Specialty retailers are also joining the packaging revolution.  REN Clean Skincare is a good example of a retailer that is making environmentally-friendly packaging part of its offering.  The company kicked off the campaign with a splashing Earth Day celebration featuring its new partner, the Surfrider Foundation.  The campaign was aimed at making REN customers aware of the need to conserve water and keep beaches clean and plastic-free.     The company is selling some of its skincare products in bottles made from plastic reclaimed from the ocean.  The bottle is part of REN’s Clean to Planet initiative to become a 100% zero waste company by 2021.  The bottle is made by TerraCycle, a recycling based in New Jersey.  TerraCycle specializes in materials that are hard to recycle.  The company claims to have collected over 300,000 pounds of beach plastic in cooperation with collection partners.   The recycled plastic bottles get quite a bit of attention.  However, REN is doing far more that is less noticeable.  The company is cutting down on paper waste by eliminating card board boxes for some products.  REN is also removing double labels, relying on a new single-layer label to display legal requirements and product instructions.   REN Skincare was acquired by Unilever N.V. (UN:  NYSE) in 2015.   The unit is estimated to contribute $9 million in annual sales.  In the greater scheme of things at Unilever, its shares do not reflect REN and its efforts to clean up and make useful ocean plastic.  Nonetheless, REN’s efforts show that one step has been taken in the right direction to make Unilever a part of the solution and not just a part of the problem of packaging waste.   Neither the author of the Small Cap Strategist web log, Crystal Equity Research nor its affiliates have a beneficial interest in the companies mentioned herein.    

