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In the April edition of Set in Stone®, we’re ramping up to unveil incredible innovations at NPE Orlando in just a few days, participating in stakeholder discussions around the Global Plastics Treaty, and shining a spotlight on the successes of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency.
OKEANOS ® BUSINESS NEWSLETTER – April 2024
The word is out! You’ve probably been hearing a lot about our highly loaded calcium carbonate compounds lately…and we know you’re curious.
Our technical team will be out in force at NPE2024 in Orlando, Florida, and at Argenplas in Buenos Aires, Argentina to answer all of your burning questions.
How can I safely run stone through my machine? Does Made From Stone really increase tensile strength? What about other mechanical properties like tear resistance? How does it affect density? Does it really increase production rates and save manufacturers energy and time?
You’ve got questions; we’ve got the answers. Meet us to learn more about how Made From Stone technology can reduce costs for you while simultaneously reducing plastic pollution and CO2 emissions for your clients by as much as 70%!
Schedule a time to meet with our technical team!
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” has been ingrained into society since 1976. While the slogan has been most commonly trotted to promote recycling as the ultimate end-of-life strategy, more and more global brands are now turning to another method…”
Source reduction, or the act of reducing harmful elements of products from design and manufacture to use and disposal, has recently been taking center stage as global CPG brands including Starbucks, Coca-Cola, and McDonalds announce products made with less plastic.
To achieve this goal, these global giants are employing creative solutions including offering cups without plastic lids or with sip-style holes instead of adding plastic straws and using more recycled material in place of “virgin” or new petrochemically-derived plastic. In the case of Starbucks, the global coffee giant recently announced a roll-out of new cold cups made with 20% less plastic, citing the cup’s ability to prevent up to 13.5 million pounds of plastic from reaching landfills.
Starbucks Vice President of Product Innovation Amelia Landers acknowledges that “there is no one silver bullet to a sustainable cup,” and that complying with waste management infrastructure and consumer behavior worldwide often involves employing several solutions including source reduction, reusables, recycling, and compostability.
Scientists agree that less plastic entering the environment at the point of manufacture means less harm at the end of the product’s life. Join these consumer-product giants in reducing the amount of plastic in your products and packaging today.
Which major Middle Eastern is leading the charge in environmental policy? The answer may surprise you…
On Episode 11 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Monir Bou Ghanem Policy Advisor at the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi. In this episode, Monir explains how environmental advocates are at a crossroads for policy, what drives environmental protection in the UAE, and how Abu Dhabi enacted the world’s most successful single-use bag ban.
There’s been much ambitious conversation about the world finally coming together to develop a global strategy to deal with plastic pollution, but are we getting anywhere?
The answer is complicated. This month, Okeanos attended INC-4 in Ottawa among our esteemed partners of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty(BCGPT). During INC-4, key government representatives and negotiators gathered to discuss the urgent issue of plastic pollution. The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee aims to address plastic pollution and move towards a binding treaty and agreement in crucial areas such as restrictions, phase-outs, avoidable plastics, product design, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). With over 5,000 attendees over the past week emphasizes the critical significance of this INC meeting.
Okeanos, a member of BCGPT Policy Working Group, participated in an interactive lunch ahead of the key negotiation days ofINC-4. Attended by Government delegations and High-Level business leaders, the room discussed challenges and the need for realistic and feasible action plans to mitigate plastic pollution and create a level playing field for all. Okeanos’ continuous participation in the Business Coalition emphasized the company’s commitment to being part of the solution and the need to consider business opinions in the development of effective policies.
Despite the hope for progress made during INC-4, it is crucial to acknowledge the presence of countries hindering the necessary intersectional work required for a comprehensive and effective treaty. Over INC meetings, such countries have been resistant to incorporating intersessional approaches during treaty negotiations, impeding progress towards a binding agreement and limiting the potential of an ambitious text.
While the outcomes of this meeting are yet to be determined, the overall atmosphere reflected hope for an ambitious treaty. Okeanos’ attendance at this significant event showcased the company’s dedication to working alongside businesses and governments in developing strategies to address the global plastic pollution crisis and foster a sustainable future. Okeanos’ participation highlights the importance of including diverse perspectives and businesses’ opinions in policy-making processes.
Keep up with the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty here!
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The future of barrier-film packaging is here! Packaging everything from potato chips to wet wipes with less environmental impact is now possible. Meet our mono-material multi-layer replacement for metalized barrier films. Our groundbreaking formulation creates barrier films with comparable properties to multi-layer structures without the need for these metalized layers. Why is this such a big deal?
Want to take them for a test drive? Keep your eyes peeled for free snacks wrapped in Made From Stone barrier film at NPE Orlando May 6-10th and visit us at booth #S21193! Click here for a free ticket to NPE
We are incredibly proud to welcome our newest distribution partner Inchpac, to the Okeanos family. One of the premier suppliers to Ecuador’s booming beverage and plastics sector, Inchpac will serve as a valuable bridge between Made From Stone technology and the Ecuadorian market. “We have worked to strengthen our sustainable impact for more than 35 years in the Ecuadorian plastics industry.” explains Hans Schuback, Inchpac General Manager. “We have no doubt that Made From Stone is making an excellent contribution toward achieving this goal, and we are proud to be a part of it’s success.” Meet the team from Inchpac at the Okeanos Booth at NPE 2024!
This month we’re celebrating our Legal Administrator Agustina Rigoni. Read on to learn more about what inspires and motivates Agustina. Can you share a “Eureka!” moment when you realized the potential of Made From Stone’s technology? My “Eureka!” moment was during a presentation I witnessed when I first entered the company. As I began to understand how our innovative compound made from calcium carbonate could be a game-changer in the fight against plastic pollution, I knew we had something revolutionary on our hands. Is there a book, podcast, or piece of art that has left a lasting impact on you? How has it influenced your approach to challenges and opportunities? I recently watched a documentary called “The Flood,” produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, and it resonated with me. The film does an incredible job of highlighting the urgent need for action on climate change. It’s very inspiring and I truly recommend it to anyone interested in understanding the environmental challenges we face. What advice would you give to aspiring sustainability professionals who are looking to make a positive impact? My advice to aspiring sustainability professionals is to never underestimate the power of collaboration and to not be afraid to think outside the box. The challenges we face today require creative solutions and a willingness to work together across disciplines. If you could have a conversation with someone from history about the importance of sustainability, who would it be and why? I would probably choose to have a conversation with Mahatma Gandhi. His teachings on non-violence and environmental stewardship continue to be as relevant today as they were when he lived. It would be a very valuable and amazing experience.
Want to join our Okeanos team?
Check out our careers page at Okeanos Jobs.
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