Waste Reduction Practices

In 2008, Marks and Spencer charging 5p for a plastic bag was seen as a huge risk. Today, DEFRA data shows bag sales are down 98%. Proof that voluntary corporate leadership paves the way for national policy. Back in 2008, I was part of the team at M&S that voluntarily introduced the 5p carrier bag levy in food halls. Before rolling it out nationally, we tested it across 50 stores in Northern Ireland and the South West. Demand plummeted by over 70% almost instantly. To make the transition seamless for shoppers, M&S gave away free reusable bags for a month before the May 2008 launch, and partnered with Groundwork to channel every penny raised directly into local green spaces and community parks. Seven years after that initial bold move, the UK government made the 5p charge mandatory across all major retailers. Now, bag usage is down by 98% (over 7.4 billion fewer bags!), proving three key principles about driving real sustainability: Pilot before you scale: Testing behavioral shifts in limited markets builds the data and confidence required for big decisions. Remove friction with alternatives: Giving customers reusable options upfront turned potential resistance into collective action. Corporate bravery enables policy: When business proves a model works, regulators can step in with confidence. Systemic change rarely happens overnight, but it almost always starts with a single organisation willing to challenge the status quo. https://lnkd.in/ejhwWYKW Clare Wilkes, Mike Barry, Carmel McQuaid, Paul Willgoss, Louise Nicholls, Richard Gillies, Alexis Steadman, Daniel Himsworth

The impact of global warming is so severe that fashion shows are now being held on landfills in Chile and it's turning heads for all the right reasons. The sad truth about fashion industry is that we're overwhelmed with discarded clothing. Globally, we produce 100 billion garments every year but recycle only 1% into new clothes. The rest end up in landfills, incinerators, or illegally dumped in natural environments. Chile's Atacama Desert has become a showcase of this problem. Each year, 60,000 tons of used clothing arrive in Chile, with 39,000 tons finding their way to this desert wasteland. It's a stark reminder of our throwaway culture. But amidst this sea of waste, creativity bloomed. Recently, models strutted down a "runway" of discarded clothing, wearing outfits crafted from the waste beneath their feet. The good news is that change is on the horizon. The circular economy is gaining momentum, with the secondhand apparel market growing 18% in 2023 - that's 15 times faster than the broader retail clothing sector! As business leaders, we have the power to accelerate this shift. Here's how we can start- 1️⃣ Circular design- Build products for easy repair, recycling, and modularity, with take-back programs to extend life. 2️⃣ Recycling tech- Invest in advanced recycling and closed-loop systems to reuse materials. 3️⃣ Consumer education- Offer clear labels and interactive tools to teach about product lifecycles. 4️⃣ Secondhand partnerships- Create resale platforms and incentivize returns for refurbishment or recycling. 5️⃣ Support circular policies- Advocate for laws that promote circular practices and standardized recycling. Are you ready to make a difference in fashion? Share how you're doing it below! #circulareconomy #sustainability #environment #fashion

In countries like the Netherlands, trash doesn’t just disappear — it goes underground. How is it organized in your city? Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht use underground waste containers and smart collection systems where bins are connected to large subterranean units, keeping streets visually clean, reducing odour, and cutting unnecessary truck movements. But this isn’t just a Dutch story. It’s a global shift powered by technology. 📊 How leading cities are transforming waste management: 🇳🇱 Netherlands • Underground containers reduce surface bin clutter by up to 70–80% in dense neighbourhoods • IoT sensors monitor fill levels, enabling 30–40% fewer collection trips 🇰🇷 Songdo, South Korea • Fully pneumatic waste system • Trash travels through underground vacuum tubes at 70 km/h • Eliminated traditional garbage trucks in residential zones • Reduced waste handling costs by up to 50% 🇳🇴 Bergen, Norway • Pneumatic underground network beneath historic districts • Cut CO₂ emissions from waste collection vehicles by up to 35% • Reduced noise pollution in heritage zones 🇸🇬 Singapore • Smart bins + centralised waste chutes in HDBs • Waste-to-energy plants process over 90% of Singapore’s waste, shrinking landfill dependency • Semakau Landfill projected lifespan extended from 2045 to beyond 2035 through tech & efficiency gains 🚀 Technology making this possible: • IoT sensors for real-time bin monitoring • AI-powered route optimisation reducing fuel use • Pneumatic vacuum tube networks • Automated robotics for waste sorting • Waste-to-energy conversion systems ✅ The impact: • Cleaner cities • Fewer pests and odours • Reduced emissions • Lower operating costs • Better citizen experience The future of urban living isn’t just about shiny skyscrapers — it’s about invisible infrastructure working intelligently beneath our feet. Smart cities aren’t just built. They’re engineered to stay clean. #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #CleanTech

