The Recycling Partnership, Falls Church, Virginia, has awarded a grant to Outagamie County, Wisconsin. The county’s rural communities are among the latest to move to single-stream curbside recycling carts, and the grant from The Recycling Partnership is helping them to purchase more than 6,900 carts, which will be distributed to households across 13 local communities. A portion of the grant funding will go toward education and outreach.

“It’s really exciting to bring carts to this rural pocket of the country,” says Cody Marshall, technical assistance lead with The Recycling Partnership. “The economies of scale for cart-based recycling continue to prove out, even at these lower population levels. It’s also notable that 13 communities came together to leverage their cart buying power—that’s a best practice that can clearly be used to great effect.”

Carts are scheduled for distribution starting in early November. Their arrival will be announced by a host of promotional materials and a high-profile press event. Outagamie County is introducing the carts on the heels of another programmatic improvement—adding new materials to its “Yes” list. Residents are now able to include cartons and all plastic bottles and containers with their cans and paper collected for recycling.

“Communities in Outagamie County take tremendous pride in bringing residents dependable, convenient service,” says Christine Miller, recycling coordinator with Outagamie County Recycling and Solid Waste. “Carts are easier to handle than bins, and accepting more materials makes the choice to recycle that much simpler. We expect this double-whammy will result in heightened participation and more volume—the brass ring of modern recycling.”

Since the start of 2015, The Recycling Partnership says it has helped catalyze $21 million of new recycling infrastructure that positively impacts more than 2 million households. Over the coming months, The Recycling Partnership says it expects to complete placement of more than 300,000 additional carts. The national group also is working to fight contamination in the residential recycling stream, building, testing and sharing its quality-improvement model through on-the-ground programs and free online open source tools and resources.

“Outagamie County is a shining example of how to not settle for status quo, and we’re exceedingly proud to partner with them,” Marshall says. “They are seizing opportunities to add depth and breadth, taking the changes two at a time.” He adds, “Think of what our industry could accomplish if every program followed that lead.”

Sonoco Europe, a Hockenheim, Germany-based division of the diversified global packaging company Sonoco, headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina, has expanded its production sites for injection-molded rigid plastic packaging in Zwenkau, Germany. By investing approximately 8 million euros and adding 25 new employees, Sonoco Europe says it aims to increase production capacity and improve the location’s energy efficiency. 

In Zwenkau, Sonoco produces injection-molded rigid plastic packaging using advanced in-mold labelling (IML) technology. IML technology allows for the creation of highly decorated, visually appealing plastic containers particularly suitable for uniquely showcasing spreads, sausage products, fish and dairy produce. Additionally, Sonoco produces IML lids for rigid paper containers in Zwenkau.

By expanding its two production sites in Zwenkau, Sonoco says it significantly increases its production capacities for injection-molded rigid plastic packaging. Until recently, the site known as Zwenkau II was primarily used to provide additional capacity to assist with peaks in production demand. Since June 2016, the company says it has continuously operated on a three-shift basis. The workforce has increased from 75 to 100 staff, and approximately 8 million euros were invested in the facility expansion. All lines are now supplied with resin directly and fully automatically from on-site granule silos. The company further established additional office space and a high-bay warehouse.

“The sites Zwenkau I and II were already among the most modern and efficient plants in our industry,” says Séan Cairns, general manager and division vice president, Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. “With the current investments, we will further extend this lead and react to the rapidly increasing demand for modern plastic packaging in the food market.”

Sonoco says an increasing number of food manufacturers use its decorated IML injection-molded rigid plastic packaging for moist and sensitive food products. As a result of the IML technology, production and labelling of containers are combined in one process step. The label is injected directly into the packaging wall and is preferably made from the same plastic substance as the container. Both components merge during processing—an advantage in terms of recycling as there is no need to separate materials. Sonoco says IML opens up a wide range of design possibilities and outstanding tactile and visual effects. Plastic containers can be designed in various shapes and colors, including transparent windows and photorealistic images.

Sonoco’s patented PermaSafe^® technology also provides these advantages for sterilized and pasteurized food, according to the company. These types of products were usually packaged in glass or tin cans. As the “reinvention of the can,” PermaSafe packaging is practically impermeable to oxygen and water vapor, according to Sonoco.

