Global Recycling Day 2026: What will we recycle if nothing is recovered?
We celebrate recycling like it’s a given. We talk about it as a system that simply exists. Something reliable and always there. But here’s the uncomfortable question no one asks: What exactly are we recycling… if nothing is being recovered in the first place? Because recycling doesn’t begin in the bin. It begins in the […]
The Global Plastics Treaty is delayed. Plastic isn’t.
Photo by Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash The Global Plastics Treaty was expected to establish a shared global framework for addressing plastic pollution and reshaping packaging compliance worldwide. Negotiations are still ongoing. Plastic production and waste generation, however, have not slowed. If your brand is reviewing its packaging strategy in light of emerging regulation, now […]
Global Plastics Treaty 2026: How it will affect packaging compliance and materials
Photo credit: IISD The Global Plastics Treaty is poised to become the most consequential global policy framework shaping packaging compliance and materials strategy for brands and producers. As negotiations continue toward an expected agreement in 2026, companies must understand emerging compliance expectations and future regulatory realities that extend far beyond domestic Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) […]
The business case for purpose: how credible impact drives brand growth, trust, and performance
Let’s get one thing out of the way: business purpose isn’t a brand “nice-to-have” anymore. Not because people suddenly got nicer, but because the market has changed. Consumers now expect brands to carry more of the sustainability load than individuals do. In NielsenIQ’s 2023 sustainability research, 46% of respondents said brands are most responsible for […]
Sustainability is now imposed. Leadership is still a choice.
In 2025, sustainability is no longer an aspirational idea reserved for annual reports or brand manifestos. It has become a structural requirement, embedded in regulation, scrutinised by regulators, and increasingly assessed by consumers who expect evidence, not intention. For brands navigating plastic packaging, EPR compliance, and sustainability commitments, this marks a decisive shift: Regulation has […]
How brands use certified plastic credits to support Scope 3 reductions
For many organisations, conversations about sustainability now revolve around Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. These terms appear in ESG reports, investor briefings, and regulatory discussions, often without explanation. If you are not a sustainability specialist, that can feel disorienting. Before discussing how certified plastic credits support Scope 3 strategies, it is important to […]
When waste management systems fail, workers pay the price
There is a hard truth at the heart of the global waste management conversation that rarely gets the attention it deserves. When waste systems fail, the consequences are not abstract nor theoretical. They are borne by people by workers whose bodies absorb the risk long before the rest of society feels any disruption. The landfill […]
Turning Tides: Transforming marine debris into art in the Torres Strait
In November 2025, the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) invited us to deliver an intensive workshop on Waiben, Zenadeth Kes, with 12 local artists from the Torres Straits Islands. The 3-day workshop was held at Gab Titui Art & Cultural Centre with artists from places including Badu, Moa and Erub Island, as well as Seisa […]
Design for Recyclability 2026: New material, label & additive restrictions
The 2025 EU PPWR (Packaging Waste Regulation) has ushered in a ‘packaging renaissance’, where packaging is being designed for both consumer appeal and recyclability. For brands selling into the EU, design for recyclability is now a compliance requirement, not a future ambition. Decisions made in 2026 will determine whether packaging can legally remain on the […]
COP30 after Belém: Why verified plastic recovery will matter more in 2026 corporate reporting
Delegates of COP30 in Belém demanded ‘roadmaps’ to lead the world away from fossil fuels and to prevent deforestation. While the roadmaps didn’t fully materialize by the end of COP30, they are expected in mid- 2026. The concept of a roadmap is powerful, since it illustrates a vision with clear steps for achieving an extraordinarily […]