Robert Lilienfeld’s Post

Groundbreaking packaging bill in one state appears promising: 'This would force companies to be a part of the solution' New York state legislators are making a serious push to limit the amount of single-use plastic in their state, as the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act "appears poised" to be passed into law, Inside Climate News reported in February. The bill would force the companies responsible for generating single-use plastics to reduce their plastic usage by 50% over the next 12 years, placing the burden of solving the problem on corporations instead of individuals. It would also prohibit packaging food with certain toxic chemicals, such as PFAS, vinyl chloride, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, bisphenols, toluene, and others. According to ICN, four other states — Maine, Colorado, California, and Oregon — have already passed similar laws, sometimes referred to as extended producer responsibility laws. However, New York's bill, if passed, "would be the strongest" of those because of its specific mandates and the banning of toxic chemicals. "That's the goal — that we get it right in New York and then other states could follow the lead of New York," Jennifer Congdon, deputy director of Beyond Plastics, an environmental group that lobbied for the bill, told ICN. "Right now, we have a system where companies create products, they put it in packaging, the products are sold to people and then municipalities and taxpayers have to deal with the waste that is created. This [bill] would force companies to be a part of the solution instead of just the problem." New York has made other attempts to curb the use of single-use plastics, as well. New York City passed a law and will start fining restaurants and third-party delivery services when they provide disposable utensils, soy sauce packets, and similar items without a customer's request. In addition, the state recently filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo, claiming that the beverage giant is — per the Associated Press — creating a "public nuisance" with its production of large amounts of plastic bottles and bags, which often end up as litter. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Groundbreaking packaging bill in one state appears promising: 'This would force companies to be a part of the solution' first appeared on The Cool Down. #plastic #plasticwaste #recycling #california #infrastructures #toxic

Reducing, reusing, and repurposing materials for production and consumption in South Carolina, as described in this article from Sustain SC member Atlantic Packaging, falls in line with our Roadmap accelerator: The Circular Economy and South Carolina’s new economic opportunity. Great article Wes Carter and Caroline DeLoach: https://lnkd.in/e4vRfFHz

goplasticpallets.com, the UK’s leading provider of sustainable plastic pallets and boxes, has invited the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to discuss “much-needed reform” to the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT). In an open letter sent to Reeves, Managing Director Jim Hardisty outlined the detrimental effects the current tax framework is having on those businesses promoting green logistics practices and products.  #sustainablepackaging #recyclability #packaging #sustainability #ppt #circulareconomy #recycledmaterials #resourceefficiency #pallets

Businesses who are trying to switch to more sustainable packaging have plenty of challenges that get lots of attention, but one less visible one comes with changes needed to their equipment and machinery to be able to *use* that more sustainable packaging. Wes Carter and I wrote an op-ed for Charleston Business Mag and Greenville Business Mag making the case for tax credits to upgrade machinery. Atlantic Packaging #circularity #sustainablepackaging https://lnkd.in/gg6qTuan

John Hewitt, VP of packaging sustainability and head of state affairs, penned an op-ed with Michael Durant, president & CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York, after the misnamed "Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act" failed to make it to the governor's desk in New York. "New Yorkers can rest assured that access to their favorite foods, drinks, and goods will not be compromised due to new, overbearing government regulations. Had this bill been passed and signed, prices would have skyrocketed, products would have come off the shelves, and technology that supports recycling would have been banned. "While the broader goal may have been admirable because all sides support sustainability, the proposed approach would have had more unintended negative consequences than benefits. Take prices, for example. New York families are already being squeezed out of every nickel and dime just to get by and face the highest tax burden in the country, leading to many residents and businesses fleeing the state. This bill would have increased costs even further at a time when inflation is still at record highs, hurting every family’s bottom line." Read the full op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/ee_uFemJ

Sustainable packing solutions often require a transition to new or modified equipment. How does a business make these new investments in a way that is business friendly? Caroline DeLoach and Wes Carter outline an approach below that may help businesses ease that transition.

