The Student Voice, the third-grade leadership club at the Whitehouse School in Whitehouse Station, in partnership with the Readington Township Environmental Commission, is participating in an environmentally-minded program called the Trex Challenge.

The Trex Co. began a competition over a decade ago to encourage communities to recycle plastic film wrapping and bags. Student Voice and the commission have set a goal of collecting 500 pounds of polyethylene plastic by the summer to keep it from winding up in landfills, as it is not currently recycled by the county.

Student Voice advisers Lori Yukniewicz and Valerie Zanardi were “very pleased” with the commission’s enthusiasm to collaborate with the third graders. “The commission actually stopped their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, to give a round of applause when we listed all the environmental programs Whitehouse School students and staff participate in on a daily basis,” Zanardi said.

Whitehouse School has earned U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School designation, and is a multi-year recipient of the N.J. Sustainable Schools highest award. To aid these green missions, Student Voice members collect food from the lunchroom and place it in a three-year compost bin. The third-grade leadership club also solicits shampoo bottles and beauty packaging for a TerraCycle program, as well as printer cartridges for yet another recycling venture.

Teacher Melissa Truempy coordinates with the Rutgers Master Gardeners to facilitate a Seeds to Salad experience in one of the two sensory gardens found at the elementary school. Each grade level is responsible for some aspect of the growing cycle: germinating seeds, planting sprouts, weeding, and watering with collected rainwater. All students then participate in a school-wide harvest.

For this latest challenge, Student Voice members will gather and weigh the plastic collected at the school and then deliver it to a designated drop-off point. The polyethylene will be recycled into composite products such as Trex decking. The commission will handle materials collected at the municipal building. Neil Hendrickson, chairman of the Environmental Commission commented, “The world is going to need leaders with a strong environmental ethic, and the students at Whitehouse School, through programs like these, will be among those able to guide us toward a sustainable future.”

Students encourage the whole community to help with the challenge. Residents are encouraged to bring plastic film to the bin outside the municipal building at 509 Route 523, Whitehouse Station. The following plastic is salvageable: grocery and retail bags, zipped baggies, case overwraps, bread bags, bubble wrap, newspaper sleeves, and dry cleaning bags. All plastic must be empty and dry.

If Readington Township is able to deliver 500 pounds of polyethylene by summer, Whitehouse School will earn a Trex bench for its sensory garden.

Toymakers are looking to a mix of evergreen properties and a broad selection of IP based on streaming platforms, YouTube channels and influencers and videogames to drive their license-based sales, manufacturers told us at Toy Fair New York. In the days before Toy Fair, Disney grabbed attention by unveiling a slew of “Baby Yoda” products, Hasbro gave financial analysts and media a look at its plans for eOne, and Mattel talked up its increasingly robust content development plans.   While an assortment of major films will hit theaters and store shelves throughout 2020, there’s a general expectation they won’t reach the product sales levels of last year’s big theatrical releases. So many toymakers are placing their bets on properties from other platforms with intense fan followings such as Netflix’s “Umbrella Academy” (Just Play and Funko), Amazon Studios’ “The Boys” (Jazwares) and the “Subway Surfers” mobile game (Alpha Group).   Evergreen Growth   Other companies are taking shelter under evergreens. For example, NECA, which traditionally has relied on nostalgic horror properties for its figures, is expanding its acquired line of Clapper (Clap on! Clap Off!) and Chia Pet products with licenses, such as a Bob Ross-licensed Chia Pet and a Clapper connected to A Christmas Story, along with another bearing “The Child.” “It is kind of a brave new world; it is not just the key theatricals or television content anymore” that are fodder for licensed toys “because videogames, streaming services and YouTube channels and influencers” are increasingly grabbing kids’ attention, says Matthew Sherman of Alpha Group, which is readying a line of two- and four-inch Subway Surfer figures that will be exclusive to Walmart for a year starting in August. It will add RC vehicles in 2021. “In one regard it’s a new opportunity, but it is a lot more competitive with more challenges because the retail footprint isn’t as big any more. You are literally fighting for every foot of shelf space.”   In general, streaming services are still reluctant (if not totally unwilling) to share viewership data, which makes it difficult for potential licensees to evaluate the opportunity. Plus, for the streamers who “drop” entire seasons of shows into the market at one time, it’s difficult for manufacturers and merchants to stockpile product and anticipate consumer engagement and product demand.   On the other hand, classic TV series such as “Friends” and “The Office” that are among the most-watched shows on those platforms have been consistent generators of product sales far beyond what would have been expected without that continual exposure.   Also at Toy Fair:  

