Recyclable polypropylene pouch available in May that replaces an unrecyclable multilayer structure is a move toward a more circular economy.   Gerber will make available introduce something that has not been seen before: The world’s oldest and largest baby food company will introduce in May the first single-material baby food pouch.   "Designing with a single material creates greater value for the recycling industry, promoting the development of better recycling infrastructure," says Gerber Associate Director of Packaging, Tony Dzikowicz. "After more than two years of experimenting and innovating, we were able to help create a first-of-its-kind solution for baby food that meets the safety and freshness requirements for our little ones."   With parent company Nestlé as a founding member of Materials Recovery for the Future (MRFF), a research collaborative committed to creating recycling solutions, Gerber is helping to expand curbside recycling for the pouch. MRFF's pilot program in Pottstown, PA, is the first curbside recycling program in the U.S. to accept flexible plastics such as these.   "We believe the baby food industry should help create a world where babies thrive, and initiatives like this one help us go beyond nutrition to protect the planet," said Gerber President and CEO Bill Partyka.   Dzikowicz, Gerber’s Sina Hilbert, brand manager & sustainability lead, and Justin Welke, Nestlé’s packaging project manager, respond collectively to Packaging Digest’s questions about the brand’s new recyclable flexible packaging.   Comment on Gerber’s previous pouch structure.   Gerber: Gerber launched its first baby food pouch in 2011 with a multi-material structure made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), foil, and polyethylene (PE). In 2017, we began the transition to a non-foil multi-laminate structure to provide transparent and window options in the pouches so consumers can see the product inside.   In 2017, Gerber began conducting trials with Gualapack, the world leader of premade spouted pouches, with the goal of bringing the industry’s first mono-material pouch to market. Coming to market in May 2020, this first-of-its-kind mono-material polypropylene (PP) pouch is a step towards Gerber’s goal to make 100% of our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.   What’s the difference with the new recyclable pouch structure?   Gerber: The new mono-material pouch is made from polypropylene (PP), which is one of the most common and versatile forms of plastic. The current industry standard for pouches is a multi-material structure using two layers of plastic with an aluminum layer in between. This structure is not currently municipally recyclable in the U.S. due to outdated infrastructure that struggles to sort and process flexible plastics.   Moving to a mono-material structure increases the value of the recycled material for the recycling industry, promoting the development of better recycling infrastructure and encouraging a circular economy approach to plastics.   What’s the importance of curbside recyclability vs. #2 PE In-store Recycle Ready?   Gerber: We know that many parents rely on plastic — and pouches specifically — for convenience, durability and portability. However, municipal recycling infrastructure in the U.S. currently struggles to recycle most flexible packaging, including pouches.   Currently, the #2 Polyethylene (PE) in-store drop off stream is limited to plastics that are “clean and dry.” Because baby food is a wet product, it is challenging to clean and dry pouches to the level that is compatible with current store drop off programs without contaminating the waste stream.   Our new mono-material pouch is 100% recyclable through our national recycling program with TerraCycle.   The pouch is curbside recyclable for consumers in Pottstown, PA, thanks to MRFF’s pilot.     Please summarize the MRFF pilot.   Gerber: MRFF is dedicated to creating municipal recycling solutions for flexible plastic packaging such as baby food pouches, plastic shopping bags, and more. With Nestlé as a founding member, Gerber is helping to expand curbside recycling for the pouch — and all baby food pouches.   MRFF’s pilot program in Pottstown, PA, is now the first curbside recycling program in the U.S. to accept flexible plastics — including our mono-material pouch and all baby food pouches — alongside other recyclable materials. The pilot facility is aiming to recycle 6 million pounds of flexible plastic packaging annually beginning this year.   What were the packaging considerations?   Gerber: We designed the new mono-material pouch to stand out from our other products by applying a fresh design that features our key achievement, “First single-material pouch designed for the future of recycling.”

As we all strive to make changes that support a greener world, find out how your favourite brands are taking steps towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.  

Wind Power

Did you know that Joico and Zotos Professional Brands are manufactured in a near-zero waste facility that’s partially powered by wind? As for their packaging, Joico’s LumiShine, Vero K-PAK Color, and Blonde Life tubes are all packaged in paperboard cartons made from 100 per cent recycled fibre. The brand’s shampoo (and several spray) bottles are crafted with up to 25 per cent post- consumer recycled materials. With continued sustainable efforts, Joico is aiming to reduce its operations’ carbon footprint by 75 per cent by 2030.  

Ocean Drive

To help fight the ongoing issue of ocean pollution, Kevin.Murphy has reinvented its signature square packaging, which as of this year, will be made with 100 per cent recycled ocean plastics. This new initiative will help save the planet from approximately 360 tonnes of new plastic.   Taking their sustainability mission one step further, for every can of aerosol sold, the company has committed to making a financial contribution to help reduce carbon emissions. They’ve also partnered with Ecoheads and Climate Reality Project, a global non-profit organization dedicated to promoting climate change awareness.  

