All Social Impact articles
-
ArticleHow climate change is affecting plastic packaging
In this edition of the Brief, we examine the impacts of climate change on plastic packaging in everyday life and the aftermath of natural disasters, and consider all the complexities of addressing the problem.
-
ArticleHow does Download Festival handle its packaging waste?
Summer is often the height of festival season, and with thousands of people set to descend on various sites around the globe, it also brings attention to how festivals are handling their packaging waste. In this article, we examine how the recent Download Festival in the UK utilized recycling incentives, reusable water bottles and aimed to reduce single-use plastic across the event.
-
ArticleBamagreen project converts plastic waste into construction and electrification products
Ayuda en Acción and adaPETation (IMG Group) have announced the second phase of the Bamagreen project in West Africa, which transforms plastic waste into products for construction and electrification and recycled flakes that can be re-introduced into the value chain.
-
ArticleRecycled cans at FIFA World Cup worth around £28.5 million, says WRAP
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) states that the UK will consume an estimated 2 billion canned drinks during the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to Recycle Now and Every Can Counts, with a market value of around £28.5 million as recycling - enough to pay the transfer fees of some of the event’s top players.
-
ArticlePR3 alliance unveils global reusable packaging symbol
PR3: The Global Alliance to Advance Reuse has revealed a new global symbol designed to identify reusable packaging and reuse systems worldwide, selected after global market testing involving 1,275 respondents across 17 countries.
-
ArticleOn-pack icons help Albert Heijn shoppers avoid food waste and extend shelf life
Over 50% of Albert Heijn’s own-brand packaging now displays a ‘look, smell, taste’ or hand icon to differentiate between best-before and use-by dates, tackle unnecessary food waste, and help consumers save money.
-
ArticleTOMRA installs cup return machines at German train station
TOMRA Reuse has announced the installation of two return machines at Freiburg Central Station in Germany, integrating automated returns into the city’s existing reusable system.
-
ArticleMondi report targets online consumer behaviour and use of AI tools
Mondi has published its annual e-commerce trend report which states that AI is changing how consumers buy, packaging is ‘increasingly’ impacting whether they buy again, and evolving digital behaviour is placing new demands on physical packaging.
-
ArticleApplications open for Carton Council’s 2026 school recycling grant in US and Canada
The Carton Council has opened applications for its 2026 School Carton Recycling Grant Program, providing funding to help kindergarten to 12th grade (K-12) schools across the United States and Canada establish or expand food and beverage carton recycling programmes.
-
ArticleWhat makes the Ramune soda bottle so iconic?
In the latest edition of our Iconic Packs series, we take a look at the Ramune soda bottle, made famous in Japan due to its unusual shape and opening system. We detail the journey from its British origins in the 19th century to the creation of its ‘Ramune’ name, and the shifts between the ‘classic’ glass bottle to PET and back again.
-
ArticleCircular&Co and The British Library team up for returnable cup scheme
Circular&Co has partnered with The British Library to implement Tap&Reuse, a zero-deposit system designed to replace single-use cups with cups that can be reused up to 1,000 times.
-
ArticleClosed-loop system for 100% recycled plastic reusable cups to be implemented at Eurovision
Borouge International (formerly Borealis), OMV, Greiner Packaging and event supplier Altstoff Recycling Austria (ARA) have teamed up to create a closed-loop system for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, with 100,000 reusable cups made from 100% recycled plastic due to be used on-site.
-
ArticleLittle Dish pack re-designed in interactive format
Branding agency Derek and Eric has partnered with illustrator Joe Whale (also known as Doodle Boy) to re-design Little Dish’s latest pack in an interactive format, encouraging children to colour in and draw on the packaging.
-
ArticleDoes generational marketing actually work?
In this edition of the Brief, we debunk the stereotypes and use real-world packaging campaigns to evaluate the dos and don’ts of marketing to this generation of shoppers, from social responsibility claims to designing for social media.
-
ArticleUp to 432,000 hydration gels could be binned during London Marathon, Business Waste says
With approximately 60,000 runners set to take part in the London Marathon this weekend, packaging waste experts at Business Waste say an estimated 432,000 hydration gels could be binned during Sunday’s event, generating around 16.2 tonnes of waste.
-
Article‘Credible sustainability practices are a strategic anchor in uncertain conditions’
In the face of rapidly evolving geopolitical realities and consumer expectations, maintaining credible standards has never been more important for the packaging industry. In a recent discussion, Helen Chepkemoi Too, senior director markets at FSC International, explained how these issues are affecting sustainability initiatives in the paper and pulp sector.
-
ArticleIconic Packs – the evolution of McDonald’s packaging
In this edition of our Iconic Packs series we examine the history of McDonald’s packaging, from the launch of the Happy Meal in 1979 to its changes of material from paper to plastic and back again – and its recent incorporation of reusable packaging and recycled materials. We look at how the company’s designs have evolved over the years and what design and material changes have been made to improve sustainability.
-
ArticleOne million Taco Bell sauce packets collected through US recycling programme
TerraCycle and Taco Bell claim that over five years, one million sauce packets and single-serve containers have been collected through the Taco Bell Sauce Container US Recycling Program, to be repurposed or recycled.
-
ArticleWomen in Packaging programme returns at interpack 2026
interpack 2026 will host its second Women in Packaging programme, featuring a keynote speech from Tetra Pak, multi-perspective panel discussions, and networking opportunities geared towards women at all career levels.
-
ArticleHow packaging design impacts neurodivergent shoppers
In this edition of the Brief, we take a closer look at what parts of packaging design can impact neurodivergent shoppers, including material feel, sounds, visual clutter and how these qualities might be adapted to make packaging more inclusive.