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In the April edition of Set in Stone®, we’re celebrating “GLOCAL” – global yet local production, finding the best butter wrapper, and taking a look at new laws impacting clients worldwide.
OKEANOS ® BUSINESS NEWSLETTER – April 2025
As global manufacturers feel the pinch from new tariffs, our commitment to resilient, localized supply chains has never been more important – or more effective. Whether you’re in Thailand or Toronto, Made From Stone technology is available in your country today, at the same fair price we’ve offered since day one.
If you’re new here, welcome! Here’s a quick look at how our global network keeps costs low, emissions minimal, and our environmental impact light by producing locally.
We start with our trusted stone supplier, sourcing sustainably harvested calcium carbonate from one of their 180+ worldwide locations. Then, one of our 12 local Okeanos plants nearby produces our signature Made From Stone compound. This is then delivered locally to manufacturers, who run it on existing equipment to create packaging and products using significantly less plastic.
The result? No disruption, no price hikes, no excess carbon. Just smart, sustainable operations that help you say goodbye to tariff headaches – and hello to uninterrupted progress.
What’s the most sustainable way to wrap butter? That’s simple, you might think…but like most things in packaging, it’s more complicated—and more revealing.
To keep butter fresh, a wrapper needs to resist grease, extend shelf life (at least 2 months), and support sustainability goals. So, how do the contenders stack up?
Paper-Like wrappers are Made from calcium carbonate and resin. Made From Stone’s paper-like substitute skips trees and water entirely during production. It’s naturally grease-resistant, durable, and has a premium, smooth finish. While recycling infrastructure is still catching up, its low-impact sourcing and functional performance make it a compelling choice, especially for brands willing to innovate toward a circular model.
Aluminum Foil is the traditional pick. Great barrier, long shelf life, and is technically recyclable. But in reality, most butter wrappers are too greasy to be recovered, and aluminum is energy-intensive to produce.
Wax-Coated paper looks sustainable but performs poorly at end-of-life; recycling is near-impossible, and composting options are limited. Most end up in a landfill. Many of these coatings also contain PFAS (aka. “forever chemicals”) which have been shown to leach into the food they’re wrapping.
Paper-like packaging isn’t perfect, but it may be the best available option today for brands looking to balance sustainability with function. And more broadly, this butter wrapper debate highlights a bigger question for all of us: How do we design packaging for short-shelf-life, high-barrier products that still support circularity?
Beginning on May 30, 2025, the UAE will officially enforce Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024, its first dedicated climate legislation. This law sets a national legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and marks a major step in the country’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The legislation applies across all sectors and regions of the country, including free zones, and mandates regular emissions measurement, reporting, and inventory submission by designated entities. It introduces penalties ranging from AED 50,000 to AED 2 million for non-compliance, signaling a shift toward real accountability.
At its core, the law aims to both enforce emissions reductions and encourage innovation. It promotes strategies such as energy efficiency, clean energy, carbon capture and storage (CCUS), and carbon offsetting through the National Carbon Credit Registry. It also offers incentives for companies adopting low-carbon technologies and participating in carbon markets, including the use of shadow carbon pricing.
This move builds on national sustainability initiatives like the UAE Green Agenda 2030 and Energy Strategy 2050 and follows the country’s role as host of COP28. As the first MENA country to introduce binding climate legislation, the UAE is setting a new benchmark for the region, especially important in an area that’s warming at twice the global average and ranks high in per capita emissions. This law isn’t just about optics; it’s about turning climate ambition into action.
This month, we’re sitting down with Todd Pooser, founder of the Virtual Commonwealth, to understand how Sustainability and Social Equity are intertwined.
Q: Todd, can you start by explaining how Virtual Commonwealth defines sustainability?
A: We define sustainability not just as environmental responsibility, but as a systemic approach that includes economic viability and social equity. It’s about creating ecosystems—whether digital, civic, or environmental—that are resilient, inclusive, and just. If sustainability doesn’t serve all communities, especially historically marginalized ones, then it’s incomplete.
Q: Where do you see the strongest link between sustainability and social equity today?
A: Honestly, it’s in access. Access to clean energy, green jobs, and climate-resilient infrastructure is still distributed along racial and economic lines. If we’re creating sustainable systems but only for a privileged few, we’re just reinforcing old inequities under a new banner. Equity has to be baked into the sustainability conversation from the start, not added later as an afterthought.
Q: How is Virtual Commonwealth using digital tools to promote both sustainability and equity?
A: We’re building platforms that model participatory governance and data transparency. Think virtual town halls, resource-sharing hubs, or community planning tools that are open-source and user-centric. We believe that equitable access to information—and the tools to act on it—is a foundational piece of both sustainability and justice.
Q: What are the biggest barriers to achieving equity in the sustainability space?
A: Power and perception. Too often, the decision-makers in sustainability circles don’t reflect the communities most impacted by environmental injustice. There’s also a myth that equity slows progress, but the opposite is true—when you center those most affected, your solutions are more innovative, resilient, and broadly supported.
Q: What role should technology play in building equitable, sustainable futures?
A: Technology is a tool, not the answer. The real value lies in how we use it—to redistribute power, elevate marginalized voices, and scale local knowledge. We need to be intentional. Smart cities aren’t smart if they exclude people. Climate tech isn’t innovative if it ignores Indigenous knowledge or local experience.
Q: Any advice for communities or organizations wanting to align their sustainability goals with equity principles?
A: Start by listening. Not just token engagement—real, co-designed processes. Hire local, build trust, and pay people for their expertise. And be ready to redesign your systems around what you learn. Equity work isn’t about charity—it’s about shifting structures so everyone can thrive.
Q: What’s next for Virtual Commonwealth in this space?
A: We’re piloting a digital equity mapping tool that helps communities visualize the overlap between environmental risk, infrastructure investment, and social vulnerability. It’s all about making invisible dynamics visible and actionable.
Feel like you have more to master in the world of sustainability?
Catch the latest episode of Mastering Sustainability with Todd Pooser, founder of The Virtual Commonwealth on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you podcast.
Listen to Todd on Mastering Sustainability!
Read on to learn a little more about Gedrick’s journey to Okeanos.
I work in the Technical Department and my job is Technical Sales Associate.
Before landing at Okeanos, I built my experience as a Mechanical Engineer and studied at Heriot-Watt University.
The Made From Stone application I’m currently most excited about is the density reduced thermoformed sheets using FFS technology, *because I’m currently working on several dairy projects where this technology could be truly revolutionary for the industry.
When I’m working, I’m listening to Smosh Mouth – Smosh Reads Reddit Stories on Spotify!
For news, I’m always tuned into Bloomberg.
Outside work, I’m currently reading Origin by Dan Brown.
Number of countries lived in: UAE & India.
Next place I want to travel: Norway or Svalbard.
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