only feed companies with recyclable bags in the nation,” said Dr. Kent Thompson, owner of Excel Equine. “Through this partnership, Excel Equine BOPP plastic bags can be recycled and diverted from the landfill.” TerraCycle specializes in collecting and re-purposing hard-to-recycle waste through a variety of platforms, including large-scale recycling, which helps manufacturing facilities like Excel Equine Feeds recycle large volumes of waste. “Horse owners not only want what’s best for their animals, they also want to preserve the natural spaces where they and their horses can do what they love,” said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle founder and CEO. “Partnering with brands like Excel Equine Feeds ensures we can help limit plastic packaging in the landfill and preserve the outdoors for future generations of riders everywhere.” Excel Equine Feeds is a premium horse feed manufacturer located in Louisville, KY. Excel Equine has earned respect for creating premium feed blends that focus on supplying high quality nutrition in a variety of feed forms. Excel Equine produces a variety of feeds and supplements for all lifestyles of horses, ranging from top racehorses, senior horses to broodmares and babies.  Excel Equine manufactures all of its feed in a medication-free, equine-only facility. Excel Equine has also launched a recycling initiative in partnership with TerraCycle to keep as many of the company’s BOPP plastic feed bags out of landfills as possible. Feed Excel Equine and be Fueled for EXCELlence. TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine’s list of 52 companies Changing the World.

Excel Equine Feeds has partnered with TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based recycling company that specializes in hard-to-recycle waste, to process the feed packaging and reward customers for participating in the program.

Excel Equine® Feeds Recycles Empty Feed Bags with TerraCycle and Rewards Customers for Participation

LOUISVILLE, KY (June 14, 2021) – Excel Equine® Feeds, a Louisville-based premium horse feed manufacturer, has announced a new recycling program in partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle®. Saddled with large empty plastic bags of horse feed which are not recyclable curbside throughout Louisville, Excel Equine Feeds has partnered with TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based recycling company that specializes in hard-to-recycle waste, to process the feed packaging and reward customers for participating in the program. To participate, Excel Equine Feeds asks customers to drop-off their empty bags at their Louisville store or to mail back their empty packaging for recycling after they receive a new shipment. The collected bags are then cleaned, shredded, melted and extruded into a pelletized format for use in recycled plastic applications like outdoor furniture and decking, shipping pallets or flooring tiles. “Excel Equine® Feeds is proud to be partnered with TerraCycle® to become one of the only feed companies with recyclable bags in the nation,” said Dr. Kent Thompson, Owner of Excel Equine. “Through this partnership, Excel Equine® BOPP plastic bags can be recycled and diverted from the landfill.” TerraCycle specializes in collecting and re-purposing hard-to-recycle waste through a variety of platforms, including large-scale recycling, which helps manufacturing facilities like Excel Equine Feeds recycle large volumes of waste. “Horse owners not only want what’s best for their animals, they also want to preserve the natural spaces where they and their horses can do what they love,” said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle Founder and CEO. “Partnering with brands like Excel Equine Feeds ensures we can help limit plastic packaging in the landfill and preserve the outdoors for future generations of riders everywhere.” For more information about Excel Equine Feeds, visit ExcelEquineFeeds.com. More information about TerraCycle and their recycling programs can be found by visiting TerraCycle.com.

About Excel Equine Feeds

Excel Equine® Feeds is a premium horse feed manufacturer located in Louisville, KY. Excel Equine® has earned respect for creating premium feed blends that focus on supplying high quality nutrition in a variety of feed forms.  Excel Equine produces a variety of feeds and supplements for all lifestyles of horses, ranging from top racehorses, senior horses to broodmares and babies.  Excel Equine® manufactures all of its feed in a medication-free, equine-only facility. Excel Equine® has also launched a recycling initiative in partnership with TerraCycle® to keep as many of the company’s BOPP plastic feed bags out of landfills as possible. Feed Excel Equine® and be Fueled for EXCELlence.

About TerraCycle

TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine’s list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com.

• By Recycling Product News Staff
June 09, 2021

Excel Equine Feeds, a horse feed manufacturer, has launched a new recycling program in partnership with TerraCycle. Saddled with large empty plastic bags of horse feed which are not recyclable curbside throughout Louisville, Excel Equine Feeds has partnered with TerraCycle to process the feed packaging and reward customers for participating in the program. To participate, Excel Equine Feeds asks customers to drop-off their empty bags at their Louisville store or to mail back their empty packaging for recycling after they receive a new shipment. The collected bags are then cleaned, shredded, melted and extruded into a pelletized format for use in recycled plastic applications like outdoor furniture and decking, shipping pallets or flooring tiles. "Horse owners not only want what's best for their animals, they also want to preserve the natural spaces where they and their horses can do what they love," said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle Founder and CEO. "Partnering with brands like Excel Equine Feeds ensures we can help limit plastic packaging in the landfill and preserve the outdoors for future generations of riders everywhere."