Rooted in Recycling

Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, John Paul Mitchell Systems is reflecting on its sustainability initiatives. Case in point: The company’s awapuhi farm, which was founded by Paul Mitchell in Hawaii in the early 1980s. This organic farm is self-sustaining and solar-powered, and uses rainwater as its main water source to reduce its carbon footprint. Looking ahead, the company has partnered with Reforest’Action on a mission to plant one million trees by the end of 2022. Though John Paul Mitchell Systems already uses recyclable and post-consumer material for their packaging, they will be updating their Tea Tree packaging this year to be comprised of post-consumer recycled plastic.  

Made in Canada

Leading the way with their sustainability efforts, many of L’Oréal Professionnel’s products are made in Canada—Montreal, to be specific. “Our manufacturing plant is one of the most progressive, and really is the vehicle of this message of sustainability,” says Nadia Petrolito, vice-president, general counsel, chief communications officer & ethics correspondent for L’Oréal Canada. “We’re always looking at how we are creating our products and what are we putting in them—looking at every single ingredient and how much water we’re using; trying to reduce as much as we can.” In addition to featuring solar panelling, the plant includes a unique water filtration system. Rather than grey water being disposed of into the ground, it’s filtered and pumped back into the plant so it can be re-used, saving enough water to fill the equivalent of 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools.   Currently, all of L’Oréal’s colour tubes are recyclable, but for their recent relaunch of Majirel, the company introduced new packaging that includes a cap made of 100 per cent recycled plastic. This change prevents seven tonnes of plastic production per year.   With continued efforts that extend beyond manufacturing, L’Oréal has been carbon-neutral since 2018, thanks to a partnership with Énergir, a natural gas company based in Quebec.  

Matrix’s colour tubes are also made in Canada, with caps comprised of 100 per cent post-consumer recycled materials. Also, all labels and cartons are locally sourced!

 

Nurturing Nature

With a mission to produce, innovate and develop sustainable and professional products, Biolage has been nature-driven since it was founded in 1990. Since then, their Biolage R.A.W. range has taken it one step further with biodegradable formulas that contain ingredients of natural origin, meaning they’re either unchanged from their natural state or they preserve more than 50 per cent of the plant or mineral source’s original structure. Containing no sulfates, silicones, parabens or artificial colourants, all Biolage R.A.W. bottles are also made with post-consumer recycled plastic. This year, Biolage is celebrating its 30th anniversary—marking a key milestone in its history as a pioneering green brand.  

Pure at Heart

As one of the first 100 per cent vegan and sulfate-free professional brands, Pureology has been paving the way for sustainable and innovative haircare. Ahead of their 20th anniversary next year, the brand will be rolling out their first formula renovation this summer. Now their products will also be free of silicones, parabens and mineral oil—in what Pureology calls the “No Nasties” movement.   “These days, sustainability can come with a compromise—compromising on performance if you want something more natural,” says Michelle Tasios, national education manager for Pureology. “With Pureology, we’re not natural—and we don’t claim to be—but what we are is that perfect marriage of science and sustainability, giving people the best of both worlds.”   The brand’s packaging will also be getting a facelift with a new minimalistic redesign. Though its packaging is currently made from 50 per cent post-consumer recyclable materials, the revamped packaging will be made with 95 per cent post-recycled materials, and will be 100 per cent recyclable.  

Proud Partnership

Joining forces with Green Circle Salons, Amika has set a goal to include its salons in the sustainability movement this year. Part of this goal: Streamlining the collecting and recycling of everything used in a salon, from products to hair clippings.   As a brand, Amika is committed to sourcing more sustainable materials for new, innovative packaging. They are also partnering with TerraCycle, an organization that helps “recycle the unrecyclable,” to ensure Amika’s packaging is 100 per cent recyclable. Via TerraCycle’s website, Amika will offer a prepaid shipping label that will allow customers to ship empty bottles and cans to TerraCycle. The company will then store, recycle or repurpose the waste. The partnership will begin in the U.S. later this year, with plans to launch in Canada in the near future.  

For earth month, all of Pureology’s current and new salons will receive a gift of 10 trees planted across Canada.

 

Sustainable at Its Source

Originating from Parma, Italy, Davines has been recognized for their environ- mental efforts—pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with naturally derived ingredients, clean energy manufactur- ing and carbon-neutral packaging. The brand has recently launched Beauty from the Ground Up, a campaign to help raise awareness and funds for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the U.S. and Canada—a cause that’s close to the hearts of Davines’ founders, the Bollati family.  