💡 Did you know a complete plastic bag ban cleared in the California Senate? At TURN, we applaud California's recent legislation, Senate Bill 1053, which mandates a complete ban on all plastic shopping bags by 2026. This bold step signifies the state's continued leadership in environmental responsibility. However, as thought leaders in sustainable solutions, we believe there's more to be done. The data speaks for itself. A recent New York Times article highlights a critical issue – the increased use of thicker "reusable" plastic bags, which often end up in landfills just like their thinner counterparts. The key lies in true reusability, not simply replacing one type of plastic with another. Our mission at TURN is to empower consumers with innovative, long-lasting reusable alternatives that minimize environmental impact. California's updated legislation is a positive step, but it's just the beginning. What do you think?

♻️✅ Environmental consciousness is paramount, and the pursuit of sustainable practices has become a central focus for industries worldwide. Amid this drive, the use of recycled materials has gained significant traction, heralding a promising shift towards a greener, more eco-friendly future. However, recent developments in the realm of recycled content have cast a shadow of doubt over the integrity of such claims. In particular, the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) system, designed to incentivise the use of recycled materials in the production of plastic packaging, has encountered challenges that threaten its efficacy and credibility. Read more about this subject here: https://lnkd.in/edYpM_Aw Don't forget you can get in touch with us, should you need any assistance or advice on these matters. 📞 +44 (0)161 440 7302 💻 sales@lawprintpack.co.uk 🌍 www.lawprintpack.co.uk #packaging #plasticpackagingtax #recycledcontent #recycling #recyclablepackaging #flexiblepackaging #sustainability

We don't count on legislation as a tailwind. Candidly, we have felt that policy is more likely to follow proven business models, so that was our goal. Build the business case --- and one day policy may follow. That being said, it's exciting to see the EPR legislation gaining momentum. Here are the carveouts re: returnable packaging. "All five bills that have passed include some reuse component, although rulemaking hasn’t been finalized in most states, said Sydney Harris, policy director at Upstream. California has reuse targets; Maine is setting targets through rulemaking and Minnesota will set statewide reuse targets that are not specific to individual brands or product types.  "Start considering reusable packaging very seriously," Harris said. "It will get you the biggest advantage in terms of the fees you pay and the benefits you reap in the laws." In Minnesota and Oregon, fees apply only once for each reusable package, "so every time you recirculate that package, you're getting to do that for free," she said.  Harris’s other suggestions: Pick a few packaging types that are already fairly standard; Brand them collectively as returnable packaging; and  Process their recovery through the existing recycling system. Companies will need to work out a system for cleaning and reclaiming the packaging. https://lnkd.in/gAZa3Aw7

The New York State Legislature is reviewing a bill that could reduce the state’s use of plastic packaging by a whopping 50 percent. Good morning.  Today we’ll learn more out about a bill that could reduce New York State’s use of plastic packaging by a whopping 50 percent. We’ll also look at why a New Jersey town decided to declare a state of emergency in the middle of the holiday weekend, and we’ll meet a legal team that is suing Elon Musk. As the scheduled end of New York State’s legislative session quickly approaches on June 6, voting on a number of bills is coming down to the wire. Among those is a bill that would require companies to incorporate a “packaging reduction and recycling plan,” which could drastically reduce the number of packages wrapped in layers of plastic. While many single-use plastic products may seem recyclable, they often are not because of the chemicals of which they are made. The flimsy thin plastic that makes up potato chip pouches, food delivery bags and juice squeezes makes them more difficult to collect and sort. The bill would require companies that use single-use plastic packaging to find sustainable alternatives or pay a yet-to-be-determined fee, which would go toward covering the costs of municipalities’ recycling and waste disposal. New York City, officials said, could reap as much as $150 million in costs. According to a City Hall spokeswoman, the legislation could reduce landfill waste by six million pounds a day and would also save taxpayers money. The bill has widespread support. But powerful fossil fuel companies, chemical producers and large manufacturers of food and drink packaging are staunchly opposed to the measure and argue that it could cause, among other things, packaged food prices to increase. With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, amendments are being considered on both sides, including lowering the goal of reducing plastic packaging by 50 percent over 12 years. This bill failed to pass last year after strong industry opposition. Both houses’ environmental conservation committees passed the measure in February. The Assembly and Senate in Albany must vote on the bill before the legislative session ends. Should both chambers pass the measure, Gov. Kathy Hochul would have to decide whether to sign it into law by year’s end. By Claire Fahy #Edenred