As legal cannabis consumers become acquainted with each new producer and product to hit their shelves, how those offerings are presented is becoming a bit of a controversy. The result has been a mixed reaction, both proactive and reactive, with an array of producfts from leading producers such as Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), CannTrust Holdings Inc. (OTC:CNTTF) (TSX:TRST), Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY), and KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTC:KSHB). While Canada’s cannabis buyers have to wait until October 2019 for cannabis edibles to become legal, California’s market is already getting its packaging laws in order. Leading the way in California is Plus Products (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS), which now dominates the state’s edibles sector with 3 of the Top 5 cannabis products. As a market leader, the company is now being proactive in its move to roll out child-resistant (CR) tins across the state, well in advance of a January 2020 California deadline. In the Canadian market, the proposal for responsible packaging has been met with some resistance by producers—citing waste and other concerns. “Most cannabis consumers care very much about the environment and we’ve already gotten a lot of flak from the public,” said Allan Rewak, executive director of the Cannabis Council of Canada a group that represents licensed producers in an interview with Post Media. “You’re going to see plastic containers piled up outside stores with people putting (edibles) all in one container.” At the moment, the Canadian restrictions are primarily limiting to quantity per package. In California, the restrictions are focused on the appearance and function of the containers. According to the California Department of Public Health’s FAQ website: “Cannabis product packaging cannot resemble traditionally available food packages and must be tamper-evident, re-sealable if the product includes multiple servings, and child-resistant. In addition, packaging for edibles must be opaque. All manufactured products must be packaged according to regulatory standards before they are released to a distributor.” EMBRACING THE PACKAGING CHALLENGE In a release this week, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS) has gotten out ahead of the new law, announcing the redesign of its signature tins, to deliver its popular gummies in new CR packaging—in compliance approximately one full year ahead of the state’s deadline. “The convenience of our packaging is an important part of what has made PLUS successful. We are proud that we were able to keep the best elements of that experience while bringing to market a new tin that is child resistant, convenient, and still completely recyclable,” said Jake Heimark, CEO of Plus Products Inc. “We believe the top cannabis brands have a responsibility to lead the industry in a safe direction. We searched the globe for the best child resistant packaging and found it in these tins. It is difficult to achieve child resistance without compromising the portability and practicality of the consumer experience. We believe the tins we are launching this week are an elegant solution to a difficult problem, and are an important step in PLUS continuing to make cannabis safe and approachable.” The company’s new tins going forward are made of recyclable tinplate steel with a polypropylene insert, and are already available at select outlets in California. The tins are certified according to the Code of Federal Regulations 16 CFR § 1,700.20, and are opened with a press and twist method, similar to a prescription medicine bottle. It’s doubtful that the new packaging will impact the company’s sales, which lead the state according to BDS Analytics during Q4 2018. PLUS currently produces 3 of the top-5 best-selling branded products in all product categories including flower, vaporizers, edibles and topicals. PLUS “Uplift” and PLUS “Restore” remained the #1 and #2 best-selling SKUs. PLUS “CBD Relief” was the #5 best-selling SKU, and the top CBD-only SKU. CALIFORNIA LEADING THE PACK The importance of the edibles market cannot be stressed enough. In a recent BDS Analytics report, the research firm projected sales in the edibles market to surpass $4.1 billion by 2022. California is currently the largest and most important cannabis market in the world—larger even than the entire country of Canada. In comparison, Canada is only expected to yield $2.7 billion in 2019 legal sales, whereas California already hit $2.5 billion in sales in 2018, and is expected to grow rapidly. Over the course of its long history since legalizing medical marijuana, California has grown its product selection to more than 250 brands of edibles. While the California edibles market grew steadlily, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE:PLUS) managed to get itself to the top of the sector with its premiere cannabis gummies products. Since hitting the California scene ranked #43 in Q2 2017, less than two years later the company now has 3 of the best-selling branded products in all product categories, including flower, vaporizers, edibles and topicals—Over that time, Plus increased its market share 24x. Now the company’s best-selling SKUs are PLUS “Uplift” ranked #1, PLUS “Restore” ranked #2, and PLUS “CBD Relief” ranked #5 (which also took the top CBD-only spot, according to BDS analytics). The company has since grown its revenue to a $10 million run rate, with growth coming every month—and now it’s expanding its operations into more states. GROWING OUT ORGANICALLY Since launching in 2017, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE:PLUS) rapidly grew its presence in California from #43 to #1 ranking. By producing an array of products made with high-quality ingredients, PLUS has developed a brand, entirely produced in the Company’s dedicated 12,000-foot, food-safe cannabis manufacturing facility in Adelanto, California. PLUS products are now sold in over 200 licensed dispensaries as well as to delivery service customers, through a distribution partner. Backing the company is the successful hedge fund Tiger Global Management—known for turning small companies in rapidly growing industries into multi-billion-dollar businesses. Tiger was recently responsible for the build out of an e-cigarette product known as JUUL. Over 40 months under Tiger’s involvement, JUUL grew to the point where tobacco giant Altria paid $12.8 billion for a 35% interest in the company—giving JUUL a $38 billion value. Now the hope is that Tiger and PLUS can repeat this level of success through the PLUS brand story. Next up is a planned expansion from the current 12,000 sf manufacturing facility in Adelanto, CA to a 40,000 sq ft space. The Adelanto operation has an annual production capacity of $50 million. The expansion is set to boost Plus Products’ current production line capacity of two lines, with an additional three lines. EDIBLES AND PACKAGING DEVELOPMENTS Canopy Growth Inc. (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) In the lead-up to the legalization of cannabis-infused edibles and beverages, Canopy Growth plans to release a wide range of products in various forms. These include non-caffeinated chocolate, five different kinds of beverages, and vape pens with new cartridge technology, all ready to roll once Health Canada formally legalizes them. Canopy is set to team up with recycling outfits such as TerraCycle to ensure that their packaging doesn’t end up in landfills. CannTrust Holdings Inc. (OTC:CNTTF) (TSX:TRST) Unhappy with the upcoming packaging regulations, CannTrust CEO Peter Aceto has voiced concern, stemming from feedback from clients. The main concern is that the edible legislation will bring with it a lot of packaging, which CannTrust would like to actively reduce. As it stands, Aceto has expressed that much of the existing container surface is used to host government excise stamps and warnings, which he’d like to see reduced, instead to be used more for CannTrust’s branding. Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) Through a recent $419 million deal signed to acquire Hemp Hearts maker Manitoba Harvest, Tilray is looking to team up to launch CBD-infused products where permissible in the US. The acquisition helps to accelerate the pot grower’s entry into the US market, as Manitoba Harvest’s products are already on the shelves of retailers such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Whole Foods, in both Canada and the US. Tilray is looking to leverage the food maker’s manufacturing facilities and supply chain that touches roughly 16,000 stores, where their products are already sold. Together, they’re looking to take advantage of the recent US farm bill that legalized hemp-derived CBD products. KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTC:KSHB) Unlike most major names related to the cannabis industry, KushCo Holdings entered through the niche of packaging and being in compliance with each jurisdiction. The packaging solutions specialists provide an unglamorous but important service to the cannabis industry. Since entering the market, however, KushCo has since expanded into the sector to create a one-stop shop for cannabis products. The company has secured long-term supply arrangements with three large companies, expected to be worth $75 million. Disclaimer: Nothing in this article should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this article is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. Baystreet.ca has been paid a fee of twenty thousand dollars by PLUS Products for advertising. Baystreet.ca also holds shares in PLUS Products. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this article as the basis for any investment decision. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in this article is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