California’s Assembly Bill 660 (AB 660) introduces the first mandatory food date labelling reform in the United States. This legislation standardises the use of “Best If Used By” and “Use By” dates on food products. “Best If Used By” indicates when a product will be at peak quality, while “Use By” is reserved for safety, marking the last date a product should be consumed. The law also prohibits the use of “Sell By” dates and other ambiguous phrases like “Expires On” or “Freshest By,” which often confuse consumers about the product's safety and quality. Retailers can still use "Packed On" dates, but they must also include the required labels. This reform reflects a growing trend toward clearer, more consistent labeling, providing a blueprint that could be adopted nationwide. Similar practices have already been seen in the European Union and Japan, where clearer date labelling has led to more informed consumer choices. How Does AB 660 Impact Businesses? For businesses in the food and agricultural sector, AB 660 will require significant adjustments to: -packaging -inventory management -supply chain processes Companies will need to transition to the new standardised labels, potentially redesigning packaging and updating software systems to align with the new guidelines. While these changes may require initial investment, they offer long-term benefits such as streamlined inventory management and reduced waste. Studies show that nearly 20% of food waste in households stems from misinterpreting "Sell By" dates as indicators of food safety, leading to premature disposal. By providing clear and consistent labelling, businesses can reduce consumer confusion, enhance brand trust, and potentially see increased sales. A survey by the Food Marketing Institute found that 80% of consumers say they would prefer standardised labelling that differentiates between quality and safety, indicating a market demand for this clarity. Businesses that adapt quickly to these standards will be well-positioned to gain a competitive advantage and avoid regulatory complications. How AB 660 Supports Sustainability and Reduces Waste? AB 660's impact extends beyond compliance; it plays a crucial role in addressing food waste, which has significant economic and environmental implications. Globally, an estimated 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted each year, representing about one-third of all food produced. In the U.S. alone, 35% of the food supply is wasted annually, costing approximately $408 billion. Much of this waste is due to confusion over date labeling, with consumers discarding food that is still safe to eat. #foodwaste #decarbonisation #sustainability #california #co2emissions #emissions #esg #reducingenvironmentalimpact #food #agriculture

The Circular Strategies Scanner 🌎 This diagram, developed by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and its Nordic partners, provides a great framework for identifying practical strategies to embed circular economy principles across business operations. The Circular Strategies Scanner highlights three core action areas: recirculating parts and products, recirculating materials, and rethinking or reconfiguring business models. These categories cover the full lifecycle of products and materials, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life management. Key strategies for recirculating parts and products include repair, maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, repurposing, and upgrades. These interventions aim to extend existing use cycles and maximize the value extracted from products. Material recirculation focuses on recycling (both chemical and physical), cascading uses across industries, recovery processes such as composting or energy recovery, and integrating secondary or renewable materials. This is critical for reducing dependence on virgin resources and minimizing waste. The model also emphasizes rethinking value creation. Business model strategies such as product-as-a-service, buy-back agreements, and sharing platforms are essential for shifting from linear consumption patterns to circular, access-oriented systems. Impact reduction is addressed through restorative sourcing, lean manufacturing, and efficient use-phase operations. Optimizing logistics, reducing idle capacity, and designing for longevity are also integral components of a robust circular approach. Importantly, the scanner provides a visual link between traditional linear processes and the opportunities to intercept waste and inefficiency at every stage. It underscores the importance of full decoupling of environmental impact from growth through systemic change. Circular economy success depends not only on individual strategies but on their integration across the value chain. This framework offers a strong foundation for companies and industries aiming to transition toward circularity in a structured and impactful way. Source: CIRCit - Circular Economy Integration in the Nordic Industry #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #circulareconomy

How Butterflies help us to transform Sewage Sludge into Next-Gen 3D Printing Materials Every year, millions of dry metric tons of sewage sludge, an organic-rich byproduct of wastewater treatment, pose a huge disposal challenge and environmental burden. Traditionally destined for incineration, landfills, or limited agricultural use, this overlooked resource is now getting a second life through innovative material science! We developed a method to harness hydrothermal processing (HTP) to convert wet sewage sludge into hydrochar, carbonaceous solid that can be further activated. Unlike typical biomass, sewage sludge contains unique metallic and metalloid dopants. These impurities lead to surprising outcomes during thermal activation: instead of the expected boost in carbon content and improved graphitic ordering, the process actually decreases carbon ordering, creating a distinct material structure with its own set of properties. When incorporated into 3D printing resins, this hydrochar acts as a sustainable filler. Initially, it may compromise stiffness and hardness due to limited resin-filler adhesion. However, by adopting nature-inspired gyroid geometries, designs reminiscent of butterfly wings and bird feathers, the composite’s toughness and elongation can not only be recovered but enhanced! This integration of bio-inspired architecture overcomes inherent material weaknesses and paves the way for eco-friendly prototypes, packaging, and beyond. 1️⃣ Diverting millions of tons of sludge from landfills and incineration reduces greenhouse gas emissions and pollutant dispersion. 2️⃣ Incorporating waste-derived hydrochar in 3D printing reduces reliance on raw synthetic materials, promoting a circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. 3️⃣ The synergy between material science and bio-inspired design opens new horizons for advanced composites with tailored properties through innovative design. This fusion of waste valorization, unconventional chemistry, and cutting-edge design showcases a transformative path toward sustainable manufacturing. Read more details in the paper (open access): Sabrina Shen, Branden Spitzer, Damian Stefaniuk, Shengfei Zhou, Admir Masic, Markus J. Buehler, Communications Engineering, Vol. 4, 52 (2025), https://lnkd.in/eBeESHJY

