CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Fashion continues to make headlines, with news emerging about a new textile breakthrough and shifting attitudes towards clothing across the UK that are helping drive down the industry’s environmental impact.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Nature-inspired solutions designed to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems continue to gain steam as five teams of entrepreneurs from around the world vie for the top prize at the 2017 Biomimicry Global Design Challenge.
WASTE NOT -
What do diapers and railway ties have in common? They’re two of the latest products to receive the circular treatment, helping businesses reimagine waste streams as resources and driving the economy towards a more sustainable, circular model.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
A new partnership between Braskem, the largest thermoplastics resins producer in the Americas and a leading biopolymers producer, Sealed Air Corporation, a packaging, cleaning and hygiene solutions company, and Naturepedic, a manufacturer of certified organic mattresses and bedding, is aiming to help consumers lead a more sustainable lifestyle even in their sleep. Together, the partners have developed a first-of-its-kind formula for renewable polyethylene foam.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
In an effort to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the world today, National Geographic and GSK Consumer Healthcare have joined forces to launch the Chasing Genius Challenge. The competition aims to uncover innovative solutions for issues related to sustainability, global health and food security and will provide $25,000 to winners to scale their ideas.
PRESS RELEASE -
Detroit Ento wins startup competition at SB’17 Detroit
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
A resilient organization must operate in a way that ensures all associated entities survive and thrive.
In a healthy ecosystem, everyone has a niche and a role; feedback loops are short and constant, ensuring accountable and creative decision-making is happening at all levels. Functioning in this way not only strengthens internal functionality, but allows organizations to better nurture crucial outside partnerships.
So, what if an organization functioned like a climax ecosystem? Sharp feedback mechanisms, efficient supply chains, and self-organized teams create organizations that are always ready for the next big opportunity.
PRESS RELEASE -
I'm GreenTM Polyethylene (PE) bio-based resin provides a more sustainable approach to a great night's sleep with new carbon reducing material.
PRESS RELEASE -
PepsiCo has joined the New Plastics Economy initiative as a Core Partner, signaling the global food and beverage company's continued commitment to reduce packaging waste.
Led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the New Plastics Economy is bringing together industry, government, NGOs, scientists, students and citizens to build a more sustainable global plastics value chain.
PRESS RELEASE -
BASF has recently entered a strategic collaboration with HP Indigo, the world’s leading manufacturer of digital printing presses. Both companies will collaborate to develop water-based adhesive solutions for flexible packaging that are specially tailored for the requirements of the HP Indigo ElectroInk process, a highly flexible and fast digital printing process.
PRESS RELEASE -
Water-based Joncryl® and Epotal® offer less environmental impact at similar costs and performance compared to solvent-based technologies- Eco-Efficiency Analysis (EEA) proves a reduced carbon footprint for water-based inks and adhesives of about 15%
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
Royal Philips (Philips), a leader in health technology, has announced an agreement with a consortium of sixteen banks for a new €1 billion Revolving Credit Facility with an interest rate that will be dependent on the company’s year-on-year sustainability performance improvement.
WALKING THE TALK -
Following the announcement of its new store renovation initiative, CVS Pharmacy has revealed that it will be eliminating parabens, phthalates and the most prevalent formaldehyde donors in nearly 600 beauty and personal care products in its CVS Health, Beauty 360, Essence of Beauty and Blade lines. CVS Pharmacy will stop shipping store brand products that don’t meet these standards to distribution centers by the end of 2019.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
CVS Health announced this week it is harnessing the power of design to activate its purpose. The national drugstore chain is rolling out a new store renovation project that builds on its mission to help people on their path to better health.
PRESS RELEASE -
On April 6, Amway joined the world in recognizing Global Health Day. Established in 1950 to mark the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations World Health Organization, Global Health Day raises awareness and mobilizes partners to address key global health issues.
The intent of this important day closely aligns with Amway’s Corporate Social Responsibility belief – by using the best of our business and the passion of our people we can solve global challenges and improve individual communities all over the world.
COLLABORATION -
Following the launch of Applied DNA Sciences’s CertainT platform that utilizes molecular tags to certify authenticity and origins of products, AkzoNobel, Advanced Biochemical Thailand Co. and EY have introduced a new online tool that allows businesses, for the first time, to use e-certification to track bio-based content along the chemical value chain.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Obesity, mental health problems, air and noise pollution, heat stress and social exclusion — these are just a few of the health and social challenges Europeans face today. But according to a new report released by Friends of the Earth in conjunction with the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), increased exposure to nature and green space could help improve both physical and mental health.
PRESS RELEASE -
This year, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and Habitat for Humanity enter their 35th year of partnership and will add new technologies to help make communities healthier and homes more sustainable for families in need of decent and affordable housing.
In 2017, Dow will support 42 Habitat projects in 19 countries through employee volunteerism, product donations and financial support. Dow has committed more than $1.4 million to support these projects and more than 2,000 employees are anticipated to volunteer building homes alongside future homeowners.
PRESS RELEASE -
Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. and Braskem, the leading producer of biopolymers in the world, announced today a 3-year partnership in which Solegear will utilize Braskem's I'm greenTM Polyethylene to produce and distribute a series of household recycling containers under its good naturedTMbrand.