US Plastics Pact Gives Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award
Smile Compostable Solutions Recognized for Coffee Pod Product
The , a consortium dedicated to promoting a circular economy for plastics, has awarded its first “Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award” to . The award showcases companies that are eliminating problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging while taking actions to ensure that 100% of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. Smile was recognized as a 911爆料网 making strides to advance sustainable packaging solutions that contribute to a circular economy.
Smile’s coffee pods are a convenient replacement for standard PP coffee pods, compatible with Keurig or Nespresso brewing machines. While some PP containers recently became eligible for “widely recyclable” status in the US, meaning that they have passed a 60% threshold, PP coffee pods remain a challenge to recycle because of their small size and composite structure.
From Left: Emily Tipaldo, US Plastics Pact Executive Director; Michael Sands, Smile Compostable Solutions CEO; and Ashley C Hall, Sustainable Packaging Lead for Walmart.
Photo Credit: Smile Beverage Werks
Smile was chosen by a panel of expert judges in circularity and packaging engineering from leading retailers and sustainability organizations. Criteria were the improved environmental impact of the product, likelihood of commercial viability and the level of potential impact in moving the industry towards circularity.
The compostability category judges how well a product meets the 's composting certification requirements, which include passing standards ASTM D6400 and D6868.
Related Content
-
Plastics Technology Year in Review: Your Favorite Reads of 2024
A year-end review of the top stories showcasing industry trends, advancements and expert insights. Revisit the articles that captured the attention of the plastics community.
-
Scaling Up Sustainable Solutions for Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials
Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies Group helps industrial partners tackle the sustainability challenges presented by fiber-reinforced composite materials.
-
Multilayer Solutions to Challenges in Blow Molding with PCR
For extrusion blow molders, challenges of price and availability of postconsumer recycled resins can be addressed with a variety of multilayer technologies, which also offer solutions to issues with color, processability, mechanical properties and chemical migration in PCR materials.