• Even as Hasbro announced plans to make toys for shows such as Peppa Pig, PJ Masks and Ricky Zoom it gained via the eOne acquisition, those properties’ current licensees such as Jazwares (Peppa Pig), Just Play (PJ Masks) and Tomy (Ricky Zoom), all mounted major displays of new product. “It’s been business as usual,” says Jimmy Chang, Senior Marketing Director at Just Play, whose company was introducing a new playset for PJ Masks.

 

• Mattel’s decision to bring plush inhouse rather than licensing its IP out for the category was prompted “by us seeing a lot of opportunity left on the table” and “this gives better control of a category that will be key for us moving forward,” a Mattel spokesman said. Meanwhile, Mattel, which fielded Toy Story 4 products last year, has extended its license with Disney to include all of Pixar’s films including Monster’s Inc., Cars and others, the Mattel spokesman said. Mattel also is readying the first International Olympic Committee-(IOC) licensed toy collection that stretches across the Barbie, Hot Wheels and Uno playing card lines. While Mattel has fielded “Team USA” Barbies since the 1976 Olympics, the new line marks the first  time for a broader IOC-licensed line. The Barbies are designed around the five sports being added to the Olympics this year:  softball,  surfing, rock climbing, skateboarding and karate.

 

• Sustainability was a theme in many booths at Javits. Mattel introduced two Fisher-Price products and three Mega Bloks building sets made from sugarcane-based material, as a step toward its previously-stated goal of having all its products and packaging made from recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastics materials by 2030 Meanwhile, MGA Entertainment, building on its work with recycling company TerraCycle, launched the biodegradable Little Tikes “Go Green” ride-on line that’s made from recycled resin. MGA is targeting having all of its product be biodegradable by 2025. It has a recycling program with TerraCycle for L.O.L. Surprise packaging, and will shift the brand’s accessory bag to paper later this year. L.O.L. Surprise packaging will be biodegradable by next year.

 

• New dual-branding strategies. McFarlane Toys introduced a seven-inch Spawn/Mortal Kombat action figures with game publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Warner Bros. will collect royalties on sales of the action figures, while McFarlane gets them when the Spawn figure is bought as an in-game purchase within the “Mortal Kombat 11” mobile game.

 

• Meanwhile, Just Play expanded the number of licenses it’s applying to its Hairdorable products, adding to a line that started with JoJo Siwa last year. New versions are based on Minions, Hello Kitty and Trolls.

 

• The calming influence of toys? Spin Master’s Cardinal Industries is introducing a series of 60-400-piece “Relaxation,” “Serenity” and “Balance” puzzles under the brand of meditation firm Calm. (founded in 2013 by Michael Acton Smith, who also founded Mind Candy, known for its Moshi Monsters online world).

 

• Licensed collectible power Funko wants its non-licensed toy business to account for 20% of revenue over the next several years. It unveiled Snapsies, toys that are dispensed through a touchscreen-equipped vending machine that allows the user to customize its various characters. The machine continually displays short videos supporting the characters produced by Funko Animation Studios. Funko leases space for the machines at retail stores. Funko also installed the vending machines at GameStop and ThinkGeek stores for its new Paka Paka capsule collectibles. It has no immediate plans to license out the brands, but is continuing to pursue deals for its Wetmore Forest label, CEO Brian Mariotti said. Meanwhile, the company is expanding the board game business it acquired when it bought Forest-Pruzan Creative a year ago, adding licenses for PanAm, Back to the Future and Godzilla. The expanded assortment of games and owned IP are part of Funko’s plans to double sales to $2 billion within 5-7 years, says Mariotti.

