The Future of Packaging: From Linear to CircularOnly 35 percent of the 240 million metric tons of waste generated in the United States alone gets recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This extraordinary collection shows how manufacturers can move from a one-way take-make-waste economy that is burying the world in waste to a circular, make-use-recycle economy. Steered by Tom Szaky, recycling pioneer, eco-capitalist, and founder and CEO of TerraCycle, each chapter is coauthored by an expert in his or her field. From the distinct perspectives of government leaders, consumer packaged goods companies, waste management firms, and more, the book explores current issues of production and consumption, practical steps for improving packaging and reducing waste today, and big ideas and concepts that can be carried forward. Intended to help every business from a small start-up to a large established consumer product company, this book serves as a source of knowledge and inspiration. The message from these pioneers is not to scale back but to innovate upward. They offer nothing less than a guide to designing ourselves out of waste and into abundance. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Plastic Packaging and the Linear Economy | 9 |
Where Did Public Recycling Come From and Where Is It Going? | 23 |
The State of the Recycling Industry | 39 |
Who Is Responsible for Recycling Packaging? | 55 |
Recycled versus Recyclable | 71 |
Designing Packaging for the Simple Recycler How MRFs Work | 89 |
The Myth of Biodegradability | 105 |
Designing for the New Consumer Abundance without Waste | 193 |
Changing the Paradigm to Enable and Inspire Responsible Consumption | 207 |
Value for Business in the Circular Economy | 221 |
The Future of Packaging | 239 |
Glossary | 243 |
Notes | 258 |
Acknowledgments | 279 |
| 280 | |
Less Isnt Always More | 121 |
But More Isnt Always Better | 143 |
The Forgotten Ones Preconsumer Waste | 159 |
Consumers Care | 181 |
About the Author | 297 |
About TerraCycle | 299 |
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Common terms and phrases
accessed May 21 aluminum beach plastic beverage bioplastics brands Bronner’s C H A P T carton circular economy collection companies compost consumers consumption containers cost create developed diapers disposable durable Ellen MacArthur end markets environment extended producer responsibility flexible Future of Packaging garbage global Head & Shoulders impact industry innovation investments landfill less lightweighted linear manufacturers materials recovery facility metal million MRFs municipal solid waste organic pack packaging design Packaging Digest paper PCR material plastic bottle plastic packaging plastic pollution Plastic Recyclers polyethylene post-consumer recycled pouches pre-consumer waste Procter & Gamble producer responsibility product stewardship products and packaging recy recycled material recycling infrastructure recycling programs recycling rate recycling system reduce refillable repurpose resin retailers reusable reuse single-use sort supply chain sustainability Szaky technologies TerraCycle today’s Unilever unrecyclable waste management waste streams World Economic Forum ZWTL