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In the February edition of Set in Stone®, we’re getting ahead of sustainable dairy and circular plastics and celebrating a culture of growth.
OKEANOS ® BUSINESS NEWSLETTER – February 2025
Milk packaging has remained largely unchanged for decades, with plastic jugs, aluminum cartons, and Tetra Paks dominating shelves. But as sustainability takes center stage, the dairy industry is stepping up.
People worldwide consume a LOT of milk annually:
🥛 United States: 20-30 gallons (76-114 liters)
🥛 Europe: 15 gallons (57 liters)
🥛 India: 40-50 gallons (150-190 liters)
🥛 China: 5-10 gallons (19-38 liters)
🥛 Argentina: 30-35 gallons (115-130 liters)
🥛 Brazil: 20-25 gallons (75-95 liters)
The industry has long relied on materials that are tough to recycle, contributing to billions of discarded cartons and bottles in landfills. While sustainable packaging offers solutions, cost remains a major hurdle. Higher production expenses often lead to increased prices, slowing adoption—especially in lower-income areas.
Logistics pose another challenge. Many eco-friendly alternatives require specialized collection and recycling systems, which aren’t universally available. Even the most sustainable packaging can end up in landfills without the right infrastructure.
Finally, sustainability isn’t just about waste — production itself has an impact. Glass bottles, while endlessly recyclable, are heavy and energy-intensive to transport. Plant-based plastics, though promising, still depend on resource-heavy farming. As the industry navigates these challenges, innovation and collaboration will be key to creating a truly sustainable future for milk packaging.
Sustainable dairy isn’t easy
As corporate sustainability targets shift toward circularity to adjust to new regulations from SB54 in California to PPWR across Europe, there is growing concern about the veracity of recycled materials. In many cases, products labeled as containing “post-consumer recycled content” may not be as sustainable as they appear.
So how do you guarantee that the post-consumer-recycled material you’re using for your client’s products has actually been recycled and isn’t simply labeled as such?
Spain seems to have the solution.
Emerging as a leader in ensuring the integrity of recycled materials through innovative solutions, Spain has implemented a robust system designed to track and verify the recycling process, ensuring that materials genuinely meet the criteria for recycling and sustainability.
Based on a combination of regulatory oversight, technological innovation, and transparency, Spain’s approach introduces advanced traceability systems that allow businesses, regulators, and consumers to track the journey of materials from collection through to recycling. These systems, which leverage blockchain and other digital tools, ensure that the materials being labeled as recycled can be verified through each stage of the process.
Another aspect of Spain’s solution is the emphasis on collaboration between private companies, local governments, and environmental organizations. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that all parties are aligned in their efforts to create a circular economy where materials are reused effectively and waste is minimized.
As global sustainability regulations evolve, Spain’s model could serve as a blueprint for other nations and industries looking to verify the authenticity of recycled materials. As more companies work to navigate the complexities of sustainability regulations, Spain’s success story demonstrates that transparency, accountability, and collaboration are essential in creating a truly sustainable future.
It turns out, in the world of recycled plastics, trust—but verify—might just mean booking a flight to Spain!
Have questions about compliance with new environmental legislation?
At Okeanos, we don’t just build sustainable materials—we build careers. Over the past five years, our team has grown organically, with many interns evolving into key leaders.
Now, we’re looking for the next generation of talent! Want to be part of something bigger Apply for our 2025 Global Internship Program today.
We may be an advanced materials company, but the heart of our success lies in our incredible people. Over the last five years, we’ve experienced tremendous growth—not just in terms of revenue, but more importantly, in the evolution of our team. One of the key factors that has fueled this growth is our commitment to promoting from within.
What sets us apart is that this growth wasn’t forced or rushed—it’s been organic. Our team members have embraced the challenge, taken ownership of their personal development, and seamlessly transitioned into the leaders they are today. Their journey is a testament to the power of internal development and how promoting from within fosters loyalty, accountability, and long-term success.
We know that investing in our people not only strengthens our organization but also empowers those who help shape our future. As we continue to expand, we remain committed to cultivating an environment where passion, grow
We’re now seeking passionate, curious, driven interns for our 2025 Global Internship Program!
You’ve heard the buzz. Chemical recycling is making headlines, from France’s $500M investment to Nestlé’s push to build capacity for chemical recycling in Mexico. As the world grapples with plastic waste, the ability for municipal recycling facilities to keep pace with waste is limited, and chemical recycling is emerging as an alternative… but is it a good thing?
Here’s a quick Q&A to explain how it works!
Q: What is chemical recycling?
A: It’s a process that breaks plastic waste down into its original chemical components, which can be used to make new plastics or other products. It can recycle a broader range of materials, including hard-to-recycle plastics like multilayer packaging.
Q: How does it differ from traditional recycling?
A: Traditional recycling physically processes plastics, which can slightly reduce performance characteristics. Chemical recycling, however, breaks plastics back into their basic chemicals, allowing for higher-quality products.
Q: What plastics can be recycled chemically?
A: Chemical recycling can handle plastics that traditional methods can’t, like flexible films, multilayer packaging, and certain hard-to-recycle PET plastics.
Q: How does it work?
Pyrolysis: Heating plastics in the absence of oxygen to break them down into smaller molecules.
Gasification: Converting plastics into gas to produce fuels or chemicals.
Depolymerization: Breaking polymers into monomers to create new plastics.
Q: What are the environmental benefits?
A: Chemical recycling reduces waste, conserves resources, and lowers emissions, contributing to a circular economy by turning plastic waste into reusable materials.
Q: That all sounds great. So, what’s the catch?
A: Challenges include high costs, energy consumption, and the need for further technological development to scale the process efficiently.
Feel like you have more to master in the world of sustainability?
Catch the latest episode of Mastering Sustainability on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you podcast.
In 2025, we’re flipping the script on the way we spotlight our teammates so you can get to know them better. Our first Rockstar of the year, HR Manager Nicole Kaplan tells us more about her career trajectory, what she’s got their eye on, and where she gets her news.
I work in the Finance Department and my job is Awesome
Before landing at Okeanos, I built my experience working in various international companies, such as EY, Starbucks, and Danone, and studied at Universidad de Buenos Aires in Argentina.
The Made From Stone application I’m currently most excited about is coffee-to-go cups because there’s nothing better than starting the day with a warm, delicious coffee in hand on your way to work, knowing that with every sip, you’re not only enjoying your coffee but also taking care of the planet.
For news, I’m always tuned into our “News You Should Know Chat”, It’s incredibly helpful for staying up-to-date with sustainability news
For news, I’m always tuned into updates about football (¡Vamos Boca Juniors!)
Outside work, I’m currently reading a lot about health and habit improvement. The human body is such an amazing machine, and every new thing I learn continues to surprise me.
Number of countries lived in: 2 (Argentina and Italy)
Next place I want to travel: South of Italy, as I would love for my children to see where our story began.
Learn more about career opportunities at Okeanos
Connect With Our HR Team Today!
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