Indianapolis-based Heritage Battery Recycling LLC and smelting technology provider 6K have announced a development agreement to produce new cathode material from recycled batteries. The companies say Heritage will use its established infrastructure to collect, store and process end-of-life batteries, and Massachusetts-based 6K will provide its high-temperature plasma technology to manufacture cathode-grade battery metals from the scrap materials.

The name 6K represents 6000 degrees, the temperature of the surface of the sun and the operating temperature of 6K’s UniMelt system, which the firm calls the world's only production-scale microwave plasma system.

The company says it is currently sampling customers and developing products that can be used by makers of NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) and LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, plus silicon dominant anode and solid-state electrolyte materials.

“This agreement represents the first true circular economy approach to battery recycling,” says Aaron Bent, CEO of 6K. “An approach that is both sustainable and cost-effective and most importantly can be domestically produced. It is clear that we need to recycle materials in order to ensure the sustainability of our domestic battery supply chain, and Heritage is the perfect partner in this endeavor. Their operational expertise has been demonstrated over the past 50 years of offering safe and compliant solutions to their customers, and this partnership will greatly accelerate deployment of 6K’s cathode product into the market.”

Heritage Battery Recycling, Heritage Environmental Services and Heritage Crystal Clean will all contribute to build a national collection network for sourcing spent battery feedstock, the firms say.

“6K is a leader in the materials management field and are the perfect partner to work with on creating a circular, sustainable solution to produce cathode material for new batteries,” says Shane Thompson, president of Heritage Battery Recycling. “This is a breakthrough, as 6K’s process is massively less energy, water- and carbon-intensive. It will redefine how we produce batteries.”

Thinksound, an audio equipment manufacturer based in Toronto, has launched its first over-ear headphones using bioplastic. The plastic comes from Eastman, a plastics manufacturer based in Kingsport, Tennessee, and contains more than 40 percent biobased content derived from sustainably harvested trees.

The headphones, called the ov21, can be preordered online now and will be in stock in October 2021.

"We're a company that has always had sustainability as part of our mission," says Aaron Fournier, president and founder of Thinksound. "Historically, we've achieved this by using wood and other natural or recyclable components. That created a challenge with new product development because we had to minimize the use of plastic. Eastman offered us an opportunity to develop headphones in an environmentally responsible way while meeting our rigorous standards for acoustic performance."

Eastman is a U.S. Department of Agriculture certified biobased polymer that offers excellent acoustic properties in addition to the durability, chemical resistance and processability required for engineered applications in consumer electronic devices, according to Eastman.

"We're proud to be working with a company like Thinksound, with its deep commitment to environmentally sound products," says Courtland Jenkins, commercial director of specialty plastics for Eastman. 

The audio company is also developing two wireless headphone products that will use sustainable materials as part of its commitment to environmentally responsible innovation.

"We now have the flexibility to create almost any audio product our customers desire, and we can do it in a way that we can feel good about," says Mark Forward, chief marketing officer of Thinksound. "Eastman provides the kind of technology and innovation that matches our ambitions as a company. We're excited about the possibilities of what we can create together."

Berry Global Group, a packaging manufacturer based in Evansville, Indiana, has announced it is joining The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition. The coalition is aimed at increasing recycling access for polypropylene (PP).

The company says the announcement extends its goal of enhancing recycling infrastructure as part of the quest toward a circular economy. Berry joins Polypropylene Recycling Coalition steering committee members like Keurig Dr. Pepper, Braskem, NextGen Consortium and the Walmart Foundation.

The coalition has:

• contributed $4.2 million in grants to 13 recycling facilities to positively impact nearly 15 million U.S. residents, almost 6 percent of the U.S. population;
• given financial awards across the United States to increase polypropylene recovery by 13 million pounds annually; and,
• supported targeted consumer education efforts and infrastructure improvements.

“By expanding and modernizing recycling infrastructure, we will capture the economic value that is currently being lost and supply the recycled content necessary to meet commitments,” says Robert Flores, vice president of sustainability at Berry. “This is critical to achieving a circular economy and giving natural resources multiple lives.” 

According to a news release from Berry, the initiative is in line with the company’s efforts to improve PP curbside recycling.

Berry says it’s targeting investments and partnerships to foster recycling infrastructure. An example of this is a recent collaboration with Evansville, Indiana, materials recovery facility (MRF) to purchase and install a new AMP Robotics Cortex high-speed robotics system to sort polypropylene. Recovered material will be used back in Berry’s products. More importantly, learnings from the robot will be evaluated and shared to enhance and promote PP recycling.

United Kingdom-based Applied Market Information Ltd. (AMI) has announced its Smart Packaging Virtual Summit will take place Dec. 14-16. The event, which is free to attend, will include expert presentations and live Q&A sessions.

According to a news release from AMI, the following are some of the sessions that will take place at the event:

• Nestlé and Kellogg will give in-depth views on sustainable packaging;
• AIM, Procter & Gamble, Mondi and Plarebel will discuss their digital watermarks project, HolyGrail 2.0, for smart packaging recycling in the European Union;
• Anheuser-Busch InBev will talk about the hurdles fast-moving consumer goods companies face when trying to create and implement smart packaging;
• Loop will present examples of existing brand partners and reusable packaging innovations;
• Tetra Pak will explain how to level up consumer engagement activities with real-time data insights;
• Takeda and Accent World will focus on the importance of smart packaging in pharmaceuticals; and
• Colgate Palmolive will present overview trends and developments in the e-commerce packaging market.

“The pandemic has accelerated existing packaging megatrends and added a fresh impetus for innovation. Smart packaging is growing significantly,” says Pranita Nangia, senior conference producer at AMI. “We will witness more developments in smarter materials that will prolong shelf life and reduce packaging weight. Also, a boost in the Internet of Things and AI is adding value for consumers, optimizing operations, and maximizing data collection. The virtual summit will provide the ideal environment to discuss the packaging needs and expectations of brand owners and consumers, as well as exploring the evolution and disruption of the packaging ecosystem.” 

AMI says the event also features a startup innovation showcase. Here, up-and-coming companies have an opportunity to deliver their pitch on innovative concepts, products or technologies related to the smart packaging space in front of the prestigious selection committee.

The platform also hosts a virtual exhibition area, allowing all attendees to explore and interact with the packaging industry and its key players who will showcase their products. During the designated networking sessions, professionals can connect by private meetings scheduled with their chosen contacts.