Packaged with Care

Sustainability has been top of mind for Moroccanoil since the company was founded in 2008. For example, its factory in Israel has solar panels to produce solar power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Sustainability was important to us even before it was popular. We’ve always been aware of the impact the industry can have [on the environment],” says Carmen Tal, co-founder of Moroccanoil.   And since then, the company has taken their environmental efforts to the next level—hiring a full-time sustainability manager last year. Tal says the addition of this role was important in order to advise their team on best sustainability practices. “For any company that is serious about sustainability, it’s a long-term project.”   In addition to making changes within the company, they’ve also partnered with Loop Industries to modify currently unrecyclable plastics. As of now, Moroccanoil Treatment bottles are comprised of 35 per cent recycled glass and the brand’s Color Depositing Masks are made with 50 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic. “Packaging is the first step,” says Tal. “We’ve already taken care of shipping— removing secondary packaging when it’s not necessary—therefore reducing our carbon footprint. We also want to continue finding better packaging options that are post-recyclable plastic, glass, etc.”  

Mothering Earth

As a trailblazer in sustainability initiatives, Aveda is one of the first hair and beauty companies to use post- consumer recycled materials for their packaging. Additionally, all of their products are manufactured with 100 per cent wind power (through renewable energy credits and carbon offsets). For more than 13 years, Aveda Canada has also partnered with WaterAid for Earth Month, raising money and awareness for global water-related issues.  

Going Global

With a focus on sourcing sustainable ingredients and reducing water consumption, Kao (the parent company of Goldwell, KMS and Oribe) has been recognized with several awards and distinctions, which include being named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for six consecutive years, and being selected for inclusion in the “A List” for climate change and water security by CDP, a non-profit organization and global disclosure system for environmental impact.   Last year, Kao hired a new director of sustainability and portfolio for the purpose of sharing and promoting its sustainability plans to salons, stylists and clients around the world.  

More to Love

Additional brands that are doing their part for the environment.   ABBA Founded in the late ’80s, ABBA is one of the first natural and vegan professional haircare brands. Their products contain a unique ProQuinoa Complex of quinoa, barley and soy. They are also free of sulfates, gluten and parabens, and are never tested on animals.   Fanola Made in Italy but known globally, thanks to a social media following, Fanola’s beloved No Yellow and No Orange ranges are available in vegan formulas, and are free of sulfates, silcones or parabens.   Hotheads Hotheads is part of Project Zero, an environmental initiative founded by its parent company, International Designs Corporation, which offsets their carbon footprint by planting trees in areas in need.   Lakmé Last year, Lakmé launched Teknia, a sustainable and vegan haircare range with up to 99 per cent natural ingredients.   Olivia Garden Olivia Garden has three eco-friendly hairbrush ranges: Healthy Hair, EcoCeramic and EcoHair.

Rapid City’s first zero-waste store wants to help residents live sustainably during the COVID-19 quarantine.   Eco-friendly Hippie Haven opened last year downtown to help customers reduce their environmental impact by offering plastic-free, vegan and cruelty-free alternatives to everyday products. The store stopped allowing customers inside on April 6, and now is offering no-contact recycling for items that cannot be recycled elsewhere in Rapid City.   Hippie Haven owner Callee Ackland said the store’s location at 806 St. Joseph St. has an entryway outside the store’s front door where people can safely drop off recycling without coming in the store or leaving recycling on the street.   “Everything changes so quickly (because of COVID-19), but we definitely plan to continue accepting recycling,” Ackland said.   In partnership with TerraCycle, since Hippie Haven opened last year it has participated in the Zero Waste Box program to provide solutions for difficult-to-recycle waste. Ackland said her store can accept the following: all razors and razor blades; contact lenses; contact lens packaging, contact solution bottles and plastic contact lens cases; pop can tabs; crayons; sunglasses and eyeglasses; tennis balls; shoes; any type of makeup and makeup packaging; shampoo, conditioner and hairspray containers; soap and lotion bottles; shaving cream packaging; toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes and floss containers; and plastic straws.   In March, Hippie Haven also co-sponsored a TerraCycle Straws Zero Waste Box at Pure Bean Coffee House.   “There are so many pieces of plastic out in the world with more and more being made every day,” Ackland said. “These plastics break down into microplastics that impact all levels of life. Recycling every bit that we can and preventing new plastic from entering the ecosystem is crucial."   Hippie Haven is still accepting orders online or by phone for its eco-friendly home goods and beauty products. Customers can have products shipped or use the store’s curbside pick-up service, Ackland said.   For the health and safety of its customers, Ackland said Hippie Haven has moved its upcoming workshops online. A schedule of upcoming workshops will be finalized and announced later this week, Ackland said. Go to facebook.com/hippiehavenshop/ and at @hippiehavenshop for announcements and a schedule of upcoming virtual events.   Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender, in keeping with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control for slowing the spread of COVID-19, is urging everyone to stay home as much as possible. He said Monday he would likely soon make a citywide recommendation for people to stay home. One sustainable stay-at-home activity Ackland is especially excited to support is gardening.   “I’ve been so happy to see the resurgence of victory gardens. Food sovereignty is one of the most important issues of our lifetime. We want to help in any way we can,” she said.   Ackland and her staff encourage people to start with what they have at home; a recent social media post provided tips on growing vegetables from food scraps. On her weekly podcast at hippiehavenpodcast.com, Ackland recently explained how to grow $700 worth of food in 100 square feet. The podcast focuses on a range of sustainability topics.   “We’re going to be hosting a planting party on Instagram live soon and we’re inviting viewers to be planting gardens along with us,” Ackland said. “People can use this extra time they might have to learn how to reduce their waste, even in these changing conditions.”

