More than a year after pledging to reformulate its products to eliminate a cancer-causing chemical, Pepsi purchased from ten states still contains high levels of carcinogenic caramel coloring, according to independent testing commissioned by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) released last week.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Nike, Levi Strauss, H&M and several other members of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Group have committed to publishing a list of chemicals targeted for phase out or research by 2015 as part of a plan to eliminate hazardous chemicals from their supply chains by 2020.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
DuPont Refrigerants and EOS Climate have announced a new buyback program to incentivize the return of recovered chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants by paying contractors and business owners for the safe disposal of polluting substances.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
With three billion new middle-class consumers projected to enter the global marketplace in the coming decades[1], it is now widely acknowledged that the global economy of tomorrow will face material scarcity and supply chain insecurity at an unprecedented scale — an inevitable consequence of an industrial era based on a make/use/dispose model. These new realities have galvanized an international community of academia, NGOs, governments and corporate interests to promote new principles to guide future economic decision-making.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Dunkin’ Donuts will set a target date to source all of its palm oil from sustainable sources or purchase offset certificated covering its sourced palm oil, according to a recent announcement by New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Starbucks will begin sourcing 100 percent of its palm oil from certified sustainable suppliers by 2015, according to a recent announcement.The coffee company made the change in response to a shareholder resolution filed by the Green Century Balanced Fund, a mutual fund concerned with environmental responsibility.
WASTE NOT -
Product Reuse is the exchange of secondhand or surplus products between individuals and/or organizations. This exchange is often performed by social service agencies looking to distribute goods to their clients or to raise funds for their operations.
WASTE NOT -
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is gaining notoriety as a smart production and marketing strategy, as product take-back programs emerge as a major consumer trend.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
In an effort to increase customer adoption of reusable cups, Starbucks is rolling out a new low-cost reusable tumbler this week, according to reports.The plastic cups will be roughly the same size and appearance as the company’s paper cups and will cost $1. Starbucks will give a 10 cents discount to customers using the cups, so the cost is recouped after 10 uses.
Cascades Tissue Group, North America’s fourth largest producer of towel and tissue paper, launched a 100-percent-recycled, unbleached bathroom tissue for use in public restrooms.
Safco Dental Supply Company is the first U.S. company to complete the certification process for UPS’s Eco Responsible Packaging Program.
Levi Strauss & Company has revamped its forest products purchasing policy to ensure it does not source materials from the world’s endangered forests.
Advances in mobile technology could do away with some eco-labels as an increasing number of consumer products are given smart barcodes, says consultant group Organic Monitor.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
If you did much holiday shopping online this year, you likely had to deal with pesky, loose-fill peanut packaging that is tough on the environment and difficult to dispose of or recycle.Packaging manufacturers Sealed Air claim to have solved the “peanut problem” with a new loose fill product made of 95% non-food based renewable material.Sealed Air says the product, called PakNatural, provides the same cushioning protection as polystyrene packing peanuts without the static and environmental impact. And it has better humidity resistance than peanuts made of starch, which also have the downside of diverting food sources.
Patagonia on Tuesday became the first company in California to elect benefit corporation status.
A new design of paper coffee cups could make plastic, carry-out lids obsolete.The design, branded Compleat, has flaps similar to takeout cartons that fold over to seal in hot beverages, while creating a sipping spout.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters – known for its Keurig brand of individual coffee cups – may soon be able to turn its waste stream into a source of power for its Vermont operations.
Ford aims to reduce water consumption 30 percent per vehicle globally by 2015, compared with the amount of water used per vehicle in 2009.