The Henkel-owned haircare giant has partnered with the waste management company to make its retail hair care, color and styling products recyclable across the US. The sustainability push will see shoppers invited to collect their empty packaging from Schwarzkopf products, and send them to TerraCycle. Empties will then be recycled and transformed into new products such as park benches, bike racks, pet food bowls and recycling bins.   "We're proud that 100% of Schwarzkopf retail product packaging will now be recyclable," Manuela Emmrich, Marketing Director, Hair US, Henkel Beauty Care, said in a statement. "Through the TerraCycle/ Schwarzkopf program, there is now a solution for hair product packaging that has historically been difficult to recycle, due to a myriad of curb-side recycling program requirements." "The expansion of Henkel's partnership with TerraCycle is an important part of Henkel's commitment to a circular economy for plastic and sustainable packaging, and our target of ensuring 100 percent of our Beauty and Laundry & Home Care packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025," added Martina Spinatsch, Vice President, R&D, Beauty Care, Henkel North America. Three different Schwarzkopf Recycling Programs have been established to deal with aerosols, hair coloration products and all other packaging, with individuals, schools, offices and community organizations all encouraged to participate. Collectors can be rewarded for their efforts by earning points that can be used for charity gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school; or charitable organization of their choice. Schwarzkopf is not the only beauty brand turning to TerraCycle to up its recycling game -- Herbal Essences, Garnier USA and Gillette have all recently launched initiatives with the company.

The Henkel-owned haircare giant has partnered with the waste management company to make its retail hair care, color and styling products recyclable across the US. The sustainability push will see shoppers invited to collect their empty packaging from Schwarzkopf products, and send them to TerraCycle. Empties will then be recycled and transformed into new products such as park benches, bike racks, pet food bowls and recycling bins.   "We're proud that 100% of Schwarzkopf retail product packaging will now be recyclable," Manuela Emmrich, Marketing Director, Hair US, Henkel Beauty Care, said in a statement. "Through the TerraCycle/ Schwarzkopf program, there is now a solution for hair product packaging that has historically been difficult to recycle, due to a myriad of curb-side recycling program requirements." "The expansion of Henkel's partnership with TerraCycle is an important part of Henkel's commitment to a circular economy for plastic and sustainable packaging, and our target of ensuring 100 percent of our Beauty and Laundry & Home Care packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025," added Martina Spinatsch, Vice President, R&D, Beauty Care, Henkel North America. Three different Schwarzkopf Recycling Programs have been established to deal with aerosols, hair coloration products and all other packaging, with individuals, schools, offices and community organizations all encouraged to participate. Collectors can be rewarded for their efforts by earning points that can be used for charity gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school; or charitable organization of their choice. Schwarzkopf is not the only beauty brand turning to TerraCycle to up its recycling game -- Herbal Essences, Garnier USA and Gillette have all recently launched initiatives with the company.

The Henkel-owned haircare giant has partnered with the waste management company to make its retail hair care, color and styling products recyclable across the US. The sustainability push will see shoppers invited to collect their empty packaging from Schwarzkopf products, and send them to TerraCycle. Empties will then be recycled and transformed into new products such as park benches, bike racks, pet food bowls and recycling bins.   "We're proud that 100% of Schwarzkopf retail product packaging will now be recyclable," Manuela Emmrich, Marketing Director, Hair US, Henkel Beauty Care, said in a statement. "Through the TerraCycle/ Schwarzkopf program, there is now a solution for hair product packaging that has historically been difficult to recycle, due to a myriad of curb-side recycling program requirements." "The expansion of Henkel's partnership with TerraCycle is an important part of Henkel's commitment to a circular economy for plastic and sustainable packaging, and our target of ensuring 100 percent of our Beauty and Laundry & Home Care packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025," added Martina Spinatsch, Vice President, R&D, Beauty Care, Henkel North America. Three different Schwarzkopf Recycling Programs have been established to deal with aerosols, hair coloration products and all other packaging, with individuals, schools, offices and community organizations all encouraged to participate. Collectors can be rewarded for their efforts by earning points that can be used for charity gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school; or charitable organization of their choice. Schwarzkopf is not the only beauty brand turning to TerraCycle to up its recycling game -- Herbal Essences, Garnier USA and Gillette have all recently launched initiatives with the company.

