Quotables/By the Numbers

BY THE NUMBERS

20 cents

The fee per pound on the sale of virgin plastic used for single-use plastics that will be imposed in 2024 if the proposed Rewarding Efforts to Decrease Unrecycled Contaminants in Ecosystems (REDUCE) Act is passed

63%

The percentage of consumers who say they would be unlikely to buy from a company that had embellished its “green credentials,” according to a new study from consumer research platform Attest

$1.5 trillion

The estimated size of the “subscription economy” by 2025, which is more than double its 2020 level, implying an average annual growth rate of 18%, according to UBS

10.5%

The percentage of circularity the world will achieve by 2030, as sustainability efforts and incoming legislation start to take effect, according to ABI Research “We know people want to do more to help the planet and that’s why we are working hard towards meeting our commitment of all Kellogg’s packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2025. This important trial of fully paper cereal packaging ensures we have explored all our options. Ultimately, we would prefer plastic liners to be accepted in home recycling as our data tells us that they are better for the planet over the full lifecycle of the packaging, but this trial ensures we have an alternative.”

–Chris Silcock, Kellogg UK and Ireland Managing Director, in an article from Packaging Gateway, “Kellogg’s to pilot recyclable paper liners for cereal boxes”

“For industrial facilities to remain relevant and overcome productivity de cits, technology breakthroughs such as cobots and AMRs are critical innovations. In both research and production, these robots are now mainstream and are expected to operate alongside people. The collaborative robots market is slowly taking over, and this will only deepen in the pharma sector.”

–Jaya Krishnan J, Research Analyst with Beroe, in an article, “Use of robotics in pharma packaging, manufacturing on the rise: Beroe,” from Outsourcing-Pharma.com

“With current market forces and environmental challenges driving the growth of compostable packaging, there has never been a more critical time to collectively advance labeling, testing and infrastructure investments related to the recovery of compostable food packaging and food scraps. We’re excited to work together with leading brands and retailers, including PepsiCo and the partners of the NextGen Consortium, as well as the entire composting value chain—from global brands to composters and packaging manufacturers—to accelerate much-needed solutions.”

–Kate Daly, Managing Director of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, as quoted in an article from Sustainable Brands, “Composting Consortium Aims to Advance Recovery of Compostable Packaging, Food Scraps”

“Assessing sustainability has to include plastic’s impacts on the physical environment as well as the climate, including the production of plastics from fossil fuels, and disposal of plastic waste into the environment. But we must take care in choosing alternatives. Comparison studies and common sense tell us that alternative materials will also produce environmental impacts, quite possibly worse than the plastics they replace.”

–Kenneth Green, environmental scientist and author of a recent report from the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), titled, “Plastics and Sustainability,” in a press release from the association, “New Report: Plastics Have Smaller Environmental Impact than Alternatives, Necessary for Continued Sustainability”