FORT WASHINGTON, PENN.—Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, launched plastic-free packaging for select Papernet Heavenly Soft products. The Heavenly Soft toilet paper and paper towels are available in easy-to-open and easy-to-carry cardboard packaging, making them a practical solution for retail clubs and e-commerce, as well as buyers in commercial environments such as offices, restaurants, hotels, cruise lines and small businesses. “Businesses with limited storage space for cleaning and hygiene essentials don’t have the luxury of keeping an endless supply of toilet paper and paper towels on site,” said Giorgia Giove, Marketing Manager—Away From Home, Sofidel America. “The new Heavenly Soft offerings are perfect for space-limited environments, and because they eliminate the use of unnecessary plastic packaging, they are a more sustainable choice.” The ready-to-shelve, plastic-free packaging was built with...

NATIONAL REPORT—Illinois-based PourMyBeer is making it easy to eliminate beer waste while significantly increasing sales and profits at the same time. The company has developed a tap wall system that frees up space in a bar and puts the pouring in the hands of customers who can social distance while choosing up to more than 100 beers on tap. Taps are sanitized between use but customers can choose to use gloves if they wish. “It is about making people feel comfortable,” says Josh Goodman, Founder and CEO of PourMyBeer. “The act of showing customers that you sanitize the taps or...

LOS ANGELES—Buoy, LLC, a Los Angeles-based company, is planning to unveil the Buoy Water Bottle, the first design of its foodware series made from 100 percent recycled ocean-bound plastic. Buoy is on a mission to replace single-use products made from virgin materials with modern-design and highly functional reusable products made from recycled material. Kickstarter Preview Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/buoybottle/2092386766?ref=2sfotf&token=138263ec Product pitch video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hy90yhpjK7MFXvQlIpqln_t9Xjr9UN0V/view?usp=sharing The Buoy Bottle helps to save the oceans and the precious marine life within them. Designed by Award-winning architect and industrial designer. Unique 3-part design—Bottle, cup, and finger loop. Easy to clean, carry and add ice. 27oz/820ml. Buoy is a full-size...

PARIS—UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, released a report to address the issue of waste in the exhibitions industry. This report derives from several UFI actions, including the set-up of dedicated regional task forces around the world and the selection of best practices through the 2020 award competition on “Best Waste Management”. Contributions from 40 companies covering 22 countries led to this consolidated report of findings. Compiled by Greenview, Member of the UFI Sustainable Development Working Group, the report successively covers conclusions that emerged from the regulatory landscape; common challenges in waste management and solutions; as well as examples...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World Foundation, a global leader in water, sanitation, hygiene, and sustainability has partnered with Las Vegas Sands to facilitate The Drop by Drop Project. A collaboration between Clean the World Foundation and initiative co-founder Sands, The Drop by Drop Project will reinvest capital from water stewardship efforts into three innovative projects supporting local water champions in Las Vegas, Macao, and Singapore. Managed and operated by Clean the World Foundation, The Drop by Drop Project will be supported in part by savings from Sands’ conservation programs. Following previously announced grant recipients University of St. Joseph Macao (USJ), Institute...

MIAMI—While most consumers assume that paper products eventually disintegrate or are recycled, the truth is that a majority of paper products, including coffee cups, take-out containers, pizza boxes and more, are coated with polyethylene, which prevents leaks and liquid absorption, but renders them unfit for recycling. While polyethylene products eventually do decompose, greenhouse gases are released in the process, and harmful chemicals are released when this coating is exposed to hot food or beverages. J&J Green Paper, an innovative paper products technology firm based out of Miami, spent the past eight years developing an inventive and cutting-edge solution to the critical issue of...

LONDON—The World Food Travel Assn. (WFTA) announced that it has become a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, a project led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) unites the tourism sector behind a common vision to address the root causes of plastic pollution. It enables businesses, governments, associations and NGOs to take concerted action, leading by example in the shift towards how we use and dispose of plastics. “As a signatory of the initiative, we endorse the common vision to address the root causes of plastic...

Since the 1950s, when the large-scale production of synthetic materials began, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been generated—and we’ve thrown the majority away. Of that waste, people have only recycled 9 percent. Unfortunately, plastics do not biodegrade, meaning these products stick around for hundreds or thousands of years. They clog up landfills and make their way into our environment—including 18 billion pounds that flow into the ocean every year. The hospitality industry plays a significant role in plastic consumption, as one 200-room hotel can generate around 300,000 single-use pieces in a month at full capacity. Some items these businesses...

CINCINNATI—Cintas Corp. announced that its direct sale and rental distribution centers (DCs) located in its Chicago facility have been awarded Gold level under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification system for zero waste. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities define, pursue and achieve zero waste goals while becoming more resource efficient. Cintas’ Chicago DCs were certified Gold as a result of diverting more than 90 percent of its waste stream from landfill and incineration, having a zero waste policy in place and meeting the TRUE certification requirements over the past 12 months. The facility...

BERKELEY, CALIF.—Waste Management Inc. has issued a “Report on Recycling” as the result of a dialogue earlier this year on boosting U.S. plastic recycling rates. China’s 2018 ban on plastic waste imports exposed the fragility of parts of the U.S. recycling collection and processing system. Media reports suggest significant gaps in U.S. recycling markets due to historical reliance on China for processing plastic, underdeveloped domestic markets, and low prices offered for recovered plastics. Following the filing of a shareholder proposal and in-depth engagement earlier this year, the company agreed to provide a report that would identify gaps in recycling infrastructure,...