🌍 Are you looking for a weekend read? 📝 I'm happy to share our latest research published in Sustainable Futures. In this study, we explore how to inspire consumers to voluntarily reduce single-use plastic (SUP) tableware. Using the COM-B model and Theoretical Domains Framework, we found that motivation—shaped by identity, goals, reinforcement, and self-efficacy—is the strongest predictor of sustainable behavior. Key insights: ✅ Motivation mediates the impact of capability and opportunity on behavior ✅ Social norms and environmental support matter—but only if people are motivated ✅ Practical strategies for policymakers and businesses to foster sustainable habits This work offers a roadmap that can be used to design more effective interventions to tackle plastic waste. The application of theory focuses effort on what truly drives behavior change. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gMqbUQ9h Let’s build a future where sustainability is second nature. 🌱 Dr Daisy Lee, Sebastian Isbanner, Calvin Wan, Solving Plastic Waste CRC #Sustainability #BehaviorChange #PlasticWaste #SocialMarketing #COMBModel #EnvironmentalPsychology #ResearchImpact #SustainableFutures https://lnkd.in/gMqbUQ9h

The Circularity of Wastewater Management the concept of circularity can be applied to waste management through the following approach : - Design for recovery and reuse: reduce the volume of wastewater, prevent contamination at source, and enable safe reuse. - Recover value: capture energy (biogas, heat) and nutrients (for agriculture/landscaping) instead of losing them. - Reuse & restore: use treated wastewater to recharge aquifers, support irrigation, and enhance biodiversity. - Build resilience & economic opportunity: diversify water sources, cut dependence on freshwater, and create new revenue streams from recovered resources. #circulareconomy #sustainability #environment #management #wastemanagement

We’re now at the point where mountains of clothing waste are shaping EU law. With the new EU textile EPR rules, responsibility for that waste shifts directly to producers. From 2025, brands will fund the collection, reuse, and recycling of the products they put on the market. Fast fashion will mean higher fees. Circular design will mean lower ones. Consider this: a €5 T-shirt made from blended fibres, badly constructed, and treated with harsh chemical finishes may be nearly impossible to recycle—under the new EPR regime, such garments will now attract significantly higher fees from producers. But a jacket designed for repair, with mono-material fabrics and safer dyes, could cost less to place on the EU market. For those of us working on sustainable production and eco-design, this is a turning point. Change begins with how we design, source, and shape supply chains. #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FashionInnovation #EcoDesign #EPR #EUTextiles #GreenProduction #SustainableFashion

Will Impact globally, EU Packaging Regulation 2025. What should you know? Will it be an opportunity or a challenge? In one year, new packaging policies and regulations will be defined, potentially altering the current ecosystem. Do you understand the key measures and how they might impact or create opportunities for your product? → Global Impact. The upcoming EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), effective in 2025, is crucial for the packaging industry. It mandates recycling labels on packaging and promotes a circular approach for recycling or reusing materials. From 2030, plastic packaging must meet specific recycled material quotas. → Adopted at first reading. Following years of assessments, discussions, stakeholder meetings and intense trilogue consultations, on April 24, 2024, the European Parliament adopted the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) at first reading. → PPWR key measures. > Ensure recyclability by 2030, with "at scale" recycling by 2035. > Promote recycled material use in new plastic packaging by 2030 and 2040. > Require some packaging to be reusable or refillable by 2030 and 2040. > Ban specific packaging to reduce waste. > 15% per capita reduction in packaging waste by 2040 compared to 2018. → Key takeaways for businesses. The new PPWR will significantly impact the European packaging and logistics sector, affecting e-commerce, retailers, and new players like fulfillment service providers. Established Pros and authorized representatives will offer new services. Manufacturers and distributors must thoroughly understand their packaging to avoid sales bans and fines, as packaging will no longer be judged solely on price and logistics. → Packaging waste reduction. PPWR targets packaging waste reduction through bans, weight minimization, and promoting reuse/refill. The most significant impact is expected from reuse/refill initiatives, depending on targets, frequency, weight, and material substitution. PPWR aims for a 15% per capita reduction in EU packaging waste by 2040 compared to 2018. → Shift to recycled plastic. PPWR aims to reduce fossil fuel-based plastic in EU packaging by gradually replacing virgin plastic with recycled content. By 2040, EU plastic packaging should contain 50-65% recycled material, surpassing virgin plastic use. This requires an effective recycling system. Conclusion. The future will focus on sustainability and waste reduction. This presents both opportunities and challenges. It's up to us to leverage it effectively. Here are some curated examples I have searched for you, get inspired for your next success. #beauty #beautypackaging #sustainabilepackaging #packagingreduction #packagingdesign