Enzymes and wood biomolecules, a winning combo for sustainable packaging

Good News Notes: “A biotechnology company hidden among the forests of southern Finland thinks trees can help sustainability in Europe to become deep-rooted. Sustainable multi-purpose products Researchers at Metgen Oy are mixing enzymes and biomolecules from wood and bark to replace raw oil-based materials. Some of these renewable biomaterials have already been developed and used in different…

Sustainable Home Care Company Full Circle® Brands (“Full Circle”) Launches For Good™, A Family of Sustainable and Compostable Household Disposables

Good News Notes: “Full Circle, a leader in responsible home care products, is proud to introduce its newest brand: For Good, a family of sustainable and compostable household staples including cling wrap, parchment paper and trash and zipper bags that turn into earth instead of microplastics and perform just like the conventional alternatives. “The surge…

Great Wrap launches compostable catering wrap

Good News Notes: “Compostable stretch kitchen wrap business Great Wrap has launched its Australian-made compostable catering wrap for businesses across the country. Made from food waste, Great Wrap initially launched a domestic Compostable Cling Wrap, but now provides a solution for commercial waste challenges that is suitable for restaurants, grocers, delis, bakers and more. The company…

The US finally adopts a national recycling strategy

Good News Notes: “The Environmental Protection Agency announced a new national recycling strategy today, the agency’s first ever such commitment, according to the Washington Post. It’s a roadmap for the US to achieve a goal of recycling at least half of its municipal waste by the end of the decade. That’s a steep rise considering the US’ recycling rate has actually…

Iceland Foods commits to being UK’s first plastic neutral supermarket

Good News Notes:  “Iceland Foods plans to be the first British supermarket group to become plastic neutral, offsetting its remaining plastic footprint by recovering and recycling waste plastic, it said on Thursday. Supermarket groups have been responding to growing consumer demands for less waste, less plastic and more action on the environment. Those demands are…

Less Plastic Thailand Turns Plastic Bottles into Life-Saving PPE

Good News Notes: “Less Plastic Thailand is asking the public to donate PET bottles to ensure doctors have enough supplies of reusable protective clothing. The “PET To PPE Project” turns used Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET bottles into reusable PPE, both isolation gowns and coverall suits. “The PET To PPE Project” was launched last year after…

A truly circular solution: Turning bioplastic made from plants into nutrients to grow new crops

Good News Notes: “Researchers have developed a technique to turn bioplastics into fertilizer, in a process that tackles the twin problems of plastic waste and emissions-intensive fertilizer production. Unlike regular plastics that are derived from fossil fuels, bioplastics are produced using renewable feedstocks such as corn, wheat, and agricultural waste. From the get-go, these plastics…

Maui Launches Stainless-Steel, Zero-Waste To-Go Container Program

Good News Notes: “HuiZero, Hawaii’s first zero-waste to-go container program, has just launched at participating restaurants across the island of Maui. The tins are food safe, easy to clean and infinitely reusable, making them ideal for an island chain like Hawaii. HuiZero’s mission is to help eliminate single-use plastic and curb plastic pollution across all…