Amazon and U.S. Department of Energy team up to cut plastic waste

Good News Notes: “Imagine a new technology that breaks down existing plastic materials to create a new, innovative type of material. This new material could then be broken down more easily when recycled—and even biodegrade in natural environments. That scenario does not have to be imaginary. In fact, the mission of the BOTTLE consortium—a key research initiative…

Packing peanuts to be banned in NJ under new law

Good News Notes: “More recycled plastic, glass and paper will be used in everyday products — from trash bags to beer bottles — under anew law Gov. Phil Murphy signed Tuesday. The law also prohibits the sale of polystyrene packing peanuts in New Jersey within two years — a move supporters say will help keep the easily blown…

IKEA Assembles a Future Without Plastic Packaging

Good News Notes: “Thanks to tiny pieces and convoluted instructions, putting together a bookshelf from IKEA can be a maddening experience. But there’s a payoff: What’s stressful is stylish—and also sustainable. The Swedish retailer has been a champion of the environment for years. In 2018, for instance, it announced plans to use only renewable and recycled materials…

St. Clair Shores women hope to impact the environment

Good News Notes: “Although Refill Emporium is less than a year old, its zero-waste focus is a throwback to the way things used to be. The company’s products take a step back to the time before seemingly every item was packaged in disposable plastic containers, before paper towels replaced cloth dish towels, and when a…

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…

NCDOT, Volunteers collect 9M pounds of roadside litter

Good News Notes: “When consumer goods, often single-use disposables, are littered or improperly managed, this trash can find its way into rivers, streams and other waterways. These ultimately empty into our oceans, where the trash becomes marine debris, according to theEnvironmental Protection Agency. “In North Carolina, we take great pride in our natural resources, but…

Titan Farms’ Sustainable Packaging Receives High Praise

Good News Notes: “Titan Farms brings back its sustainable, eco-friendly packaging this summer to meet the increasing demand for less single use plastics. “Nature’s Peach” box is a 100% recyclable 4-pack that uses earthy tones to make the peaches pop. The durable yet convenient packaging allows shoppers to carry by the center handle and retailers…

Comedian Joe Lycett says he staged TV walkout as a plastics protest

Good News Notes:  “Lycett appeared to storm off Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4 after host Steph McGovern showed a photo of him with a type of plastic bottle that he’s campaigning against. “I didn’t realise I was on Newsnight,” he said before departing the studio. But on Friday, Lycett confirmed it had been a…

Ikea Buys 11K Acres of Land in Georgia for Conservation

Good News Notes: “Ikea’s investment group recently acquired nearly 11,000 acres of land in southeast Georgia, taking it under its wing to protect it from development, and to keep its hundreds of plant and wildlife species safe. The Ingka Group, which owns and operates most of the popular Swedish retailer’s stores, recently acquired approximately 10,840 acres…

Compostic Clings to Home Composable Plastic Alternatives

Good News Notes: “Determined to make a change in the way consumers use single-use plastics, Jon Reed set his sights on certified home-compostable plastic alternatives traditionally found in the kitchen: Cling Wrap and Resealable Storage Bags. Founded by Reed in 2018, Compostic spent years developing products that provide the same functionality as traditional plastic wraps and resealable…