|
|
||
|
In the latest edition of Set in Stone®, we’re still buzzing from the overwhelming interest in our technology at NPE 2024, looking ahead to our appearance at Argenplás 2024 and taking a look at a wild new trend in consumer packaging.
OKEANOS ® BUSINESS NEWSLETTER – May 2024
Here at Okeanos, we’re big fans of the waste management hierarchy – our technology first and foremost celebrates the top of the pyramid…reduce. But are the world’s largest brands following suit?
A recent report by Science Advances says…no. In fact, after a five-year study conducted between 2018 and 2022, scientists found that “every 1% increase in plastic production is associated with a 1% increase in plastic pollution in the environment.” Of the 56 brands contributing to 50% of global plastic pollution during those years, the study identified food and beverage companies as disproportionately large polluters.
Co-author of the study Marcus Eriksen of The 5 Gyres Institute explains, “The industry likes to put the responsibility on the individual (…) But it’s the brands, it’s their choice for the kinds of packaging [they use].”
The team behind the study hopes its findings will encourage forthcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation to hold brands accountable for the plastic pollution resulting from their production.
Okeanos is participating in this conversation alongside our partners at the Business Coalition for a Global Plastic Treaty.
Learn more about our work with the treaty.
A handful of innovative brands are shining on store shelves with clever solutions that are making their customers do a double-take!
The marketing phenomenon, called pattern interruption, is now being referred to as “chaos packaging,” with brands pulling packaging inspiration from other industries to unconventionally display and store their products. Here are a few of our favorite examples:
Beloved by chefs and Tik-Tokers alike, olive oil company Graza recently rolled out “beer can” style re-fills for their Extra Virgin Oil Oil, which is currently packaged in a squeeze bottle. The cans, which the founders claim maintain the maximum integrity of the olive oil, also offer customers a recyclable purchase option for those looking to re-use their plastic squeeze bottles.
Vacation Classic’s Whipped Sunscreen will be the belle of the beach this summer. The silky dessert-topping inspired dispenser for the brand’s SPF 30 could easily be mistaken for something delicious.
Flo, a UK-based sustainable personal care products company is packaging their tampons in a paper-board ice cream container, shaking up the feminine hygiene products aisle at your local pharmacy.
Which are your favorites? Let us know on Instagram!
Follow us at @WeAreMadeFromStone!
Last week at NPE, we unveiled a highly loaded calcium carbonate paper-like film replacement for paper and laminated food-service products, enabling our clients to re-imagine applications including fast food containers, fountain drink cups, trays, and sleeves with a lower CO2 footprint and less cost.
The paper industry faces challenges on multiple fronts including a global timber shortage, supply chain issues, and rising energy costs. Between 2021-2022, leading paper producers reported price increases of as much as 25%. In response to a shift toward global sustainability, the industry also faces questions on the ultimate sustainability of paper products when factoring in deforestation, emissions resulting from production, energy use in processing, and an inability to reuse.
For example, globally, studies estimate that 500 billion disposable coffee cups are used annually. Unlike these paper cups which are typically unable to be recycled due to an interior coating of plastic or wax, cups Made From Stone have a mono-material structure. This makes it possible for cups Made From Stone to have:
A smaller CO2 footprint than paper products.
Less land use requirements.
Smaller water consumption impact.
The ability to be recycled.
No Paper Cost or laminating Costs.
Just like Okeanos’ other applications, Made From Stone compound used to make board film is a drop-in solution on existing manufacturing equipment, allowing adoption of the technology without having to adapt supply chains. Additionally, paper-like board film Made From Stone met APR guidelines for recyclability as verified by third-party independent testing. Board film Made From Stone offers an immediate, sustainable, cost-effective alternative to paper products.
Ready to re-imagine your paper products in stone?
Argenplás is coming. Will you be there?
In just a few days, Okeanos will be exhibiting alongside Plast Sur, one of our incredible distribution partners in Buenos Aires, AR at Argenplásfrom June 4-7th.
With 25 years of rich history in the industry, Plast Sur has set itself apart as a forward-thinking, driven manufacturer bringing their clients the most competitive offerings in the market today.
Find Okeanos and Plast Sur at Pabellón Verde – Stand F4C at Argenplás 2024!
|
This month we’re celebrating Alvaro Fernandez, Gerente General of Okeanos Dominicana, our incredible distribution partner in the Dominican Republic. Read on to learn more about what inspires and motivates. Can you share a “Eureka!” moment when you realized the potential of Made From Stone’s technology? My Eureka moment with the Made From Stone technology came during my first industrial runs with two clients. It just makes so much sense; it’s a no-brainer why we should include Made From Stone compounds in packaging production. You start with an existing industrial process, and the only real change required is blending the compound into your existing formula. Out of the machine comes a product virtually identical to one made from 100% petroleum resin. At the end, I was holding in my hand both bags and bleach bottles. They weighed the same or less as their predecessors, felt the same if not better than the original product, and the production team, which was justifiably skeptical, looked at me and were basically speechless. We held in our hands something that seemed impossible. It is one of those things you must see to believe, and I believe it. What is the most obvious sign of climate change where you live? Living in the Caribbean, where tourism and beach life are the primary economic activities and pastimes, the most significant and visible sign of climate change is the large waves of sargassum that arrive during the summer. Research indicates that this phenomenon can be attributed to both warmer waters and waste runoff, which promote algae blooms and excessive growth of aquatic plants. Sargassum is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has always been part of the natural cycle. However, in recent years, the amount that washes up on some shores during hot summer months has significantly affected the quality of life and tourism throughout the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. How has the conversation around sustainability changed in recent years in the Dominican Republic ? The conversation regarding sustainability has changed in the Dominican Republic in recent years. Where before, as is the case in many emerging economies, efficiency and output were the primary goals, now it is evident that both the public and private sectors are increasingly focused on finding sustainable solutions to various environmental challenges. These efforts are primarily aimed at reducing waste from items such as single-use plastics and litter, which are particularly noticeable in aquatic environments. This issue directly impacts one of the country’s most important economic activities: tourism. I believe that as younger generations enter the workforce, they bring with them new information and an increased awareness of environmental changes. Consequently, the market and new industrial leaders are seeking more sustainable processes to mitigate the impact of human activities on the environment. The challenge lies in balancing form, function, and cost, and I truly feel Okeanos’ Made From Stone technology has achieved this balance. Want to join our Okeanos team?
|