“Due to the PermaSafe technology, our plastic containers durability rivals that of tin cans,” says Andreas Rothschink, sales director of plastic packaging, Sonoco. “At the same time, they offer more decoration possibilities and higher convenience for consumers.”

As opposed to metal cans, the plastic packaging alternative features a snap lid. It makes the container resealable, and consumers can eat the product in portions.

Apart from complete plastic packaging solutions, Sonoco also produces IML lids for rigid paper containers in Zwenkau. The lids can be individually designed with IML technology and significantly expand the packaging’s decoration area. The IML lids are available for round and rectangular rigid paper containers.

Sonoco’s more than 70 operations in Europe provide customers with solutions in global rigid paper and closures; global plastics; packaging services and graphics management. Sonoco Europe offers a range of packaging materials, packaging services, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities.

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services.

This information was provided by GlobeNewswire.

The Green Electronics Council (GEC), Portland, Oregon, has announced that AMD, a designer of compute and graphics processors, and PuzzlePhone, a designer of modular mobile phones, won its 2016 Catalyst Awards. 

GEC says its Catalyst Awards seek to inspire innovation in the design, manufacture and use of electronics to advance global sustainability. GEC’s “Catalyzing Impact at Scale” Award recognizes the large-scale impact leading corporations can have when changing the design, manufacture and intended use of their products. The award recognizes cutting-edge technologies that raise sustainability to a new level, according to GEC.

AMD received the Catalyzing Impact at Scale Award for its 25x20 energy efficiency initiative, which aims to improve the energy efficiency of AMD mobile products 25 times by 2020 from a 2014 baseline. AMD is ahead of schedule to meet this goal as evidenced by a recent product for the mobile PC market, GEC says. 

PuzzlePhone won the Catalyzing Disruptive Innovation Award for a modular mobile phone design that expands the lifespan of phones and thereby significantly reduces mobile phone-related e-waste, says GEC.

“To achieve a world filled with only sustainable electronics, we need to change the behavior of leading companies and continue to seek out and support innovative startups,” says Nancy Gillis, CEO of the GEC. “We congratulate AMD and PuzzlePhone for leading in these efforts and being the 2016 GEC Catalyst Award winners.”

AMD’s award-winning initiative accelerates the sustainability of its Accelerated Processing Units (APUs), which are used in personal computers, digital signage, medical imaging systems and other products, GEC says. The AMD 6th Generation A-Series Accelerated Processing Unit (code-named “Carrizo”) delivered a 2.7 times improvement in energy efficiency, and achieved an approximate 46 percent reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions compared to its predecessor, according to GEC.

“We’re honored to receive the 2016 GEC Catalyst Award, recognizing our work to improve the energy efficiency of our products,” says Tim Mohin, senior director of corporate responsibility for AMD. “AMD has focused on energy efficiency for years, and this focus is more important than ever given the explosion of computing devices and the very real threat of climate change. We continue to achieve leaps in energy efficiency by focusing on numerous design enhancements, improved transistor density, and other optimizations that result in power and performance improvements. Our ambitious goal is to improve this performance metric by 25 times during the timeframe from 2014 to 2020.”

PuzzlePhone received the Catalyzing Disruptive Innovation Award for its modular approach to smartphone design. Its three-module smartphone empowers end users to change or upgrade a module rather than replace the entire device when a part becomes inoperative or obsolete. The modules also are designed for reuse in other applications after their life as a smartphone component, expanding their lifespan and reducing the amount of e-waste.

“By applying the principles of human-centered design and ecodesign, PuzzlePhone enables the full cycle of the circular dconomy: durability, easy maintenance and design for recapture through existing recycling systems and rapid disassembly,” says Alejandro Santacreu, founder and CEO of Circular Devices Oy/PuzzlePhone. “Caring both about our planet and our customers, we have developed a supply-chain-proof solution that brings value to all stakeholders by solving their most critical pain points. PuzzlePhone empowers all of us to choose a better way, a better future.”