The Henkel-owned haircare giant has partnered with the waste management company to make its retail hair care, color and styling products recyclable across the US. The sustainability push will see shoppers invited to collect their empty packaging from Schwarzkopf products, and send them to TerraCycle. Empties will then be recycled and transformed into new products such as park benches, bike racks, pet food bowls and recycling bins.   "We're proud that 100% of Schwarzkopf retail product packaging will now be recyclable," Manuela Emmrich, Marketing Director, Hair US, Henkel Beauty Care, said in a statement. "Through the TerraCycle/ Schwarzkopf program, there is now a solution for hair product packaging that has historically been difficult to recycle, due to a myriad of curb-side recycling program requirements." "The expansion of Henkel's partnership with TerraCycle is an important part of Henkel's commitment to a circular economy for plastic and sustainable packaging, and our target of ensuring 100 percent of our Beauty and Laundry & Home Care packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025," added Martina Spinatsch, Vice President, R&D, Beauty Care, Henkel North America. Three different Schwarzkopf Recycling Programs have been established to deal with aerosols, hair coloration products and all other packaging, with individuals, schools, offices and community organizations all encouraged to participate. Collectors can be rewarded for their efforts by earning points that can be used for charity gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school; or charitable organization of their choice. Schwarzkopf is not the only beauty brand turning to TerraCycle to up its recycling game -- Herbal Essences, Garnier USA and Gillette have all recently launched initiatives with the company.

Companies like Coca-Cola used to collect 98 percent of their bottles, and new entrepreneurs are learning from their tactics. TRENTON, NEW JERSEYIn the flood of innovative solutions that have emerged in the last several years to save the world from plastic pollution, Tom Szaky’s fix may be one of the most audacious. Don’t misunderstand. He has not tried to come up with yet another formula to make plastic magically biodegrade like leaves on the ground, a goal of many entrepreneurs that remains elusive. Nor has he devised new ways to remake disposable plastic packaging into new plastic packaging. Instead, Szaky has gone old school with a concept that dates to the turn of the last century—returnable, refillable containers. The idea was introduced to the world by Coca-Cola in the early 1920s, when Coke was sold in expensive glass bottles that the company’s bottlers needed back. They charged a two-cent deposit, roughly 40 percent of the full cost of the soft drink, and got about 98 percent of their bottles back, to be reused 40 or 50 times. Bottle deposit programs remain one of the most effective methods ever invented for recovering packaging. Ten months ago, Szaky launched Loop, an online delivery service that uses sturdy, reusable containers. The bold part of his venture—or risk, if you are one of his financial backers—is that Loop pushes far beyond the uniformity of returnable beverage bottles and sells more than 300 items, from food to laundry detergent, in containers of various sizes and made from various materials. His signature product is Haagen-Dazs ice cream that comes packed inside a sleek, insulated stainless steel tub guaranteed to prevent its contents from melting. Slightly disheveled in jeans and a hoodie, Szaky looks every bit the millennial entrepreneur. Now 38, he dropped out of Princeton 17 years ago to become an innovator in the garbage business. He founded TerraCycle, a small waste management company, 10 miles from the Princeton campus. He figured out a way to recycle diapers, cigarette butts, and a long list of other non-recyclables. In time, he became more interested in restoring the circularity of that earlier era and eliminating the disposability from packaging altogether. “Loop’s theory is let’s learn from the past and go back to a model where when you buy your deodorant, you’re borrowing the package and just paying for the content,” he says.   This refillable steel Häagen-Dazs ice cream container is from Loop, a company that packages everyday items into reusable containers. Loop is part of the resurgence of refillables as a serious option to plastic waste. The beverage industry is expanding its use of returnable bottles; an Oregon brewery claims to have started the United States’ first state-wide refillable beer system. More significantly, efforts like Loop’s to reinvent packaging for products that don’t fit easily into the refillable category have attracted startups and some of the world’s largest corporate players. Starbucks and McDonalds are partnering in a pilot program in California known as the NextGen Cup Challenge to sell coffee in reusable cups. If it works, the companies could spare the world the remains of billions of paper cups lined with a thin film of plastic that prevents leakage. And in Chile, a small startup called Algramo is working to replace single-serving packets known as sachets that are sold by the billions in Africa and Asia. The concept was to make coffee, toothpaste and other products affordable to impoverished people who couldn’t afford to buy in larger amounts. Sachets are mostly not recyclable and have made the glut of plastic litter in those nations worse. Algramo, whose name means “by the gram” in Spanish, is creating a vending machine system to dispense food and cleaning products into reusable containers. Last December, it won the National Geographic and Sky Ventures Ocean Plastic Innovation Challenge’s prize for using circular economy principles and a $100,000 purse. As Szaky tours Loop’s warehouse, where newly filled containers are shipped out and returned empties taken in, he notes the irony that this age-old method has only flowered again because waste has become a global crisis. “Five years ago, we couldn’t have done this,” he says. No one would have signed on. Not consumers, who pay a healthy, refundable deposit. And not the companies he’s convinced to join his experiment. Consumers and product retailers might have laughed at the idea as too unrealistic and inconvenient, neither being the ingredients for success.The shipping expenses alone, which involve up to six transfers, would have given investors pause. Then, almost overnight, the game changed. Szaky pitched his idea to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and convinced Nestle, Unilever, Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, among others, to sign on.

