Last week, I reported on the news that business and government leaders have endorsed a new plan to tackle plastics waste issues and to increase plastic packaging recycling to 70%, which they called, “The New Plastics Economy.” Well, looks like it’s not just all talk after all. Consumer goods giant P&G announced that it will produce the “world’s first” recyclable shampoo bottle made from up to 25% recycled beach plastic.  P&G partnered with innovative recycler TerraCycle and SUEZ, a waste recovery company, on this new packaging initiative, which will be released in France this summer as a limited-edition Head & Shoulders (H&S) bottle available to consumers in Carrefour, a retailer in France. P&G claims that this will be the world’s largest production run of recyclable bottles made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) beach plastic, and a first major step in establishing a unique supply chain that involves the support of thousands of volunteers and hundreds of NGOs collecting plastic waste found on beaches.  Additionally, P&G announced that in Europe by end of 2018 more than half a billion bottles per year will include up to 25% post-consumer recycled plastic. This represents more than 90% of all the hair care bottles sold in Europe across P&G’s hair care portfolio of flagship brands like Pantene and Head & Shoulders. The project will require a supply of 2,600 tons of recycled plastic every year – the same weight as eight fully loaded Boeing 747 jumbo jets.   According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), 95% of the value of plastic packaging material, worth $80-120 billion annually, is lost to the economy and on the current track, there could be more plastics than fish in the ocean (by weight) by 2050. “At P&G, we believe that actions speak louder than words. The increased use of PCR plastic across our hair-care portfolio of brands, demonstrates our continued commitment to driving real change,” says Virginie Helias, vice president of global sustainability, P&G. “The Head & Shoulders recyclable shampoo bottle made with beach plastic is a world’s first in the hair care category. Increasing the use of recycled plastic in the packaging of our flagship brands, like Pantene and Head & Shoulders, makes it easier for consumers to choose more sustainable products, without any trade-offs. So while we’re proud of what we’ve done and what we’re doing, we know there is much more work ahead.” Hopefully one day we will see these beach plastic recyclable bottles on U.S. store shelves as well. 

Here's one way to make sure your advertising doesn't go to waste: As part of a new sustainability marketing push, Coors Light is converting its billboards into beer coolers and its kegs into barbeque grills. The effort will kick into gear in a few months as part of a summer promotional campaign called "Every One Can," which will also include a large-scale push to get drinkers to recycle beer cans. The MillerCoors brand will begin touting its environmental credentials in TV ads next week that begin a new chapter of its ongoing "Climb On" campaign by 72andSunny. The Coors brand has long pursued sustainability goals at the corporate level. But "we just haven't talked about it," said Elina Vives, senior marketing director for Coors brands.

Many people, myself included love GU’s Energy Chews (formerly known as Chomps). What they didn’t love was the packaging. By placing a number of chews inside of a large plastic bag, they tended to stick together and could be a challenge to get out of the package while riding. Now, GU is offering similar packaging to other energy brands like the Clif Bloks with all of the Chews lined up in a row. However, GU is offering them either in single serving pouches with four Chews, or in the new double serving sleeves with eight chews so you can choose based on the duration of your ride. There are also some environmental benefits from the packaging now that they can be recycled through the TerraCycle program.

