New Recyclability Tool Available Online

By British Plastics & Rubber,

Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE), Europe’s plastic recycling industry body, has launched a new tool that it says can help packaging manufacturers improve the recyclability of their products.

During the group’s conference, entitled ‘Let’s work together on plastics packaging design’ at the InterPack Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, PRE explained that the ultimate aim of the tool is to improve the design of plastics packaging in respect to its recyclability.

In a video message from the European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potočnik stated that: “Recycling starts in the product design phase. The key to more sustainable plastics is better design of plastics and plastics products.”

“RecyClass is based on the existing recycling guidelines, the functioning of today’s recycling markets and the experience of the plastics recyclers,” said Paolo Glerean (PRE Board Member). “The users of the tool can instinctively understand how to improve the recyclability of their packaging,” Glerean added.

Dr. Michael Scriba (PRE Board Member) said: “This tool is an opportunity for the industry to work together, learn mutually and improve the position of plastic packaging on the EU markets.”

The RecyClass tool enables assessment of any kind of plastic packaging, claims PRE. Users are said to be able to obtain information on how environmentally-friendly their packaging is, and provides improvement ideas for packaging design. It is now available online (www.recyclass.eu) in English and German languages for a free trial period of six months.
The conference was attended by plastics converters, recyclers, packaging designers and brand owners.

To see the full article from British Plastics & Rubberclick here.

Vegware Revamp Green Britain Compostable Cups

By Packaging Europe,

Vegware, the UK’s first and only completely compostable food packaging company, have launched their revamped Green Britain cups. The compostable 8oz and 12oz double-wall cups are lined with low-carbon cornstarch not plastic, and feature a green Union Jack heart.

Communications Director Lucy Frankel explains, “Our original Green Britain cup was hugely popular in summer 2012, with UK caterers keen to show their green credentials to international visitors. We like to keep things fresh and last year we discontinued the design. But our clients had other ideas and kept demanding it. We gave in and revamped the design, with the green flag now in a heart shape. With Vegware the UK’s 30th fastest growing company, we see it as a celebration that the UK really does love all things green. And it’s a very pretty summer cup!

These cups are made in the British Isles from two layers of sustainably sourced EU board. The cornstarch lining has a carbon footprint 51% lower than a conventional plastic lining, quantified by Vegware’s Eco Audits for any order quantity. Like all Vegware, these cups are completely compostable and designed to be recycled with food waste, and their free service foodwastenetwork.org helps any UK business set up food waste recycling. This cup won Best New Product in the first ever Climate Week Awards.

A subtle line of text by the join reads: ‘Completely compostable cup made in the British Isles by @vegware. Lined with cornstarch, not plastic, because green tastes better. Caution – green is HOT!’ These special edition cups come in packs of 25 or cases of 500.

From the three cutlery items offered five years ago, Vegware’s range has grown to over 200 completely compostable products, including many award-winning innovations resulting from the firm’s active R&D programme. All Vegware’s catering disposables are made from renewable or recycled eco materials and are completely compostable – so unlike most foodservice packaging, Vegware can be simply recycled after use.

To see the full article from Packaging Europeclick here.

Click to see Quantrelles Eco-Pack range of products.

Dell Invests in Carbon-Negative Packaging Solutions

By Heather Clancy,

Dell continues to raise the bar for the high-tech industry when it comes to innovative packaging choices and groundbreaking recycling initiatives.

This week, its sustainability team is disclosing details about two specific industry “firsts”, both of which are the result of close, collaborative sustainable business partnerships born in its supply chain.

First, Dell has become the second high-profile company to announce a deal with AirCarbon, an innovative plastic material from Newlight Technologies created by pulling carbon out of the air. Newlight, which last year got a $4m grant from the Department of Energy, recently announced a relationship with Sprint, under which it is making “carbon-negative” iPhone accessories.

Dell’s initial plan is to use AirCarbon for sleeves to protect new Latitude series notebooks. It connected with Newlight after a conversation with another supply chain partner, said Oliver Campbell, director of worldwide procurement at Dell.

In addition to the Newlight deal, the technology giant is turning to long-time manufacturing partner, Wistron GreenTech, to pull off another big breakthrough: becoming the first company in the IT industry to earn a closed-loop recycling validation from UL Environment.

Dell’s forthcoming OptiPlex 3030 All-in-One desktop computer (due out by June) will be the first to contain a minimum of 10 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, collected through Dell’s ongoing electronic-waste recovery processes, the company said. The recycled e-waste material is specifically used to make parts such as the stand and the backing for the computer, according to an infographic from Dell.

“We have a long-standing commitment to conduct our business responsibly,” said Dell CEO Michael Dell, in remarks prepared for the Fortune Br
ainstorm Green conference where the initiatives were disclosed. “AirCa
rbon packaging and closed-loop recycled plastics are terrific innovations and big steps forward as we work with our customers and partners toward our 2020 goals.”

To see the full article from BusinessGreen, click here.