The world’s largest and oldest baby food company will shortly introduce the first single-material baby food pouch. Gerber says the new all-polypropylene pouch creates greater value for the recycling industry because it simplifies the process and promotes the development of better recycling infrastructure.   Here are the essentials of the development, draw from the press release and custom input from Tony Dzikowicz, Gerber’s associate director of packaging, Sina Hilbert, Gerber’s brand manager & sustainability lead, and Justin Welke, Nestlé’s packaging project manager.   1. The current pouch is a standard multilayer construction.   Gerber launched its first baby food pouch in 2011, a multi-material structure made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), foil, and polyethylene (PE).   It’s an industry-standard structure that reflects the current industry standard for pouches, structure using two outer layers of plastic that sandwich an aluminum barrier layer.   That kind of structure is not currently municipally recyclable in the U.S. due to outdated infrastructure that struggles to sort and process flexible plastics.   2. That experience helped with the new pouch development.   Since 2011 Gerber has built “substantial expertise” in package development and filling operations by working with different material, designs, and equipment, as well as different partners. That expertise provided an understanding of the performance requirements and validation needs for this first-of-its-kind pouch.   3. The new pouch is a mono-material polypropylene structure from Gualapack.   In 2017, Gerber began conducting trials with Gualapack, a global supplier of premade spouted pouches, with the goal of bringing the industry’s first mono-material pouch to market.   A key benefit of the PP pouch is that it provides transparency and window options so consumers can see the product inside.   4. It’s 100% recyclable, but there’s a caveat.   The pouch will be 100% recyclable through Gerber's national recycling program with upcycler TerraCycle, which is noted on the pouch back panel (below).   5. A curbside recycling pilot holds promise.   With Nestlé as a founding member of Materials Recovery for the Future (MRFF), a research collaborative committed to creating recycling solutions, Gerber is supporting curbside recycling for the pouch. MRFF's pilot program in Pottstown, PA, is the first curbside recycling program in the U.S. to accept flexible plastics such as these. The goal is to expand the program across America.   6. Why it wasn’t developed to be #2 PE In-store Recycle Ready pouch.   Currently, the #2 Polyethylene (PE) in-store drop off stream is limited to plastics that are “clean and dry.” Because baby food is a wet product, it is challenging to clean and dry pouches to the level that is compatible.   7. The shelf life is lower at nine months.   That’s a reduction from the 12-month shelf life of its standard Organic pouch, but Gerber exploring ways to increase the shelf life while maintaining a focus on recyclability.   8. Same size, lower net weight.   Although the pouch size is the same as its Organics line, the approximate 3 1/6-oz net weight is slightly less than the current line’s 3 ½-oz net weight. That was done to preserve the integrity of the mono-polypropylene structure, Gerber says.   9. Gerber’s advice for other companies.   The company says that “it’s imperative for all parts of an organization to work together to accomplish the goal of sustainable packaging. As the industry moves to mono-material and other designs ‘with the end in mind,’ compromises may be required, such as shelf life, filling performance, cost of materials and more, so support from all business functions is key.   10. The first product launches in May on TheGerberStore.com.   The pouch will be available exclusively on TheGerberStore.com for Gerber's Organic Banana Mango Puree beginning in May 2020. The initial launch gives Gerber an opportunity to gain experience in the market before expanding more broadly.

Did you know that you can recycle disposable gloves? TerraCycle offers a variety of recycling solutions for hard-to-recycle items. Check out their Disposable Gloves Zero Waste Box and help save the planet while you’re protecting yourself!   Print or share We Earthling posters to inspire others with your stories. Would you like to share a photo and story? Drop by the Earthling Forum to contribute your photos and ideas.