There are about 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean, a great deal of which is washing up on beaches around the world, resulting in the high-profile fouling of shorelines in Hawaii andAlaska. In an effort to clean up some of this pollution, consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble is planning to produce Head & Shoulders shampoo bottles partly made from beach plastic. The company told The Guardian that the containers will be made from 25 per cent of these recycled materials, collected by thousands of volunteers on the shorelines of France. P&G called it a “first major step” towards establishing a supply chain using the recycled debris. “We felt that the leading shampoo brand in sales should lead in sustainability innovation and know that when we do this, it encourages the entire industry to do the same,” Lisa Jennings, vice-president of global hair at P&G, said in a release. The pilot project, which also involves recycling business TerraCycle and waste management firm Suez, will result in up to 170,000 recycled bottles on shelves across France this summer, according to The Guardian. Steve Morgan, the technical director of plastics recycling organization Recoup, told The Guardianthat it is a “technological breakthrough,” despite its limited run. “In the past when companies have tried to use plastics that have been sourced from oceans or beaches, it hasn’t been technically possible because of the exposure to UV, and also the plastics degrade and don’t recycle that well. What they’ve done here is make it technically viable, which is kind of the big thing,” said Morgan. He added that the techniques used by P&G could become “more mainstream” once the technology is further developed and the cost advantage improves. The company also promised to produce more than a 500 million of the same type of bottles per year across Europe by the end of 2018. P&G said this figure represents 90 per cent of all of its haircare bottles sold on the continent. It estimated it will require 2,600 tonnes of recycled plastic each year, or the equivalent of eight fully-loaded Boeing 747s. The company is aiming to double the amount of PCR plastic, post-consumer resin or reclaimed material, that it uses in packaging by 2020. “Increasing the use of recycled plastic in the packaging of our flagship brands, like Pantene and Head & Shoulders, makes it easier for consumers to choose more sustainable products, without any trade-offs,” said Virginie Hellas, vice-president of global sustainability at P&G. “So while we’re proud of what we’ve done and what we’re doing, we know there is much more work ahead.” The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a United Kingdom-based non-profit, estimates that plastic production will double in the next 20 years. However, current efforts are only leading to 14 per cent it being recycled. But it estimates that number could be bumped up to 70 per cent.  

In an industry first for sustainable packaging, Procter & Gamble has started producing the world’s first recyclable shampoo bottle made from up to 25 percent recycled beach plastic. P&G’s Head & Shoulders brand will produce the world’s largest run of recyclable bottles made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) beach plastic—a milestone in the hair care industry in creating a sustainable business model that advances a circular economy. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, P&G’s new purpose-driven initiative follows on The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s call to business leaders to drive the re-use of plastic waste. “We felt that the leading shampoo brand in sales should lead in sustainability innovation and know that when we do this, it encourages the entire industry to do the same,” said Lisa Jennings, VP Head & Shoulders, in a press release. Working with recycling experts TerraCycle and SUEZ, a limited run of the new bottles will be available to consumers in France at retailer Carrefour this summer. And that’s just the beginning. P&G also announced a plan to introduce recycled plastic across its European hair care brands in 2018—a commitment that would use 2,600 tons of recycled plastic to make half a billion shampoo bottles every year. Consumer participation is key to the project, as volunteers collected the waste for the new bottles along France’s beaches. With predictions that by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans, P&G expects to manufacture as many as 170,000 of the special edition bottle. Steve Morgan, technical director at plastics recycling network Recoup, said the level of recycled content makes the initiative a technological breakthrough. “In the past when companies have tried to use plastics that have been sourced from oceans or beaches, it hasn’t been technically possible because of the exposure to UV, and also the plastics degrade and don’t recycle that well,” saidMorgan. “What they’ve done here is make it technically viable, which is kind of the big thing.” While recycling and up cycling are becoming more common, real change will come as companies shift to circular economy business models rather than traditional linear make-use-dispose models. And to have a global company such as P&G lend its support, brands and resources to recycling is a bellwether for truly having an impact and creating a change in supply chain, sourcing and sustainable packaging. P&G has been using PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic in packaging for more than 25 years, but this latest commitment raises the bar and paves the way for achieving its corporate 2020 goal of doubling the tonnage of PCR plastic used in packaging. In 2015, adidas made headlines with a prototype recycled shoe made from ocean plastic. Fast forward to 2017 and adidas, in partnership with Parley for the Oceans, has committed to a run of 7,000 pairs of the “UltraBOOST Uncaged Parley” for $220 a pair, with a plan to produce 1 million pairs of from more than 11 million plastic bottles this year. As adidas notes on its product page, the shoes are “spinning the problem into a solution, the threat into a thread.” And as P&G is finding out, turning the world’s beach plastic into sustainable packaging  will make every day a good hair—and soul—day.  

