Yee Wah Chow’s Post

Recycling and the use of recycled content have become key aspects of sustainability in plastic packaging in the US and the European Union. According to a recent RaboResearch report, the demand for recycled polymers has grown in both regions and is expected to continue to rise in the coming years. This growth is primarily driven by state regulation and company pledges in the US and EU-level regulation in the European Union. #sustainablepackaging #recyclability #packaging #sustainability #circulareconomy #recycledmaterials #resourceefficiency #plastic

It is an interesting report to share and have a thought together about the future of packaging The market has to determine which is the measure to consider. CO2 emission? or feeling? Then, is the world ready to recycle and reprocess packaging material? Last, are human beings doing the job of recycling properly the packaging that we use?

🌍♻️ Ever wondered why some plastics can be recycled while others can't? This insightful article from The Conversation breaks down the complexities behind plastic recycling. The key lies in the chemical structure and properties of different types of plastics. While thermoplastics can be melted and remolded, thermosetting plastics don't have the same flexibility, making recycling more challenging. In addition, the mixed types and colorful plastics makes recycling hard and sometimes economically not worth it! Check out the full article to learn more about the science behind plastic recycling and why it's crucial for our planet. 🌱🌎 https://lnkd.in/dnUUAUGz #Sustainability #Recycling #PlasticPollution #Innovation #TileGreen

Have you ever noticed the numbers on the bottom of plastic items and wondered what they mean? 🤔 Or questioned if your Ziploc bags can be recycled? Explore my latest blog post to discover the secret code behind plastics! https://lnkd.in/ebpDHCQ2 ♻ Recycling's Unknown Language - How to Smart Recycle

According to the 2024 State of Recycling report from The Recycling Partnership, only 21% of recyclable household material is actually captured in the U.S. Just 43% of households actively participate in recycling, and a whopping 76% of recyclables are lost at the household level. However, the report highlights that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies are expected to drive improvements in recycling rates and consumer engagement. It also calls on industries to invest in more recyclable packaging to help close the loop and boost material circularity. Joanna Cosgrove shares current statistics for eight common packaging materials. https://lnkd.in/eh-qFxcy Pure Strategies, Inc. is proud to be a member of Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), and an Technical Affiliate of the US Plastics Pact, to support broader change including more circular packaging to keep it in the economy and out of the environment. #AmericaRecyclesDay #Recycling #Packaging

Can major companies fulfill their ambitious recycling promises? 🌍♻️ With advanced recycling technologies struggling to keep up and billions of tons of plastics overwhelming our environment, industry giants like Nestle, L'Oreal, and Procter & Gamble are racing against time to fulfill bold recycling commitments. But as obstacles mount, experts call for a radical rethink of our approach to plastic use. Dive into the challenges and potential solutions that could reshape our environmental footprint. Expert insights: Adam Middleton, marketing manager at Packaging Supplies Alison Keane, CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association Ditte Vind, who chairs the Danish Design Counci Article: https://lnkd.in/gaNZq8FH #foodmanufacturing #sustainability #recycling

Today’s Sustainability / Circularity Topic: Truths About Chemical Pyrolysis for Plastics “recycling”. Thrilled to see this topic getting more media attention at long last. Brilliantly researched article on the tug-of war between [enhanced] post-consumer content recycled plastic content claims vs. truth. This is NOT new technology. It was heavily marketed by chemical companies as a ‘miracle method’ to get 100% recycled plastics. Pyrolysis layman’s def: The process of subjecting substances to highly elevated temperatures in relatively inert atmospheres in order to facilitate their thermal decomposition.” Pyrolysis breaks materials down to a molecular level, enabling remaking them from scratch again. * Pyrolysis isn’t limited to plastics and has been used for wood products since the 1800’s. What do you think? Genuinely interested in your opinions. Chime in! Does pyrolysis demolecularizion qualify the end-use consumer plastic products or packaging for (currently lofty) post-consumer recycled content claims? …… Resources: Pyrolysis Explained (*excellent*): https://lnkd.in/eZvP4zyV. 🏆 Article by Lisa Song for ProPublica Public Communication https://lnkd.in/eSXnVrnq #circularity #recycling #pyrolysis #plastics #recyclingclaims #polymers #CPG #packaging

According to a new report surveying 225 companies’ plastic-related sustainability efforts, there are zero companies making at least $1B in annual revenue who are doing enough to reduce, reuse, and/or recycle plastics. Of the companies assessed and scored by As You Sow and Ubuntoo, none received an “A” grade, and nearly 50% failed. The best grade awarded to a major company was a B+. This scorecard judged companies on their combined efforts toward plastic reduction, material reuse, and recycling expansion. The results are glaring: major companies are failing to live up to their sustainability commitments, and they must do more. The authors of the study suggest that companies focus on six areas of improvement, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). At Polycarbin, we see how EPR legislation - which requires producers to take responsibility for the end of life of their products - is increasingly prevalent in the US, Europe, and beyond. Companies need to prepare for the changing legislative landscape as governments embrace EPR. Thinking critically about a product’s end of life and designing thoughtful solutions is a pathway to a cleaner planet and, hopefully, higher grades on future plastic scorecards. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ec856VtH #circularity #plastics #EPR

“Unlike paper, glass and metal, plastic is not easily, efficiently turned into new products. What passes for “recycling” plastic is costly, energy-intensive and toxic. On top of all that, the process requires the addition of a shocking amount of new virgin plastic — around 70 percent — to hold the newly formed plastic item together. As a result, only about 5 percent of plastic gets “recycled” (or, more accurately, “downcycled” into a product of inferior quality). Compare that with a 68 percent recycling rate for paper and cardboard.” “ I know. We’ve been told for decades that the answer to the plastic-waste crisis is more, better recycling: If only we sorted better! If only we had better access to recycling technologies! If only we washed and dried our plastics more adequately! This is all a smokescreen, designed to distract us from the truth that plastic recycling — if by “recycling” we mean converting a used material into a new material of similar value and function — is a myth.”

What If Plastic Bags Are Deemed Recyclable?