Robert Little’s Post

I love to see these initiatives. We need to change the way business works to make a difference to reduce waste and pollution. If your business needs support thinking through how to approach circularity please reach out! Our resource recovery and #waste team works alongside our #sustainablepackaging, #sustainableproducts, #LCA, and #circularrevenuemodels teams to deliver results! #sustainability #circularity #wastemanagement

Reusable cup initiative unveiled at California coffee shops for sustainability trial Starbucks patrons in Napa Valley, California, are experiencing a shift in their beverage packaging as the renowned coffee chain initiates a sustainability trial. In lieu of the standard plastic or paper cups, customers at Starbucks locations in Napa will now receive their drinks in a new, purpose-designed cup intended for return, cleaning, and reuse through the “Borrow A Cup” programme for a limited period. The initiative aligns with Starbucks’ global commitment to make all customer packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable. This trial, implemented in 12 Starbucks locations in Napa and Petaluma, focuses on high-traffic areas, anticipating increased cup returns. Notably, the new reusable plastic cups offer a recycling solution for hot coffee cups, previously disposed of in regular trash due to their plastic coating. Via ThePackHub Innovation Zone #packaging #packaginginnovation #sustainability #starbucks

Here's a cheeky sneak peek at our bio-based and compostable reusable Coffee Coffee Cup that we've been developing for Starbucks. These aren't the final design. This was a test at actual cup scale to see how our material behaved in the injection moulding machine—the exact same machine that is used for moulding plastic products! We're super happy with the results and that it was another successful test on the road to regenerative innovation. To help Starbucks make their target of '50% reduction in single-use cup waste' even more sustainable, we set out to design a reusable cup to take their place that wasn't made from plastic but instead is made from a regenerative natural material. Our plan is to divert spent coffee grounds collected from Starbucks stores. We then upcycle the coffee grounds by combining them with PHA (a naturally occurring biopolymer made by microbes) to create a unique biocomposite that can be injection moulded into cups. The end result is a reusable cup that can fully bioassimilate (even in marine environments) and is backyard compostable. From nature, back to nature. More updates coming soon. #CircularEconomy #PlasticFree #NaturalMaterials

♻️☕ STARBUCKS TO LEAD CITY-WIDE REUSABLE CUP PROJECT IN CALIFORNIA More than 30 eateries, including Starbucks, KFC, Dunkin', Burger King and Peet's Coffee, have collaborated on a first-of-its-kind reusable cup pilot in the city of Petaluma in California. The trial will be led by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, which convenes the NextGen Consortium, a project co-founded by Starbucks and McDonald's that is on a mission to overhaul single-use food packaging and drive reuse. It counts The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo as sector lead partners. How does the reusable cup project work? Starting on August 5, when customers order a takeaway latte at one of eight participating Starbucks stores in Petaluma, or a Coke at Burger King, for the duration of the trial, they’ll be served the drink in the purple cups branded ‘Sip, Return, Repeat’ for free. Once they’re done with the beverage, they can return it to one of more than 60 collection points spread across participating businesses and public spaces in Petaluma. They don’t need to wash these, or even remove the straw or lid – that’ll be taken care of at the next step. If they take the cup home, they can also schedule a pickup. The initiative is designed to make reuse as easy as throwing a single-use cup for customers. After the cups are returned, they’re collected, professionally washed and sanitised, and returned to stores for further use by reusable packaging solutions company Muuse. Any cups found to be unfit for reuse will be recycled locally. Over the next three months, the initiative will collect baseline data to measure customer participation and the climate impact of offering reusables as the default choice, with an eye on whether the model can viably be scaled. Read the full article for more information on this new initiative: https://lnkd.in/eedX2ctf #GreenQueen #circulareconomy #packaging #sustainability #plastic #pollution

I am so angry at Vapiano and other restaurants that don't think about a more sustainable packaging solutions for delivery 😡🗑 Yesterday we have ordered pasta from Vapiano, and they have delivered it in what seemed like high-quality plastic containers. You may want to use 1-2 of them at home, but I don't need any more. Thus, I decided to bring them back to the store so that they can be reused. The only thing they told me was that I should through them away 🗑. This is such a crazy waste of resources. If it is not economically viable to take these containers back, then please think about an alternative. Vapiano has been using them for over 10 years! Imagine the sheer volume of plastic waste generated by over 100 Vapiano stores worldwide using similar packaging. However, considering the Vapiano story, this might have not been the only non-sustainable decision they have taken 🤔 10 years ago, sustainable alternatives may have been scarce, but today, there are numerous eco-friendly options available We will not order at a restaurant a second time, if I don't see them thinking about a meaningful solution for their packaging. I wanted to share this experience in the hope that more people will consider sustainability when ordering from Vapiano or other restaurants. 🌱 #SustainabilityMatters