A spotlight on plastic waste grows

It’s easy to lose sight of how quickly the landscape of plastics has shifted. Only a decade ago scientists and plastic manufacturers and retailers were still arguing about whether disposable plastic was even a serious issue. In 2011, when Ocean Conservancy met with scientists, activists, and plastics industry executives in an effort to set up what eventually became, in 2012, the Trash Free Alliance so all parties could work together, no consensus on the issue existed. “There was the question, is this just unsightly or a real problem?” recalls George Leonard, the conservancy’s chief scientist. “People retracted back into their corners. The NGOs said, ‘The world is coming to an end,’ and the industry sector said, ‘We don’t think it’s a problem.’” The debate effectively ended with publication in 2015 of the first solid numbers showing plastic waste washing into the ocean at an average rate of 8.5 million tons a year. The years that followed produced a glut of anti-plastic campaigns, bans of shopping bags and other products, pledges by retailers to use more recycled plastic in new packaging, industry investment in recycling facilities, and cleanups of existing waste. A count of scientific studies assembled by Richard Thompson, the British marine scientist who coined the term microplastics, reveals how rapidly plastic came to be considered an environmental crisis. In 2011, the year of Leonard’s meeting, 103 scientific studies containing the words “plastic” and “pollution” were published. The count in 2019, using the same code words, was 879 studies. “Thank goodness we’re over the hump,” says Chelsea Rochman, a marine scientist at the University of Toronto who is leading a working group of scientists trying to sort out which of the various solutions are most effective. The consulting firm Systemiq, with offices in London, Munich, and Indonesia, is also making a similar assessment. The results of both projects may further shape the debate on how to proceed. In the meantime, it helps to consider where things stand today: Of the 9.2 billion tons of plastic ever manufactured, 6.9 billion tons have become waste. Most of that—6.3 billion tons, or to put it another way, a whopping 91 percent—has never been recycled. The number seemed so shocking that the UK’s Royal Statistical Society named it the international statistic of the year in 2018. That’s the same year that China stopped buying the world’s waste, and recycling has only become more troubled since. Beyond recycling, 12 percent of plastic waste is incinerated, mostly in Europe and Asia. About 79 percent goes to a landfill or leaks into the natural environment. As a measure of how quickly plastic production accelerated in recent decades, half of all plastics ever made has been produced since 2013. Production is projected to double in the next 20 years, according to a 2016 report by the World Economic Forum. Finally, plastic is exceedingly cheap to make. And its low cost is one of the main impediments to developing an economically viable, global system for recycling or otherwise disposing of plastic waste. “Recycled and reclaimed plastic has little value. Virgin plastic is cheaper to make,” Leonard says. “Why would you do anything else other than make more new plastic? It’s not a good business decision to do anything else.”

