Montreal-based Loop Industries Inc. and Purchase, New York-based PepsiCo Inc. have entered into a multiyear supply agreement that will enable PepsiCo to purchase production capacity from Loop’s joint venture facility in the United States and incorporate Loop PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic into its product packaging by early 2020. Loop PET is made completely from recycled material.   

According to Loop Industries, its technology allows no- and low-value plastics to be diverted, recovered and recycled into new, virgin-quality Loop PET plastic. The company’s technology can recycle plastic bottles and packaging of any color, transparency or condition; carpet, clothing and other polyester textiles that may contain colors, dyes or additives; and even ocean plastics that have been degraded by sun and salt into recycled PET that meets U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements for use in food-grade packaging, Loop says.

As one of the largest purchasers of recycled PET in the consumer goods space, PepsiCo has identified Loop PET as a commercially viable technology to expand the amount of recycled content in its product packaging and to help meet its sustainability ambitions and consumer needs, the partners say in a say in a news release about their agreement.

“Loop’s technology enables PepsiCo to be a leading force in ensuring plastic packaging need never become waste,” says Mehmood Khan, vice chairman and chief scientific officer, PepsiCo. “This partnership represents a step-change that will empower PepsiCo in our drive towards creating a circular economy for plastics.”

“We are very proud to supply PepsiCo with Loop branded PET plastic,” says Daniel Solomita, founder and CEO of Loop Industries.  “Working with a global food and beverage giant like PepsiCo will further establish the value proposition of the Loop brand and mission to accelerate the world’s shift toward sustainable plastic and away from the traditional, take, make and dispose economy.”

The deal also will include a marketing and communications plan to raise awareness of the importance of recycling, sustainability and the circular economy, the partners say.

The Florida Recycling Partnership, Anheuser-Busch and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) hosted the Florida Recycling Summit Oct. 3 to address the state of recycling in Florida. The one-day event started at Anheuser-Busch’s Metal Container Corporation facility with a short press conference and tour of the facility, and then attendees moved to the Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville brewery for an educational session. 

“[The event] gave us an opportunity to highlight the recycling efforts of one our members,” says Keyna Cory, executive director of the Florida Recycling Partnership. “Also, Florida has a 75 percent recycling goal, and we have been working with the FDEP on different educational outreach opportunities. John Truitt, deputy secretary for FDEP, was at the press conference lending their support for recycling efforts, and Karen Moore, FDEP, gave a presentation on how recycling efforts started in Florida and the different programs being offered by the department.” 

Cory says the event also benefited Anheuser-Busch. “[The company] doesn’t toot their own horn,” she says. “We wanted to let people know what a great job they do with regards to recycling. They were proud to showcase their facilities.

Overall, about 30 people attended the event. Cory notes that the event could only invite a limited number of people due to the tours and the location. 

During the event, Randy Burch, director of operations for Anheuser-Busch, updated attendees on its recycling efforts. He said the company’s MCC manufactures nearly three billion aluminum cans and bottles each year for beer, sodas and energy drinks. Currently, he said the company has a 99 percent recycling rate. Additionally, he said Anheuser-Busch has a 99.8 percent recycling rate in its major U.S. breweries and has committed to having 100 percent of its packaging made from primarily recycled content or returnable by 2025. 

Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, spoke during the conference, addressing business owners, university professors and attendees from across Florida. “This event is about what we can do as citizens to protect our state instead of putting all of the responsibility on government officials,” Bradley said at the conference. “Florida wants to continue to implement educational programs to raise awareness as we work towards 100 percent sustainability.”

Truitt also announced that FDEP has a new recycling program called “Rethink. Reset. Recycle.” that assists citizens and industries in protecting Florida’s environment. Truitt reported that through FDEP’s efforts, Florida’s recycling rate has increased from 22 percent in 2011 to 52 percent in 2017.  

During the educational session at the brewery, participants heard presentations by Kim Walker and Karen Moore from FDEP; Tim Townsend from the University of Florida and the Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management; Dawn McCormick of Waste Management; and Gene Jones from Southern Waste Information eXchange (SWIX).  

Upon conclusion of the Summit, participants had an opportunity to tour the brewery to see firsthand how Anheuser-Busch recycles and reuses many of the materials used in its brewing process.

The Florida Recycling Partnership has hosted a similar Florida Recycling Summit in 2016 at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Jacksonville. Cory says this recent event was expanded to the MCC facility. She adds that the Florida Recycling Partnership plans to host similar events and workshops across the state to educate policymakers, business leaders and the general public about the benefits of recycling.

BWAY, MAUSER Group, National Container Group (NCG) and Industrial Container Services (ICS) recently announced that the four packaging industry leaders have consolidated into one company—Mauser Packaging Solutions.

The newly formed Mauser Packaging Solutions, Oak Brook, Illinois, will integrate the capabilities of the various companies to help sustainably deliver products and services across the entire packaging life cycle for customers around the globe. Mauser Packaging Solutions will focus on delivering large and small metal, plastic, fiber and hybrid packaging worldwide to companies spanning the food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, chemical, petrochemical, agrochemical and paint industries. 

The company’s new tagline, “Redefining Sustainability,” reflects Mauser Packaging Solutions’ dedication to better serving customers of all four legacy companies with capabilities that span every phase of the packaging process. It also represents the organization’s fresh vision for the future, according to the company.

From new packaging made from recycled content to its emphasis on reconditioning and reuse, Mauser Packaging Solutions is focused on bringing true sustainability at scale to companies all over the world.

“When developing our growth strategy, we recognized that customers were looking for a global partner to deliver sustainable packaging solutions and close the loop from purchase to reuse,” Mauser Packaging Solutions CEO Ken Roessler says. “For the first time, businesses have a single partner who can deliver an industry-leading portfolio of products and services of the highest quality and widest range around the world. And our team members are the best in the industry—passionate, innovative and committed to solving complex customer challenges and building lifelong relationships based on service. We are truly excited and focused on the future.”

The board of directors of Singapore-based Metech International Ltd. has announced plans to sell its electronic scrap business (EWM) to a company called Belle Forte Ltd., based in the British Virgin Islands, and Wah Len Andrew. The decision to sell the assets was made in the third quarter of 2018.

The Metech assets being sold include six locations: five in the United States and one in Singapore. The company also is applying for licenses to operate another electronic scrap facility in Malaysia.

In August, Metech reported revenue for the EWM business declined 11.3 percent from the prior year, while profits dropped from $4.6 million in 2017 to a loss of $600,000. In addition, Metech’s management says the electronics recycling group has not been able to secure the relevant licenses from the various Malaysian authorities for its proposed new processing facility in Penang, Malaysia.

The group also is faced with challenges posed by hazardous waste control laws at its facilities in the United States, especially its Gilroy, California, location. With the above concerns and environmental issues, Metech says it found it difficult to continue to operate the EWM business in a sustainable manner.

“The challenging operating environment and the future prospect of the EWM business would be best served by maintaining very substantial capital investments in addition to a high level of working capital in the EWM business,” states the firm.