Transition to Sustainable Packaging- Let's Catch Up #16
RecycleSmart Funds Raised, app for product carbon footprint, reducing impact of refrigeration, Greenhouse Accelerator 2024, first augmented reality laptop, Capi zero alc range launches
Melbourne Design week has concluded for 2024. It was great to see a core theme of circular economy across several of the event’s I attended. The conversations discussed the difficulties, opportunities and ways to transition. It’s important to understand, circular economy isn’t just about reusing, and recycling but more a total system adaptation to address large scale issues from climate to product stewardship to consumer equity.
Keep an eye out later this week for my thoughts on Melbourne Design Week.
What’s on This Week?
State of Industry- Recycled Content Pack Guidelines (Free, Online)
Australian Institute of Packaging
A must have for anyone in packaging. As we move forward with revamping our recycling system to ensure you and your business understand what is required for on-pack communication.
Register Here
Generative AI and the Future of Home (Fee, Online)
Design Institute of Australia
Covering how we, as designers, ethically engage and use AI in design across fields.
Event Details
Are you an Agtech start-up or have a great idea?
LaunchVic has announced $50k in funding for Agtech start-ups.
Apply Here
Let’s get into it!
UPDATE from LCU #10
RecycleSmart has just raised $1.15 million to support their national expansion of services. RecycleSmart offers collection and recycling of ‘hard to recycle’ items that are not picked up in kerbside collection. It’s great to see the groundswell of support for this venture, let’s hope to see it in a neighborhood near you soon!
Read Full Update
A Guide on How to Convert to Sustainable Packaging
Packaging
Credit Packaging News
I want to emphasise the importance of making sure you understand the impacts of your new sustainable solution life cycle including its provenance. This new wave of stewardship rewards businesses that have no ‘skeletons’ in the closet, promoting those that support an equitable supply chain which you can promote as a competitive edge over competitors. Here are the key take-aways from the guidelines. Don’t change everything at once, try to transition one or two elements, such as material. Order small volumes first to test and evaluate before scale-up. Promoting new packaging and educating customers is critical to making a successful transition. Apply a first in first out mentality, ensuring you do not waste your existing packaging before going to a sustainable pack solution.
Full Guide Here
New App to Help Check Product Emissions and Reduce Footprint
Sustainability
Credit Getty Images
EcoSwitch is an app developed by researchers from The George Institute for Global Health to provide a sustainability rating for consumers to understand the impact of particular packaged goods. Based on a study conducted by the researchers, they found that understanding and making the switch to less impactful products could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in food by up to 26%. As there is no standardised system for rating products and a change would require on-pack changes for displaying, the researchers hope that an app can step into the void and provide an easy solution for people wanting to change their consumption habits.
Read Full Article
Refrigeration, A Big Challenge That Could Make the World Better
Sustainability
Credit Junjie Xu (Pexels)
A recent study from the University of Michigan found that almost 41% of food waste globally could be eliminated with a fully refrigerated supply chain. This is incredible considering the amount of resources used to grow and distribute food. Additionally with a proposed increase, refrigeration already consumers up to 20% of the world’s energy use. We need to consider ways to reduce the footprint of refrigeration. That’s where start-ups such as ELIot Energy can step up to help reduce energy consumption by retrofitting fridges with plug and play battery solutions. With renewables such as wind and solar fluctuating, ELIot systems capture and store energy at excess load times to bridge times of low renewable energy production in the grid. I saw ELIot Energy pitch last week as well as discussing their recent acceptance into Pepsico’s Greenhouse Accelerator. With innovations such as this that can retrofit to any existing hardware is amazing as it does not require redesign or new refrigeration units. Lowering impact and improving efficiency of existing systemes. Think about every corner store you go to that has fridges running 24/7, there is a massive opportunity to reduce their environmental impact.
Article on Refrigeration Across Supply Chain
ELIot Energy Website
Pepsico 2024 Greenhouse Accelerator Program Finalists
Innovation
Credit Food Processing News
Pepsico’s Greenhouse Accelerator has listed their top finalists for 2024. The Accelerator is funding the start-ups to further develop and pilot their solutions in the market. One of the finalists is ELIot Energy from the previous article on refrigeration. Other finalists focus on Agtech and sustainable solutions.The start-ups include carbon reducing tech, EV conversions for business logistics, new recycling technology, new compostable materials and biowaste to gas technology.
See All Finalists
World’s First Augmented Reality Laptop
Product Design
Credit Sightful
Sightful have launched the Spacetop G1 that partners AR/MR technology with conventional laptops to deliver a seamless experience. With the intention to improve productivity by providing an expansive ‘screen’ that is much larger than a laptop whilst reducing the barriers of adoption through the familiar laptop format. The use of a timeless wayfinder glasses design also adds to the experience, no oversized glasses sitting on your face, just a cool, calm under pressure vibe.
Read Full Article
Capi Launches Zero-alc Range
Beverages
Credit Capi
The Free Form range from Capi has just been released promising a new era in adult beverages and alcohol alternatives. The range was a collaboration with bartenders to deliver a complex and deep flavour range. Coming to a Coles near you soon.
Read Full Article
All About Beer! Some Quick Picks of Bold Beer.