Back to the future

Aside from the economics, most of the solutions that might reduce plastic waste are hobbled by a passel of problems: still-to-be-solved technical challenges, misinformation, a lack of uniform standards that leaves consumers confused. Biodegradables often don’t actually biodegrade, especially in the oceans, where they’re much more likely to fracture into microplastics. Most compostables need very high heat to break down, requiring processing in special, industrial composters. Compostable material will not biodegrade, for example, in landfill. The two terms are often used interchangeably by consumers, but are not the same. Material labeled biodegradable can contaminate compostable material if added to the mix. Mechanical recycling, which involves grinding plastic waste into small bits that are melted and remade into new plastics, is also easily contaminated by incompatible types of plastic, dirt, and food residue. Plastics reprocessed by this method can only be remade so many times before losing strength and other characteristics. Chemical recycling, which returns plastics to their requisite molecules, alleviates much of both problems. Industry analysts regard it as the option showing the most promise, and the numbers of companies involved in developing chemical recycling is growing. But it’s still a big bet. It’s expensive and questions remain as to whether it can be scaled up enough to make a difference. In any event, both forms of recycling, as well as composting, are dependent on what remains the most dysfunctional component of dealing with plastic waste: Someone has to collect it all and sort it. Loop first launched last May in and around New York and Paris. It plans to expand to the UK, Toronto, and Tokyo later this year, and to Germany and Australia in 2021. The product line, Szaky says, grows by one or two a week and a new retailer joins, on average, once a month. Because consumer behavior is very hard to change, Szaky thinks the refillables business must come as close as it can to mimicking the ordinary shopping experience. He has partnered with Walgreens and Kroeger to set up aisles of refillables, similar to bulk food aisles, making refillables even more convenient to use. As technicalities of handling plastic waste are eventually resolved, it is the consumers who may become the toughest challenge of all. Plastic as a material is not the villain, but the way it’s used, he says, and the idea of single-use plastic is a concept that is now 70 years old. He poses a rhetorical question: “What do we as shoppers care about? Convenience, affordability, and performance. Not one of those three things has anything to do with sustainability.” He argues that consumers are the most important actors in sorting out the plastics mess, with the ability to effect corporate change with their wallets. “We vote blindly, day after day after day, with money, telling companies what we want, and we need to take that seriously,” he says. “We should buy less and make sure the things we buy are circular.”

Move over dermatologists. With consumers digging deeper into ingredients, there’s rising interest in skincare from founders with different advanced degrees: scientists. Dermatologists might know a lot about treating skin, but scientists create the formulas.