Who were the first entrepreneurs you knew? Not family, but friends and peers. I asked myself this recently and quickly came up with a list.   So I emailed my friends and peers and asked: “What do most people not say about being an entrepreneur, but you need to know anyway?” and “What words of advice would you have for your younger entrepreneurial self?”   The response was immediate and overwhelming. Too much to include it all here, in fact. But it says a lot about them and entrepreneurs, in general. They’re the busiest people I know, but they take time to help others.   You will know some of these companies, maybe even some of the founders. Except for one, none of them lives in Victoria, and most of them I’ve known for at least 25 years. Hopefully, that combo makes for fresh yet proven perspectives.   Here is some of the valuable advice they shared with me …   “It took a heart attack in 2019 to realign my focus. Place a priority on your connections, so you can remain present for your personal community (yourself, friends, family and networks).”    — Darsh Thomsen built WaxSeals.com (now Artisaire) into a global leader.       “You have to plant seeds every single day. There is no magic. It is consistency. For this consistent effort, you have to love what you do. You need a purpose and a why.”   — Sue Henderson started Suetables, a line of personalized jewelry, in 2004. Today, her clientele includes moms, movie stars and Meghan Markle.       “Many first-time entrepreneurs believe they can do everything. My experience as an entrepreneur and VC is you will never be successful on your own. It’s about learning to give up that control and trusting others to do things better than you.”    — Amy Jurries left venture capital to launch The GearCaster and Skeleton Key Media.   “I would tell my younger self to establish a team of advisors who can help navigate you through the process. You don’t have to do it alone. There’s never any shame in asking for help.”   — Jennifer Bassett has created one of Canada’s premier luxury event management companies, Bassett Events.   “Business is always evolving; evolve with it. Don’t be afraid to do things differently in your industry; there is always a better way.”    — Ian Heaps is CEO of Blundstone Canada and a consummate entrepreneur.   “Your first mistake is your least expensive. If an idea isn’t unfolding the way you hoped, you need to pivot rather than sink more resources into it out of a sense of commitment. We liken it to the feeling of obligation to finish a book when you aren’t enjoying it … Perseverance can be a great quality and also your downfall.”    — Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe are the founders of the Canadian fashion label Smythe, whose fans include a couple of royal duchesses too.   “One of the biggest gifts of being an entrepreneur is the freedom of how we choose to spend our time, so give yourself the gift of making your kids a big priority.”    — Kristi Herold founded the Sport & Social Group, one of the first and largest clubs of its kind in North America.   “One of my previous investors told me, the best ideas are the simplest ones. I don’t believe that. To create something meaningful, you need to take on something pretty hard and complicated. I do believe, however, you need to find something hard and complicated you can make incremental progress on … You don’t ever want to work on a problem without executing against paying customers.”    — Jasper Malcolmson is CEO and founder of the renovation technology company, Skylight.   “I would tell myself to stop thinking and try to … develop my service or a prototype of my product and just start selling it … then honour the learnings (mostly failures) and pivot, pivot, pivot.”    — Tom Szaky’s latest venture is the global circular shopping platform Loop, which delivers products in returnable/refillable containers from partners like Unilever and Nestleì.   “I never sugarcoat this with new entrepreneurs who are lining up for slaughter. Are you an artist or entrepreneur? Do you want to have a hobby or a real business? Are you chasing fashion or will your product sell forever as it is? If you can design something once and sell the exact same product for more than 10 years, you’ve hit a home run.”    — Dax Wilkinson’s company, Red Canoe National Heritage Brands, creates apparel and accessories honouring iconic Canadian and global brands.   “If you think you have to be doubtless to be an entrepreneur, then your first doubt will cause you to fail. The only way to survive self-doubt is to plow ahead.”    — Dorrian Porter is CEO/founder of Vestaboard, making beautifully reimagined split-flap displays (think “smart” European train station boards).       SARAH “I spent the first 20 years of my career thinking that being a woman gave me incredible opportunities. To some degree that’s true, and I am extremely proud of the unique position I have built for myself. But the unfortunate reality is, I’m still fighting for every penny and negotiating to prove my value against my male counterparts. So to my younger self I’d say: ‘You can do it. But you better be strong, confident, optimistic and unbreakable if you want to succeed!’”   ALEX “No one warned me about how much time you really need to commit to succeed. It’s very satisfying when things start to click, but never underestimate the effort you’ll need to put in to get it there. (Whatever anyone tells you, double it!)”    — Sarah Richardson and Alex Younger have more than a few ventures together (in addition to their family!), like Design Lab and the Sarah Richardson Design media empire.       “Dear Young Selves, Do you remember feeling the three of you might be missing out by not engaging with other retailers, turning down developers’ cocktail parties, and feeling that studying trends was a bit too much like looking in a rear-view mirror? Isolating, yes; but it gave birth to inspiration. It was protecting your crazy ideas from the naysayers; putting up a wall between developers and yourselves to protect those who placed their trust in you; and, finally, giving the customer what you knew they wanted … before they even knew it themselves. Because you knew and that was all that mattered. It was good to trust your gut, be guided by your moral compass and be the ultimate disrupter for the time. Thanks for staying true to your ideals. We are very happy.”    — Margot Franssen, Betty-Ann Franssen and Quig Tingley, helped create a new retail category by founding The Body Shop Canada in 1980.   Jim Hayhurst is a trusted advisor to purpose-driven organizations. He is currently active in six companies and social impact projects that elevate Victoria’s reputation as a hub of innovation, collaboration and big thinking.   This article is from the April/May 2020 issue of Douglas.

