Emma Liggins
ArticleCan reusable period products absorb the leak of packaging waste?
Is stigma around periods fueling the rise in menstrual product packaging waste? Are we over-packaging single-use solutions? Could a transition into reusable products help, or is the answer more complicated? We answer all these questions in this edition of the Brief.
ArticleThe Brief: How shareholders can (and can’t) improve companies’ packaging performance
After 40% of General Mills shareholders voted in favour of a sustainable packaging progress report, only for the move to be written off as ‘unnecessary’, we ask the question: how far can investors really influence a company’s sustainable packaging practices? We weigh up the options and their effectiveness in this edition of the Brief.
ArticleThe ultimate guide to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in 2025
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is now in force, but does it address your biggest concerns? In this edition of the Brief, we break down the official text to discover how well it aligns with industry feedback – and what it means for you in the coming years.
ArticleHow can we make online marketplaces more sustainable?
On the heels of our previous investigation into fast-fashion packaging, we turn our attention to online marketplaces. What is the outlook on sustainable packaging in consumer-to-consumer sales, and can it ever be fully enforced? If so, who is responsible – the sellers or the platforms? We ask all these questions in this edition of the Brief.
ArticleWhat’s the problem with tethered bottle caps?
Why do so many consumers hate tethered bottle caps? Despite their role in ensuring that plastic lids can be recycled properly, numerous viral social posts over the past year have branded them as uncomfortable, inconvenient, and frustrating. Why, and what can be done to improve their reputation? Emma Liggins finds out.
ArticleThe inside scoop on the Sustainable Packaging Summit 2024
So many valuable and in-depth conversations were held at the Sustainable Packaging Summit this year. To give you a taste, this edition of the Brief provides a snapshot of the onstage discussions, from regulatory limitations to data collection to start-up pitches.
ArticleThe Brief: Everything you need to know about INC-5
On 25th November – 1st December 2024, the final round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty will be held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in Busan, Republic of Korea. In this edition of The Brief, we revisit the four Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings that have taken place so far and track the treaty’s progress in preparation for INC-5.
ArticleThe Brief: A complete guide to plastic crediting
In June, the World Bank published a paper looking into the potential benefits and risks of plastic crediting with recommendations for the future. In this edition of The Brief, we take a closer look at this report to learn more about what plastic crediting is, how it works, where it is at present, and how it could develop to help fund the fight against plastic pollution.
ArticleThe ultimate guide to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in 2024
Last December, we brought you a comprehensive rundown of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation’s development throughout 2023. Now we’ve passed the halfway mark of 2024, and there are further developments to record. In this edition of the Brief, we catch our readers up to speed with the legislation as it stands, and how the industry has responded.
ArticleThe Brief: A whistle-stop tour of packaging’s history – and what it teaches us
In the packaging industry, we’re often looking to the future, pursuing the next innovations in line with evolving demands. But we had to start somewhere; how did our predecessors pack their goods? How does it compare to today’s packaging landscape, and what can we learn from the past? We explore it all in the latest edition of The Brief.
ArticleThe Brief: Reuse vs. single use – which is better for the environment?
What has a lower environmental impact – single-use packaging, or reusable alternatives? In this edition of The Brief, we take a look at the Nordic Co-operation’s in-depth investigation into disposable versus washable food and e-commerce packaging, before extending our query into the healthcare sector.
ArticleHow to keep ‘conflict minerals’ out of packaging
Many of us couldn’t say where the metals used to make our mobile phones came from, let alone our packaging. But when their consumption could be funding conflict overseas, how do we ensure we responsibly source our minerals? In this edition of The Brief, we uncover the realities of mining ‘conflict minerals’, the rules in place to prevent exploitation, and how packaging companies have responded.
ArticleThe Brief: How bad is ‘greenwashing’ in fast fashion packaging?
Fast fashion often comes under fire for promoting the overconsumption of clothing, but where does its packaging come in? What are big brands doing to overcome packaging waste, how reliable are their claims, and what can we expect in the future? We cover it all in this edition of The Brief.
ArticleOxo-(bio)degradables: the who, what, and why of breaking down fossil-based plastics
The legal battle surrounding ‘oxo-degradable plastics’ has extended as far as the European General Court, which recently doubled down on its decision to ban such materials on the EU market. But what are they and why are they so controversial? In this edition of the Brief, we dig deeper into their turbulent history and the claims made on both sides of the fence.
ArticleThe Brief: Getting to grips with seaweed in packaging
In the latest edition of the Brief, we cover everything we know about seaweed-based packaging so far – how it works, where its sustainability claims come from, what designs are currently on the market, and the developments to look out for in the future.
ArticleThe Brief: Chemical versus mechanical recycling: an ongoing debate
In this edition of The Brief, we revisit the plentiful discussions held around chemical recycling and look for common ground upon which key players across the packaging industry can build towards a more sustainable recycling chain.
ArticleThe Brief: Where is the packaging industry at when it comes to recycling flexible plastics?
Flexible plastics are commonly utilized in packaging across industrial sectors, but they are notoriously difficult to recycle. This edition of the Brief looks back on the progress made in the pursuit of recyclability in recent months and weighs up the remaining challenges faced by manufacturers and recyclers alike.
ArticleGreenhouse gas emissions are 9% lower in mechanical than chemical recycling, says Oeko-Institut
According to a report by the Oeko-Institut, mechanical recycling has a stronger claim to reaching carbon neutrality than its chemical counterpart; an estimated decrease in emissions of 2.599 kg CO2eq per kg of recyclate in mechanical recycling has led the company to claim that pyrolysis should be a ‘last resort’ when recycling plastic packaging.
ArticleWhat did the Debate on the State of the European Union tell us about the future of sustainable packaging?
What impact will the EU’s ‘green transition’ have on the push towards sustainability and how far can we expect it to go? Emma Liggins consults the key talking points in search of an answer.