  Among the skincare brands started by the evidence-loving bunch are Augustinus Bader, Good Science Beauty and Skin Actives Scientific. The latest example of a scientist-led brand is Noble Panacea, a luxury line selling a 30-day dose of its Absolute Intense Renewal Serum for $420 that’s based on research by Sir Fraser Stoddart, a Nobel Laureate and director of the Center for Chemistry of Integrated Systems at Northwestern University.   Admitting he isn’t a typical beauty entrepreneur, Stoddart says he serendipitously discovered what he named Organic Molecular Vessels (OMV), a time-released delivery method engineered from natural starches that drives Noble Panacea’s products. The method protects active ingredients such as retinol and peptides at the molecular level to preserve their potency until they can be released at the moment of need, explains Noble Panacea CEO Celine Talabaza. Put simply, she equates them to little houses with windows that open at the perfect point. The brand asserts OMV increases the efficacy of its products up to tenfold.     Following its launch in November, Noble Panacea is premiering today on Net-a-Porter and scheduled to enter Harrods in April. “Net-a-Porter has personal shoppers and offers the perfect one-on-one conversations to help educate people about the line,” says Talabaza, a product and marketing veteran who previously occupied roles at L’Oréal, Unilever and LVMH Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. Scientists don’t always make the best beauty marketers and her leadership is seen as a plus for the nascent brand.   Sustainability is a central tenant of Noble Panacea. OMV production is reported to be environmentally-friendly. It involves crystallization of carbohydrate and salt in a closed-loop, renewable process that doesn’t yield waste. Water is reused and re-purified in the production process. The packaging is equally environmentally-conscious. Mirroring the shape of the OMV technology, Noble Panacea’s octagon recyclable containers are composed of a starch substance. Also encased in a recyclable material, the products are individually packaged in so-called Active Daily Doses to ensure freshness. A refill option will be available later this year.     Talabaza emphasizes that emerging beauty brands have to be sustainable—and she’s adamant they must have a clear point of difference. She says, “If you are creating something new, you better do it right and come at all angles that are good for the environment.” Touting Noble Panacea’s sleek containers as a “modern take on high tech,” Talabaza continues, “Sustainable doesn’t have to lack aesthetic appeal.” The brand’s launch event last year was a black-tie event attended by a select group at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Talabaza says Noble Panacea decided to celebrate amid works of art “because Sir Fraser himself is an artist in chemistry.”   Noble Panacea has two collections: The Absolute and The Brilliant. Sporting lighter formulations and featuring bakuchiol, The Brilliant focuses on protective formulas and is especially good for younger skin. The Absolute has retinols and peptides for mature skin. “Although we strive for natural, we know the importance of retinols because they really work,” says Talabaza. The ingredients in Noble Panacea’s products are detailed on the brand’s website, which has a virtual concierge to guide customers. On the site, they can opt into the recycling program with TerraCycle by requesting a label for their empty Active Daily Doses.     The Brilliant collection consists of the Prime Radiance Serum Vibrant Eye Infusion, Radiant Resilience Moisturizer and Overnight Recharge Cream. Its prices range from $149 for the Eye Infusion to $253 for the Serum. The Absolute collection has the Intense Renewal Serum, Restoring Eye Cream, Active Replenishing Moisturizer and Rejuvenation Night Balm. The Restoring Eye Cream is the entry price point at $239, and the serum is the highest price point at $420. Talabaza says clinical tests show improvements in one week and substantially greater results in eight weeks.   The more than 40 years of research Stoddart has put into molecular studies is reflected in the hefty price tags, along with lofty concentration of quality ingredients batched in small doses. Talabaza isn’t shaken by any predictions of a skincare slowdown because of the positioning of the brand. She says, “We don’t talk about anti-aging, we talk about ageless solutions or well-aging, and we don’t have too many steps, but you do see results.” Noble Panacea declined to share a revenue projection for this year. By way of comparison, Augustinus Bader has racked up sales exceeding $6 million and is expected to hit $20 million in the next few years.   In addition to its commitment to sustainability, Noble Panacea checks off another box important to contemporary consumers—giving back. It’s committed to a three-year partnership with Girl Up, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the health, safety, education and leadership of girls.

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A program to recycle energy bar wrappers is ending in a Wyoming town known for outdoor sports and elsewhere.   After four years, a recycling center in Jackson will stop taking Clif Bar wrappers.   Clif Bar offered the recycling since 2008 through a partnership with TerraCycle, a company specializing in hard-to-recycle materials.   The company collected the wrappers to be melted down into hard plastic. It donated a penny per wrapper to the American Releaf Program, which plants trees in areas affected by wildfires, mining, development and other disruption.   The program raised about $500,000 from wrappers collected at 14,500 locations, according to its website.   The program required recycling workers in Jackson to sort through and throw out everything that wasn't a foil-lined energy bar wrapper, the Jackson Hole News & Guide reports.   The center needed to collect 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of wrappers before shipping them.   Clif Bar pledges on its website to create packaging that’s 100% “reusable, recyclable, or compostable” by 2025. The company did not respond to News & Guide requests for comment.