On March 25, Governor Jay Inslee signed a single-use plastic bag ban into law in Washington, calling it a "victory for our environment." The bill, which will go into effect on January 1, 2021, will not only ban the use of plastic bags in retail stores, but will also implement an 8-cent charge for other bags handed out.   While that law was being signed in the background of a pandemic that has the state locked down under stay-home orders, many shoppers at grocery stores like Safeway, Albertsons and Fred Meyer were surprised when clerks refused to bag groceries into their reusable totes, citing concerns about the transmission of COVID-19. Shoppers were given the option to either bag their own groceries in reusable bags, or use the store's paper ones.   And these grocery stores weren't the first to stop customers from using reusable items. Earlier in March, Starbucks suspended the use of reusable and personal cups in their stores for employee safety, meaning that customers were only able to purchase drinks in single-use, polyethylene-lined cups unless they were living in a city that was pioneering the company's long-awaited compostable cup.   These two instances are perhaps a sign of the rapidly changing social norms surrounding COVID-19 and growing belief that single-use plastic is a safer, more sanitary alternative to reusable, greener counterparts.   “No disposable package is today sterile, just to be explicitly clear,” said Tom Szaky, the founder and CEO of TerraCycle, in an interview with Grist about coronavirus and the zero waste movement. Szaky stated that the belief that plastic is more sanitary is primarily driven by convenience more than actual fact.   While some media outlets have been quick to make the reemergence of plastic bags a partisan issue, with one quipping that "liberals find plastic annoying," the actual evidence that plastics are safer is minimal. The only analysis into the virus's transmissibility on different surfaces is a recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine which found that the virus was remained viable for up to 72 hours on plastics, 48 hours on stainless steel, 24 hours on cardboard, and just 4 hours on copper.   Environmental groups believe that the plastics industry used the crisis to further their own agendas by funding op-eds that misrepresent scientific studies and claim that reusable bags are more dangerous in viral transmission. Greenpeace released a research brief that detailed how plastic manufacturers exploited the pandemic to discredit legislation that bans single-use plastic.   "At a time when people need factual medical research to inform their decisions around protecting their families, the plastics industry has worked to exploit our fears for profits," said Greenpeace USA Plastics Research Specialist Ivy Schlegel. "For years, the plastics industry has pushed industry-funded research to try to discredit the movement to end single-use plastic pollution. And when COVID-19 began to spread, they saw it as an opportunity to strike and activate their network of pro-plastic surrogates. Now more than ever, we need independent guidance from medical professionals to inform our decisions around hygiene and shopping."   While the global environmental impacts of the pandemic won't be known until it is over, there are small silver linings -- with fewer people commuting, it is likely that there will be a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions much like what was seen in China. During their shutdown, the country saw an estimated 25% decrease in carbon emissions. Being eco-friendly might be the last thing on your mind during a global pandemic, but there are some simple things to keep in mind about minimizing waste in your own home. Keep reading and click through the gallery above for small changes you can make during the outbreak to reduce your environmental impact.  

1. Don't flush disinfectant wipes: Not only is it every plumber's nightmare, but these wipes contain material and chemicals that will not readily degrade in natural environments.

 

2. “Flushing only toilet paper helps ensure that the toilets, plumbing, sewer systems and septic systems will continue working properly to safely manage our nation’s wastewater,” the EPA said. “While EPA encourages disinfecting your environment to prevent the spread of COVID-19, never flush disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items.”

 

3. Buy toilet paper brands made with recyclable materials: Not all toilet paper is made the same, in fact, many major brands like Charmin, Kirkland Signature (Costco's in-house brand), Angel Soft, Quilted Northern do not use any recycled content in their toilet paper.

 

4. So when you're stocking up, look for rolls that contain recycled materials or ones made with bamboo, a more sustainable option. Or better yet, invest in a bidet and skip the worry about wiping altogether.

 

5. Opt for takeout in compostable ware: We all want to support local restaurants in this uncertain time, and takeout or delivery is the almost contact-free option to do so. But before you order, consider if the restaurant is using compostable to-go containers or ask if your food can be packaged in them. Additionally, most delivery apps will give you an option to ditch the additional plastic silverware if you don't need it.

 

6. But if your takeout arrives on your doorstep in plastic containers, remember to make sure they are empty, clean and dry before recycling.

 

7. 4. Be energy efficient in the house: Now is a good time to implement energy-saving practices around the house, such as switching to LED lightbulbs. Not to mention that it could help lower your utility bills.

8. Don't buy what you don't need: It seems pretty simple, but panic buying supplies, especially those needed by medical professionals such as N-95 masks, disrupts distribution and supply chains. Even if you see empty shelves at a store, resist the urge to panic buy and take only what you will actually consume.