今年达沃斯的舞台上，一项新鲜出炉的环保计划让不少人眼前一亮。当地时间24日，多家大型国际企业在达沃斯携手宣布了一项令人感到兴奋的计划：宝洁、联合利华、雀巢、百事可乐、达能、玛氏宠物护理、亿滋国际以及其他全球最大消费品公司正在合作开展一个名为“Loop”的项目，计划用可重复使用的包装带领消费者开启一种全新的购物方式。

這項計畫由醫學製藥商Johnson & Johnson Vision與回收公司TerraCycle合作推出。這項計畫建議英國民眾可事先查看安視優（Acuvue）和TerraCycle的網站，了解最近的公開回收地點，也可請人到府收件或郵寄回收。

宝洁、雀巢、百事和联合利华是塑料垃圾来源的大头，现在，他们正和 25 家公司测试新模式来解决这一问题，参与这一计划的公司包括了洗发水、洗涤剂和包装食品领域的大公司。新商品包装将从难以降解的塑料转变为玻璃和钢制，这些材质更适合消费者使用完毕退回到品牌方，或者进行清洁和重新装满其他东西。

周四在瑞士达沃斯，全球25个最大的品牌宣布，他们将很快提供可重复使用的容器产品。诸如Tropicana橙汁、Dove除臭剂、Tide洗衣粉、Quaker谷物和Häagen-Dazs冰淇淋等产品将以玻璃或不锈钢容器提供，而不是一次性使用的一次性包装。

近日，包裹递送服务公司UPS与全球多家知名大型消费产品公司以及回收利用全球领导品牌泰瑞环保（TerraCycle）强强联手，共同推出了一个回收利用的全新系统，几乎可以摆脱塑料用品世界的不利影响。这个名为“loop”的系统鼓励可重复利用可归还的再利用形式，通过管理消费产品包装的方式达到让消费者减少一次性包装消费的效果。

最近，包裹递送服务公司 UPS 与全球多家知名大型消费产品公司以及回收利用品牌 T泰瑞环保（TerraCycle) 联手，共同推出了一个回收利用的全新系统，几乎可以摆脱塑料用品世界的不利影响。这个名为 Loop 的系统鼓励可重复利用可归还的再利用形式，通过管理消费产品包装的方式达到让消费者减少一次性包装消费的效果。

LoopTM是由国际回收行业领袖TerraCycle开发的一个循环电子商务平台。宝洁公司旗下多个最大的全球品牌，包括潘婷(PanteneTM)、汰渍(TideTM)、CascadeTM和欧乐B (Oral-BTM)都将在今年晚些时候加入这个创新平台。