Plastic Promises 2022- Industry Best Practices

Ubuntoo has developed a proprietary methodology to assess and quantify the scale and scope of a company's sustainability ambitions and compare them to their actual actions and achievements. This methodology serves as a benchmarking system, enabling companies to evaluate their absolute performance and compare it with their industry peers. The primary goal is to facilitate a deeper understanding of a company's sustainability efforts, identify areas for improvement, and learn from best-in-class examples in the field. By analyzing and benchmarking sustainability initiatives, companies can make data-driven decisions to drive positive environmental and social impacts while remaining competitive in their respective industries.

Ubuntoo has gathered the actionable steps from 2022 to see how top-scoring companies are reducing their plastic usage and becoming sustainability leaders. One example is The Coca-Cola Company's efforts to increase the use of recycled PET plastic (rPET) in their packaging. By eliminating 60,000 metric tons of virgin PET in North America and launching 100% rPET bottles on select brands, Coca-Cola demonstrates a commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and promoting circularity in its packaging materials. The Coca-Cola Company also focuses on recovery initiatives by investing in recycling infrastructure and education programs. Their goal is to create closed-loop systems and encourage recycling to ensure that packaging materials are recycled and repurposed in future bottles and cans, thus maximizing their value and minimizing waste.

Condé Nast's approach to sustainable packaging involves identifying and testing alternatives to single-use plastic packaging. They have successfully eliminated packaging altogether or replaced it with recyclable paper wrapping, paper envelopes, recycled plastics from post-consumer waste, and bio-based compostable packaging from renewable sources like potato starch, sugar cane, or corn.

Zespri has made progress in reducing plastic use by experimenting with a fiber alternative to plastic trays and exploring alternatives to fruit labels. They collaborate with suppliers and customers to identify sustainable packaging solutions, acknowledging the technological challenges involved in this endeavor.

These best practices showcase the commitment of companies to reduce their environmental impact, increase sustainability, and promote circularity in their operations. Ubuntoo's methodology can help other companies assess and benchmark their own sustainability initiatives to follow suit and drive positive change in their industries.