Responsible Production & the Circular Economy

For the companies developing consumer products, making the needed progress can seem unattainable in an age when plastic has become a reliable and affordable go-to for packaging. It might even feel like a distraction from other priorities.

Thousands of years ago, civilizations leveraged cyclical flooding for irrigation, let the land “rest” (lay fallow) every seventh year, and used terraced farming to produce food sustainably for their people, as well as external trade and philanthropic support of the poor.

Rice is the most commonly eaten food in the world, but conventional rice production has a hefty environmental impact. Growing rice is incredibly water-intensive, and flooded fields are ideal growing conditions for methane-emitting bacteria.

It will take a culture change for consumers to join the food-waste recycling movement; but the good news is, it’s underway. The more we bring the issue to the forefront, the further along we will be.

As we close out Earth Month, it seems only fitting to discuss one of the most complicated issues with greenhouse gas accounting in our nation’s food and beverage supply chains — Scope 3 emissions and the potential solutions.

Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing our planet today. With greenhouse gas emissions continuing to rise, it is imperative that we find innovative solutions to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

At O-I, glass is never trash and it is 100 percent recyclable, infinitely, making it an ideal package for the circular economy. In fact, about 80 percent of recycled glass containers are made into new glass packaging—in as little as 30 days.

Together, Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) and Pagès Group are accelerating the shift from plastic packaging to more sustainable materials.

The Home Depot expects that by the end of fiscal year 2028, more than 85% of U.S. and Canada’s sales in outdoor power equipment, specifically push lawn mowers and handheld outdoor equipment like leaf blowers and trimmers, will run on rechargeable battery technology instead of gas

Ron Cotterman, Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs at packaging solutions provider SEE (formerly Sealed Air), inspires and motivates younger generations to embrace purpose and passion in their efforts to safeguard food, products, lives, and the planet.