The Procter & Gamble Company announced that Head & Shoulders (H&S), the world’s #1 shampoo brand, will produce the world’s first recyclable shampoo bottle made from up to 25 percent recycled beach plastic. In partnership with recycling experts TerraCycle and SUEZ, this innovation will come to France this summer as a limited-edition H&S bottle available to consumers in Carrefour, one of the world’s leading retailers. This will be the world’s largest production run of recyclable bottles made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) beach plastic, and a first major step in establishing a unique supply chain that involves the support of thousands of volunteers and hundreds of NGOs collecting plastic waste found on beaches. “We felt that the leading shampoo brand in sales should lead in sustainability innovation and know that when we do this, it encourages the entire industry to do the same,” said Lisa Jennings, Vice President, Head & Shoulders and Global Hair Care Sustainability Leader, Procter & Gamble. “We’ve been fortunate to work with such great partners in TerraCycle and SUEZ to make this vision a reality.” Additionally, P&G announced that in Europe by end of 2018 more than half a billion bottles per year will include up to 25 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. This represents more than 90 percent of all the hair care bottles sold in Europe across P&G’s hair care portfolio of flagship brands like Pantene and Head & Shoulders. Company Approaching 2020 Goal The project will require a supply of 2,600 tons of recycled plastic every year—the same weight as eight fully loaded Boeing 747 jumbo jets. P&G has been using PCR plastic in packaging for over 25 years, and today’s announcement is an important step in the company’s journey to meet their Corporate 2020 goal of doubling the tonnage of PCR plastic used in packaging. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), 95 percent of the value of plastic packaging material, worth $80 billion to $120 billion annually, is lost to the economy and on the current track, there could be more plastics than fish in the ocean (by weight) by 2050. “At P&G, we believe that actions speak louder than words,” said Virginie Helias, Vice President of Global Sustainability, P&G. “The increased use of PCR plastic across our hair care portfolio of brands demonstrates our continued commitment to driving real change. The Head & Shoulders recyclable shampoo bottle made with beach plastic is a world’s first in the hair care category. Increasing the use of recycled plastic in the packaging of our flagship brands, like Pantene and Head & Shoulders, makes it easier for consumers to choose more sustainable products, without any trade-offs. So while we’re proud of what we’ve done and what we’re doing, we know there is much more work ahead.” “This partnership represents an important step for TerraCycle,” said Tom Szaky, CEO, TerraCycle. “We are proud to be working with one of the world’s largest brands to create a breakthrough product. Creating the world’s first recyclable shampoo bottle with beach plastics is a start of an important journey. With the circular economy gaining more traction, we hope that other global brands will work with green suppliers and use their influence to drive change for the benefit of the environment.” “This partnership between SUEZ, TerraCycle and P&G represents an exciting step in the creation of a world first for consumers, a recyclable shampoo bottle made of beach plastics,” said Jean-Marc Boursier, Group Senior Executive VP in charge of Recycling & Recovery Europe, SUEZ. “We hope that other organizations will continue to partner with different providers in order to deliver major environmental changes in this industry and hopefully across other industries too. With nine dedicated plastic facilities across Europe, Suez is already producing 170,000 tons of high quality recycled polymers.”

The Initiative now has more than 40 core members. The New Plastics Economy Initiative has announced that five more organizations have joined the group. The five organizations joining the Initiative are Circular Flanders, NatureWorks, The New York City Economic Development Corp., Sealed Air and TerraCycle. The five join Amcor, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone, MARS, Novamont, Unilever and Veolia, the initiative’s core partners. At the present time there are 40 members of the Initiative. The three-year initiative has been designed to develop a plastics system that works. According to the organization, the Initiative seeks to apply the principles of the circular economy; bring together key stakeholders to rethink and redesign the future of plastics, starting with packaging; and work to develop new strategies to increase recycling rates and introduce new models for making better use of packaging. The Initiative is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The New Plastics Economy launched in London in May 2016. In January the initiative presented its latest research findings to business and government leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos. To see a complete listing of the Initiative's member organizations, click here. 

