David Van Heuverswyn’s Post

Global #EveryCanCounts Survey ♻️ Circularity is no longer a buzzword. It’s entering the public vocabulary. The new study shows that more than half of people worldwide now define recyclable packaging as designed for circularity — meaning it can be recycled into the same type of product again and again.   At the same time, it reveals a strong public mandate for Deposit Return Schemes: — 71% support DRS — 88% believe what they return is truly recycled Yet awareness still lags. Only 17% identify aluminium drink cans as “the most recyclable” beverage packaging, despite the fact that cans are the most recycled beverage container in the world, with a 71% global recycling rate.   Infinitely recyclable and already widely collected, aluminium cans are proof that truly circular packaging is possible. The challenge now? Closing the awareness gap.   The survey was conducted across 16 countries where Every Can Counts is active. 🔗 Read the full findings: https://lnkd.in/d5Wz56a3   #CircularEconomy #Recycling #DRS #Sustainability #MetalRecyclesForever #GlobalSurvey #RecyclingHabits

Target rethinking 2025 recyclability, PCR, plastic reduction goals. "Target did not meet its 2025 goal to make all of its owned brand plastic packaging recyclable, compostable or reusable. The company acknowledged it will not close the significant gap between the 34% it achieved in 2024 and the 100% goal by 2025." Realistic goals need to be set based on supply, cost and regulatory constraints. #Target #Recyclability #goals

The EU approved new rules to cut food waste and make textile producers responsible for what happens to their products after use. Here’s what’s in it: - Binding targets to reduce food waste: 10% in production, 30% per person by 2030. - Mandatory producer responsibility for textiles: brands must fund collection, sorting, and recycling. For forward-thinking companies, this opens real opportunities: 🌿 Redesign products for durability and reuse. 🤝 Build circular partnerships across your entire value chains. 💡 Get ahead of compliance and turn it into brand trust. The question now is: who’s ready to be among the first movers, next to some of our current customers and projects? Have a look at our case study (link in comments) describing how we created 'the circular garment' within the EU-funded #regiogreentex project by working with value circles. If you’re exploring how these new EU rules might affect your #sustainability or innovation strategy, I’m happy to help unpack the implications and next steps. Soraya Wancour

 We create almost 300 million tonnes of plastic packaging a year, of which only about 9% is recycled. Europe has achieved a 65% recycling rate for packaging trash, proving that it is possible with the right infrastructure in place. Despite the fact that 39% of customers think package sustainability influences their choices, the system's capabilities and their needs don't always align. The most concerning aspect is that the global circularity rate, which is the percentage of materials that are actually reused, remains at a mere 6.9%, despite all of the advancements.  Worst of all, the worldwide circularity rate the proportion of materials that we really reuse remains at just 6.9% despite all of the breakthroughs. It's quite low.All of this leads me to believe that systems, not recycling, are the problem. In spite of the increasing demand from consumers, convenience still wins out most of the time. Although packaging is often "technically recyclable," it is not permitted in the places where it is sold. New ideas are being generated by businesses, but infrastructure and policy are not keeping up. Thankfully, there are methods (such refill and reuse) that can end this cycle, and pressure is growing as a result. However, it requires consumers, legislation, business, and design to work together. Do you find these figures surprising or do they confirm what you've seen on the ground? #packaging

🌱 Sustainability Impact Report: Our Environmental Contribution As we scale Canvas Promo Bags globally, we're committed to measuring and sharing our environmental impact. Here's what we've achieved in 2024: Plastic Reduction Impact: → 150,000+ canvas bags replaced plastic alternatives → Estimated 2.4 million plastic bags prevented from production → 18 tons of plastic waste avoided in landfills Carbon Footprint Optimization: → Sea freight for 78% of international shipments → Local sourcing reduced transport emissions by 34% → Renewable energy adoption in our production facilities Circular Economy Contribution: → Average bag lifespan: 2.3 years vs 3 weeks for plastic → 89% of clients report bags still in active use after 12 months → Repair and customization services extend product life Our goal for 2025: Achieve carbon-neutral operations for all North American and European deliveries. What sustainability metrics matter most to your business? #SustainabilityReport #CarbonNeutral #CircularEconomy #EnvironmentalImpact

Can a dry recycling process handle certain types of food packaging? ♻️ That’s the question #TeamDow aimed to answer with a study conducted alongside Iowa State University and the Association of Plastic Recyclers. And the results? Read about the study in the Sustainable Brands article to find out! https://lnkd.in/e7kh7Bu5 #Packaging #Recycling #Study #Experiment #CircularFuture

Can a dry recycling process handle certain types of food packaging? ♻️ That’s the question #TeamDow aimed to answer with a study conducted alongside Iowa State University and the Association of Plastic Recyclers. And the results? Read about the study in the Sustainable Brands article to find out! https://lnkd.in/e7kh7Bu5 #Packaging #Recycling #Study #Experiment #CircularFuture

Can a dry recycling process handle certain types of food packaging? ♻️ That’s the question #TeamDow aimed to answer with a study conducted alongside Iowa State University and the Association of Plastic Recyclers. And the results? Read about the study in the Sustainable Brands article to find out! https://lnkd.in/gMQP52DY #Packaging #Recycling #Study #Experiment #CircularFuture

Sustainability made visible. 👀 With PURECOLOUR®, we’re proud to pioneer a new standard in sustainable manufacturing, where container colours come directly from the recycled plastics themselves – not from artificial pigments. As visual proof of our planet-conscious process, PURECOLOUR® offers a whole host of benefits: 🌍 100% recyclable with no pigments or additives 💪 Plastics can be reused up to 10 times without compromising on material quality 🤝 Keeps material streams pure and recyclable for decades to come ♻️ Every product is truly one of a kind, reflecting daily recycling variances And, with customisable coloured clips, lids, and inserts, it's still easy to distinguish different waste fractions, simplifying sorting and boosting recycling efficiency. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ePa93XwV   #PURECOLOUR #CIRCULOGIC #CircularEconomy #WasteContainers

♻️ Strapping Circularity – Beyond the Low-Hanging Fruits Reuse is not a serious option for plastic strapping – safety must come first. On this point, we fully agree with the Strapping Alliance. But here’s the reality: 👉 Over 80% of strapping waste arises at very small sites (<100 kg/month). 👉 These volumes cannot be collected economically with “conventional” models. 👉 Yet they are essential for a truly circular solution. 📸 This is what it looks like – mixed, fragmented strapping waste in one of our collection boxes. At re-strap, we collect these fractions in our own logistics system, making them traceable and turning them into high-value Recyclate – for strap-to-strap and beyond. Today, the volumes collected across the market are still relatively small – and could probably be absorbed by band producers without difficulty. But the PPWR requires a significant increase in collection, and once larger parts of the strapping placed on the market are actually recovered, the situation will change fundamentally. The point is clear: band producers cannot realistically absorb the full amount of collected material on their own. That’s why regulation by the European Commission should remain open: high-quality Recyclate from strapping must also be available for other sustainable applications. Only this way can we ensure that all fractions are used – and that the loop truly closes in practice. 👉 Circularity must address all fractions – not just the convenient ones. #PPWR #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Recycling #Plastics #Innovation @project-alliance-strapping