Breaking Down the Problem of Microplastics in the Great Lakes
A big challenge to the health of the Great Lakes takes a tiny form: microplastics, pieces of plastic no larger than 5 mm in size, or about the size of a pencil eraser. They have been documented throughout the lakes, in oceans, and even in tap and bottled water, sea salt, and other products we […]
Rewarding Recycling
Learnings from the World’s Highest-Performing Deposit Return Systems A series of trends are disrupting recycling and waste management conversations worldwide. The first is a growing awareness that plastic waste is polluting even the far reaches of our planet. Scientists have determined that plastic waste including litter is leaking into the oceans at a rate of […]
8 Ways the Circular Economy Will Transform how Business is Done
The circular economy produces goods and services that can be seen as superior in more ways than just the minimization of waste. Benefits of a “circular” business model above a “linear” or traditional approach include better customer support, lower costs and greater resilience, among other advantages. Businesses that don’t adopt a circular approach may see […]
How can a Circular Economy help Reduce Railways’ Scope 3 Emissions?
Railways must reduce emissions by 6 percent per year to reach Net Zero by 2050. While railways are one of the most energy-efficient ways to move both people and freight, they must still significantly cut their carbon footprint to meet sustainability targets. According to the IEA, railways must reduce their emissions by 6 percent per […]
Transforming Organic Waste and Generating Economic Benefits
Discovered in 1980 [1], nanocellulose is a nanomaterial derived from cellulose, the most abundant organic polymer on Earth and the major ingredient in organic waste streams. It is composed of nanofibers which are smaller than the width of a human hair, making it extremely lightweight [1]. It is also 4 times stronger than stainless steel […]
Rounding the Corner: Towards a Circular Economy in Canada
Canada repeatedly ranks in the top ten waste-producing countries globally. (1) Much of Canada’s waste piles up in landfills. (2) Ontario is expected to run out of landfill capacity by 2032, and even sooner if the United States prevents Ontario’s waste from crossing the border. (3) Excessive waste is a hallmark of a modern, linear […]
Rollout of the First Major Residential Plastic Film Recycling Program in the U.S. is Kicking off in the Great Lakes Region
WM and Dow announced the launch of a bold new collaboration to improve residential recycling for hard-to-recycle plastic films by allowing consumers in select markets to recycle these materials directly in their curbside recycling. According to The Recycling Partnership, currently, only 1.9% of U.S. households(1) have access to curbside plastic film recycling, which is the […]
From ‘Recyclable’ to ‘Recycled’: Process Innovation Makes the Circular Economy Real
You’ve seen the photos. Mountains of plastic trash on land; islands of plastic trash floating on the sea; wildlife encumbered by plastic; protestors calling for bans on plastics—and legislators listening and acting. On the other hand, plastics are incredibly useful polymers—strong, relatively light, and durable, they enable a world of life enhancing and life-saving applications. […]
Making Recycling Fun
When students actively learn through fun and engaging experiences, they have a better chance of retaining that learned knowledge and incorporating it into various aspects of their lives. And when it comes to learning about recycling, it can make a big difference – not only at school but also at home and in their community. […]
Plastics: A Surprising Lodestar for the Circular Economy
Look around you. Literally, take a moment and scan your surroundings. Whoever you are and wherever you are, I bet you are surrounded by items made of plastics. Additionally, I would venture to guess that you would not take kindly to suddenly losing access to them. Whether you are a firefighter at the station waiting […]