A panel of expert judges selected AMD and PuzzlePhone from among seven Catalyst Awards finalists. The other five Catalyst Award Finalists were: U.S. Department of Energy, iFixIt, Samsung, WorldLoop and Xerox.

GEC announced the Catalyst Award winners during IFA 2016 held in Berlin Sept. 1-6, 2016.

In 2015, the inaugural year of GEC’s Catalyst Awards, Dell Inc. won for closing its manufacturing loop and using 100 percent postconsumer recycled plastic for certain components.

The GEC is a nonprofit that works with stakeholders around the world to develop a shared vision for more sustainable electronics and the practical tools to realize it. Founded to inspire and catalyze environmental leadership throughout the lifecycle of electronic technologies, GEC says it supports the production of consensus-based environmental leadership standards; by operating EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool), the definitive global rating system for greener electronics; and by convening global thought leaders in environmental design, strategy and marketing to envision more sustainable electronics design and delivery methods. These activities work to promote a world in which green electronics is a cornerstone of a healthy and vibrant world.

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA), Mississauga, Ontario, has announced that at 96 percent of residents, nearly all Canadians are able to recycle all types of transparent and opaque plastic bottles, jugs and jars in their residential recycling programs.

The association released the report “Canadian Residential Plastics Packaging: Recycling Program Access Report,” which monitored the changes taking place in Canadian curbside recycling programs, tracking how they have expanded to collect a broader range of plastic packaging materials over several years. Plastic packaging includes both rigid containers like bottles, jugs and tubs as well as pliable materials such as plastic bags and clear overwrap from bulk products, according to CPIA. As part of the analysis, the report calculates the growing percentage of Canadians who have access to residential recycling programs that collect various types of plastic packaging and plastic products.

“We’ve just finalized our analysis for 2015 and are excited to report that more Canadians can recycle more plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs and lids as well as plastic bags and plastic overwrap than ever before,” says Carol Hochu, CPIA president and CEO.

Hochu continues, “Plastic definitely plays a central role in recycling programs these days. As more manufacturers turn to plastic packaging, consumers are putting more of these materials into their recycling bins. And recycling program managers continue to add to the list of plastics they accept as markets develop and expand. We’re seeing recycling programs across the country adding plastic tubs and lids, caps, plastic bags, overwrap and foam food and protective packaging to their lists of acceptable materials.”

The CPIA says the biggest gains in access to broader recycling programs in Canada include:

• The percentage of Canadians who can recycle all types of plastic containers (bottles, jugs, jars, tubs and lids, clamshell boxes, etc.) increased by 6 percentage points to 67 percent in 2015 (up from 61 percent in 2014 and 53 percent in 2013).
• Access to programs that accept plastic bags and overwrap (e.g., the plastic used to wrap paper towels and cases of pop) has increased 10 percentage points to 65 percent in 2015 (up from 55 percent in 2014). This is mostly in light of the city of Toronto adding plastic bags and overwrap to its program in mid-2015.
• Access to recycling programs that accept foam food and protective packaging has increased to 44 percent in 2015 (up from 35 percent in 2014), largely because of Montreal adding all foam packaging to its collection program.
• Sixty percent of Canadians now have access to recycling programs that include plastic bottle caps.
• Seventy-one percent of Canadians can recycle smaller (less than 4 liter) tubs and lids and 63 percent can recycle larger (greater than 4 liter) tubs and lids.
• Ninety-nine percent of Canadians can recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottles.
  

Krista Friesen, CPIA vice president of sustainability, adds, “Canadians use products delivered in plastic containers or protected by plastic materials every day and we want those materials to be managed for reuse and recycling in sustainable ways. That’s why CPIA works closely and continuously with municipalities and provincial stewardship agencies that are collecting recyclable plastic materials, and with end markets to expand opportunities to recover more materials and to develop new uses for postconsumer materials.”

Since 1943, the CPIA says it has served as the national voice of the plastics industry across Canada and beyond, representing the interests of plastics value chain including resin and raw material suppliers, processors/converters, equipment suppliers, recyclers and brand owners.

This information was provided by GlobeNewswire.