I just finished reading one of the most kid-friendly books which explains how plastic recycling works. It’s “The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling” by Alison Inches, and illustrated by Pete Whitehead. On the cover is a plastic water bottle waving from its spot on a conveyor belt. While appropriate for elementary-aged kids, it’s also a great read for grownups. It begs the question: “Have you ever thought about where your plastic bottle came from?” Plastic bottles are so abundant and easy to find that we end up taking them for granted most of the time. Perhaps you’ve never wondered what adventures your water bottle had been on long before it reached your hands. In the book, the story begins deep under the ocean in a thick, oozing blob of crude oil that’s been there for thousands of years. All seven types of plastic commonly used to manufacture new products begin as crude oil that is collected, then sent to an oil refinery. The process can refine crude oil into fuel, oil, gas and other types of products — including the plastic pellets used to make plastic bottles. Those pellets are then shipped to manufacturers that heat up the pellets and mold them into the shape of a bottle. Depending on the facility, the bottles are then sent to a bottling company which sanitizes, labels and fills the bottles with water. The new plastic water bottles are then shipped to stores where the product is sold to consumers. Shipping may involve traveling over hundreds of miles by air or tractor-trailer. Once at the store the product is unloaded by workers who restock shelves. All of that happens behind the scenes! Finally, a customer buys the water bottle, consumes the water and hopefully recycles it so it can be remade into a new product. If the plastic bottle goes in the trash, it’s a very sad moment because the bottle will be buried and lost with no hope to be used again in the future. All of that time, effort — crude oil extraction, refinement, transportation — is lost after just one use. Plastic water bottles that are recycled can be remanufactured into new things, like fleece for ski jackets or sleeping bags, yarn for carpet, toys, clothing, furniture and more. Talk about an adventure-filled life! According to the book “Make Garbage Great: The Terracycle Family Guide to a Zero-Waste Lifestyle” by Tom Szaky and Albe Zakes, about 802,000 tons of No. 1 plastic bottles (such as those for water and soda) were recycled in the U.S. in 2011. But, during that same year more than twice that amount, about 1.9 million tons, were thrown out. This amount doesn’t include the other types of plastic, like No. 2 for milk and laundry detergent jugs. Plainly stated, out of all the bottles and jugs being manufactured, the majority are not making it to the recycling bin.

Explore Alternatives Just because your municipality doesn’t accept an item for recycling doesn’t always mean that it isn’t possible to recycle it at all. Oftentimes, there are standalone collection areas within your city designed to accept specific kinds of waste. Car seats, for example, are a huge chunk of usually unrecyclable plastic, but some cities have set up collection locations (often at a baby store, for example) where the seats are gathered to be recycled. Similarly, many big-box electronics stores have bins to collect batteries, light bulbs and some electronics for recycling. TerraCycle, a company with the bold goal of recycling the unrecyclable, offers recycling programs for chocolate bar wrappers, coffee pods, cigarette butts and more. In short, your first step should be to do some digging and make totally sure that your item can’t be recycled before moving on to your second option.  

P&G partners with TerraCycle and Europe’s waste management leader to ensure a reliable source of post-consumer recycled plastic—collected from beaches around the world—for bottles of Head & Shoulders shampoo.   A recent report released by the World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in the U.K. found that most plastic packaging is used only once; 95% of the value of plastic packaging material, worth $80 to $120 billion annually, is lost to the economy after a short first use. And of the more than 300 million tons of new, virgin plastic produced globally per year, it is estimated that up to 129 million tons (43%) of the plastic used is disposed of in landfills, incurring an avoidable degree of structural loss. Smart companies see it as good business to harness those resources and roll out sustainability initiatives by making a commitment to putting out products made from non-virgin raw material, creating circular systems that can be nurtured and expanded for growth. For example, Procter & Gamble just announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos that it has teamed up with us at TerraCycle and Suez, the largest waste management company in Europe, to source, develop and put out the first fully recyclable shampoo bottle made from up to 25% beach plastic for the world’s #1 shampoo brand, Head & Shoulders. The first 150,000 bottles will be available in France this summer, making it the world’s largest production run of recyclable shampoo bottles made with beach plastic. Working directly with hundreds of NGOs and other beach cleanup organizations, TerraCycle sources the shipments of rigid plastics collected through beach cleanup efforts, capturing these materials for recycling for the first time, at no cost to participants. After logistics (collection and shipment) and processing (separation and material pelletization) of these mixed plastics, they can be used as recycled raw material. But as innovations in plastic packaging technologies continue to advance, it is beneficial that material flow solutions for a more effective plastics system develop at a comparable pace. Building momentum towards a more circular economy is up to manufacturers and brands creating and expanding the market for recycled plastics by purchasing recycled materials to make their products, selling them to consumers and making the product easily recyclable.