Whether you buy your beauty products online or in person, drugstore or high-end department store, there’s no denying that "clean beauty" is omnipresent. What was once a very small part of the industry featuring indie brands that you could only get at health food stores has gone massively mainstream. Huge retailers such as Sephora and Target all have clean beauty categories, retailers that sell exclusively clean beauty (such as Credo) offer an entirely new type of shopping experience, and it seems like every day another thousand brands hop aboard the clean beauty bandwagon. It’s no longer just the patchouli-wearing, health food store-shopping customer that’s looking for more natural beauty alternatives; these days, it seems like everyone wants to "clean up" their products.   And that’s not a bad thing—according to the Environmental Working Group, women use 12 personal care products per day on average, exposing themselves to 168 chemical ingredients. The only issue? As popular as it’s become, the clean beauty arena is essentially the wild, wild west. There are no industry-wide regulations or even agreed-upon guidelines as to what makes a product “clean.” Not to mention that it’s a completely lawless space as well; pretty much any manufacturer can slap the word "natural" on a label, even if it’s full of chemical ingredients.   So if you are looking to make the switch to clean beauty, it’s more important than ever to be an educated, savvy shopper. First and foremost, don’t be swayed by product alone; take the time to actually read the ingredient label. There are a few, more well-known categories of chemicals to steer clear of, parabens and phthalates being two of the big ones. It’s also about avoiding fragrance or perfume/parfum, says clean beauty expert Jenny Duranski, owner and founder of Lena Rose Beauty in Chicago. “Synthetic fragrance can be loaded with other ingredients and still be labeled as just fragrance,” she explains.   Duranski also recommends avoiding formaldehyde, toluene, and any ingredient that starts with PEG-. Searching for third-party seals is another good idea. Duranski likes the EcoCert seal, as well as the Made Safe certification, the latter of which has the highest standard when it comes to ingredients. But you may want to think beyond just the ingredients. “Clean beauty to me means that products are crafted with intention so that the ingredients, packaging, and life cycle of the product are good for both the people and planet,” says Duranski, who adds that she also seeks out certified B-corp companies as an indication of the brand’s ethos.   Hopefully these tips are a helpful starting point for your next clean beauty shopping trip. But when in doubt, you can also pick up goodies from any of the six clean beauty brands we’ve vetted below.       This standout skincare and body care line gets our vote for a variety of reasons. The products are next-level great, all things clean beauty aside. Effective yet gentle, the brand utilizes largely plant-based, botanical ingredients (the majority of which are also organic, to the clean beauty point). You truly can’t go wrong with any of them, but we’re especially partial to Skin Savior Multi-Tasking Wonder Balm ($49), Skin Dew Coconut Water Cream ($58), and Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum ($39). There are no questionable chemicals in any of the products, which are so clean they also have the EcoCert stamp of approval. Plus, per Duranski’s point about thinking beyond ingredients, all of the products are housed in recyclable glass packaging, and the company itself is a Green America Gold Certified Business.   Try: One Love Organics Skin Savior Multi-Tasking Wonder Balm ($49; oneloveorganics.com).       This female-owned, Chicago-based company is tiny but mighty, featuring a small array of vegan facial oils and skincare tools. Not only are all of the ingredients non-toxic and natural, but the brand also places a huge emphasis on where and how it sources those ingredients. The brand never uses conventionally grown ingredients, and instead use only organic, cold-pressed oils that are ethically harvested in the wild with fair-trade practices. Sustainability is a huge emphasis for Town & Anchor as well; the packaging is recyclable and it also sells earrings made from old product bottles.   Try: Town & Anchor Vegan Anti-Aging Face Oil ($39; townandanchor.com).           “This brand sets the standard for plant-powered skincare,” says Duranski of one of her favorite clean beauty brands. “They source sustainably from their own garden or from farms within 100 miles of their lab, then they hand harvest and make their formulas in house. It’s an unadulterated product line so you’re getting the most nutrient dense skincare out there.” Given this attention to detail and quality, it’s impressive that the range is so wide; no matter your complexion concern or what type of skincare product you need, the brand has you covered.   Try: Laurel Skin Antioxidant Mask ($68; laurelskin.com).         It can be tricky to find clean makeup that actually delivers the same type and level of results as you get from conventional brands, but Ilia manages to do just that. Not only are the makeup products clean, but the brand also includes lots of skincare-centric ingredients in the formulas. The end result? Products that are not only clean, but also give you a two-for-one bang for your buck. On that note, try the cult-favorite Limitless Lash Mascara ($28) and brand new Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 ($46) and thank us later. We also appreciate the brand's commitment to minimizing its impact on the environment. Thanks to its partnership with TerraCycle, customers can mail in up to five empties each month (for free) and Ilia will handle recycling them.   Try: Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara ($28; sephora.com).     This brand offers both skincare and hair care, the latter of which we’re especially big fans of. The 100 percent vegan formulas are free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, and petrolatum (just to name a few things), and are also cruelty-free. Not to mention that there’s a large selection of shampoos, conditioners, and stylers (25 different SKUS, to be exact) to fit any and all of your hair wants and needs. But perhaps one of the best parts? The prices are super affordable, which isn’t always the case when it comes to clean beauty.   Try: Acure Ultra Hydrating Shampoo ($10; ulta.com).     Another one of Duranski’s picks, she lauds this brand for its use of active ingredients that deliver real results. Created as a solution for the founder, who found conventional products to irritate her rosacea-prone skin, all of the products are free of a long list of questionable chemicals. Instead, they tout ethically-sourced, vegan ingredients in the skincare and makeup. We also appreciate that you can easily find the ingredient list for each and every product on its website.   Try: Fitglow Beauty Lumi Firm Highlighter ($39; fitglowbeauty.com).  