DID YOU KNOW... We use 250 billion single-use cups globally each year — the majority of which are thrown away. **That's potentially also 250 billion harmful plastic straws.** NextGen Consortium and Closed Loop Partners (spearheading an upcoming reusables pilot program with Starbucks and other participating locations (https://returnmycup.com/)) estimate those are the numbers. Really. Big. Trashy. Numbers. Act NOW: Ditch the microplastics and waste -- switch to Wave Ware compostable, ecofriendly/soil-friendly straws. The world is thirsty for a sustainable solution to a widespread need, and Wave Ware is ready -- are you? **READ the story from The Cool Down: https://lnkd.in/e_ibC6s3 #renewable #sustainable #compostable #waveware #straws #bepartofthesolution #ditchandswitch #starbucks #sustainability #thecooldown

What will it take to get companies to embrace reusable packaging? Easy, stop obsessing about OTG food and drink (where it's tough) and concentrate on non-foods where it's so much easier. Just look how brilliantly DTC brands are doing (see my post earlier today). Start with the easy wins, not the unwinnable. (Same goes for everything in business) https://lnkd.in/euNRrDm9

Looking to solve against the plastic K-cup dilemma, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. has revolutionized their coffee delivery system into sustainable K-Rounds, wrapped by food-grade algae (bye bye, plastic!). Innovation isn't just an idea - it's a culture and it starts from the top. Here's how the Keurig team did it. 1. The team started innovating around core consumer behaviors and needs. 2. The innovation team operated totally independently of the larger organization. 3. The team had carte blanche access to all of the data - consumer insights, financials, behaviors, design schematics. 4. The team was funded like a startup leveraging a seed funding structure 5. Most importantly - there was no time horizon to deliver. The CEO of Keurig Dr Pepper said, "You can't schedule innovation". Check out more in the Fast Company article here: https://lnkd.in/efWPRKNe #innovation #usercentereddesign #gotomarketstrategy

🌿 Exciting News - Packaging Sneak Peak! 🌿 We are thrilled to announce a pioneering partnership between re:Package and a leading grocery brand, setting a new standard in the industry with our latest innovation in prepared foods salad packaging. 🥗✨ In our continuous quest for design forward and eco-friendly (leaning) solutions, we've taken a significant leap forward by designing a stunning reusable salad container that's not just about aesthetics, but is a true game-changer in reusable packaging opportunities. Integrating advanced bio-plastic elements, this packaging is engineered to be both durable and eco-conscious, aligning perfectly with the brands commitment to elevating the often mundane grocery and prepared foods salad bar experience 🌍 But the benefits don't stop at sustainability. This innovative packaging solution is also set to revolutionize the economic landscape for our grocery partners. By transitioning to these reusable containers, they're projecting an astounding 70% reduction in overall packaging costs, proving that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with financial savvy. 💰🍃 This initiative marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a greener future, demonstrating that with the right approach and collaboration, we can make substantial strides in reducing waste and promoting a circular economy. Stay tuned as we roll out this groundbreaking solution, leading the way for a more sustainable and cost-effective future in the grocery sector. Together, we're not just changing packaging; we're redefining the standards for environmental stewardship in the industry. 🌟 #Sustainability #Innovation #EcoFriendly #ReusablePackaging #BioPlastics #SustainableSolutions #GroceryRetail #EnvironmentalImpact #CostSavings #CircularEconomy #repackageRevolution

Are we designing branded rubbish? After attending a seminar on the future of sustainable packaging, it really got us thinking about our role in the production of waste. As a brand-focused design agency (and as individual consumers) there is a lot to ponder. The ‘real cost’ of cheap – Packaging may be cheap, but what’s the real cost in the end? Should single use plastic packaging, often with a 5 minute consumer interaction, live a life of eternal existence in landfill? Legislation moves slowly – The EU has made great steps towards alternatives to single use plastics (and we are catching up in NZ). Single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws and food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene are all outlawed – but we can’t afford to wait until legislation forces further change. This is the time to be proactive and seek better alternatives. Reusable packaging works – and it’s being implemented at scale internationally. There are great benefits for both consumers (reimbursement incentives), businesses (manufacturing efficiency, cost-efficient as scale grows), and of course, the environment (minimal waste). There are options – Single use plastic has many alternatives, including: reusable, returnable, fully recyclable, and compostable. We need to understand the difference, and make it easier for consumers to access better options. Reverse logistics – Have you considered the full life cycle of your product, and its impact in every step of the chain? Can you join forces with others to make scalability viable? Production has come a long way in the last few years, so making the shift to green is more realistic than ever. We MUST design out waste – There’s no perfect solution (yet), but the answer can only be brought about through creativity and innovation. We need to think differently and build on the pioneering developments and practices for the benefit of humanity. Special mention to Kim Renshaw from Reuse Aotearoa, Nicola Turner from Mainstream Green and Sian Sutherland from A Plastic Planet for challenging us to confront our wasteful reality. For reports and useful resources check out reuseaotearoa.org.nz