Your kid may not be ready to give up his LEGO collection, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start eliminating plastic from your everyday life. Read on for 25 easy ways to start reducing your family’s plastic waste. From buying in bulk to swapping out your plastic straws, these ideas on how to reduce waste will start better habits and get you on the way to ditching plastic altogether.   1. Switch to paper, silicone or metal straws.   2. Bring your own bags to the grocery store (this includes your own smaller reusable bags for fruits and veggies).   3. Buy in bulk when you can, and bring your own containers. Remember to weigh the containers before checking out so the cashier can accurately ring you up.   4. Ditch the plastic sandwich bags. Use these awesome Stasher bags instead.   5. Replace plastic saran wrap with Beeswax wraps.   photo: iStock   6. Use a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated.   7. Recycle your plastic bags. Many grocery stores have collection bins outside.   8. Stop using glitter for craft projects and ask your kids’ teachers to do the same.   9. Buy biodegradable dog waste bags like these Earth Rated bags.   10. Stop using bath and body products with synthetic microbead exfoliants and opt for either natural exfoliating ingredients like scrubs with nut/seed exfoliants like St. Ive’s, or sugar scrubs.   photo: Mali Maeder via Pexels   11. Know your plastic recycling codes and what your town does and doesn’t recycle. Upcycle what your town can’t recycle: plastic containers and bottles are great for craft/paint projects, puzzle/game piece storage or bath toys.   12. Compost at home to cut down on the amount of trash bags you use.   13. Switch to compostable, eco-friendly trash bags like these.   14. Keep a set (or two) of utensils/reusable straws at work, in your purse, in your diaper bag or in your car, so you don’t have to use disposable utensils when you’re out and about. PS: Chopsticks take up a lot less drawer/bag real estate, and you’d be surprised how many things you can eat with them!   15. Join your local Buy Nothing Group (or start your own) to pay it forward and to snag gently-used goods. We love these groups especially for the baby and toddler phase when it's easy to get inundated by plastic toys and gear.     16. Switch to bamboo toothbrushes.   17. If babe loves the food pouches, but you hate the waste, research where you can recycle them via Terracycle. You can even start a collection site of your own.   18. Buy toilet paper and paper towels that are wrapped in paper instead of plastic.   19. Better yet, ditch the paper towels altogether. Use old rags or towels.   20. Say no to single-use coffee pods.   photo: Godisable via Pexels   21. Bring your own coffee mug when you order your latte at your fave coffee shop.   22. Anticipating leftovers? Bring your own to-go container for your doggy bag.   23. For the mamas, check out the Diva cup or opt for plastic-free menstruation products.   24. Stop using a disposable razor.   25. Switch to metal or steel hangers instead of plastic hangers. 26. Make your own cleaning products.   27. Cut back the amount of frozen food you buy. Not only are the wrappers plastic, but the cardboard box is also coated in a layer of plastic.   —Erin Lem and Keiko Zoll

With the number of people being hospitalized from COVID-19 rising daily, individuals around the country are blowing through their inventory of disposable garments. In order to keep this waste out of landfills, Trenton born company TerraCycle has come up with an eco-friendly solution to combat this issue.   TerraCycle’s “Zero Waste Boxes” is a way to help these disposable products (gloves, hazmat suits, hairnets and earplugs) remain out of your local landfill. This initiative gives people the option to choose from a selection of differently priced boxes. Prices range from $42 on up (depending on how much you need to recycle), covering the needs of the average family to essential businesses.   TerraCycle’s Global Vice President Lauren Taylor said, “it’s important for people to remember not to let recycling go by the wayside, especially with COVID where people are using a lot of disposable items.” Taylor also mentioned that TerraCycle offers free recycling programs on its website at www.terracycle.com. These national recycling programs provide solutions for typically hard-to-recycle waste streams. TerraCycle and Colgate, for example, have partnered up to create a recycling program for oral care product packaging, which also acts as a fundraising opportunity enabling people to raise money for a school in order to build a new “recycled” playground for children.   “I would encourage people to look into our program and find a solution whether it be the zero waste boxes or our free recycling programs,” Taylor said. The company wants to make sure that people don’t put recycling to the wayside just because of the pandemic. It is important for people to practice “green” habits so that when life returns to normal, we are not faced with another monumental problem.   If you would like more information on TerraCycle please visit their website at www.terracycle.com, or if you would like more information on TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Boxes please visit www.zerowasteboxes.terracycle.com.