PAPACKS’ Post

ECOMONDO ITALY 2023 - THE EVENT FOR THE ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION A group of just 10 very special hosted buyers are invited from Poland and I will be leading the delegation in cooperation with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Poland. ECOMODNO is the ecological transition ecosystem and is the place for industry, stakeholders, policymakers, opinion leaders, and local authorities to meet and talk. It brings together and systemizes the key elements that define the development strategies of the European Union's environmental policy. It is the reference international event in Europe and the Mediterranean basin for technologies, services, and industrial solutions in the green and circular economy sectors. A hub for research and innovation, it hosts the leading companies in environmental services, solutions, and technologies, covering water management, waste disposal, textiles, bioenergy, soil management, and protection, transport, agriculture, and sustainable cities.

📣 Last Monday a new group of young professionals started the BlueCity (010) Circular Challenge. This fourteenth edition is a special one: for the first time the teams are challenged to develop a circular business case around local crops, instead of waste streams. 🌾 In the upcoming six weeks the three teams will work with water mint, reed and Cup Plant, brought in by challenge-partners VORM Holding, Rabobank, Wij.land, Commonland, Gemeente Krimpenerwaard and Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap. 🌼 Our challenge? Develop one economically viable building material and one product with another application from Cup Plant (Silphium Perfoliatum, we call her Silphie). A native crop to Eastern and Central North America and relatively new in Europe, especially the Netherlands. Its versatile specs are an asset and the many yellow flowers make her stand out in a most promising way… 🧠 The upcoming weeks 'Team Silphie' will study every single aspect of this unique crop, inside and out. Apart from having the most amazing Young Professionals on board, it is an absolute joy and privilege to be able to use BlueCity (010)'s professional lab facilities and being able to consult their bio-experts during our quest. ♻️ We will give our best 💯 to contribute to and find new solutions in a time of climate (and nitrogen) crisis. We need more scalable and alternative bio-based building materials and products. There are many local crops with a proven, positive effect on the quality of soil and water, so we are confident to find all distinctive features Silphie has to offer! And, ofcourse, we will come up with controversial Dutch-design 🇳🇱 to make her the ‘Belle of the Ball’ during final night..! 💡 Curious about our progress and results? Follow us here or support us during the final night on January 29 where we will present our circular business case to a jury of experts.  👉🏻Reserve your free spot here ->https://lnkd.in/eXhrFdw8. Hope to see you there! #cilrcularchallenge #circularsolutions #localcrops #croprevolution #design #dutchdesign #loveourland #teamsilphie #rotterdam #netherlands

In 2012, The UN General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as the International Day of Forests. The theme for this year is, Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World.   Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national, and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as planting campaigns.   Finland and Sweden, where Metsä Board mills are located, have a long history in sustainable forest management. The sustainable use of forests creates well-being, mitigates climate change, maintains biodiversity, and prevents deforestation.   We offer the following suggestions to mark the day:   🌲 Innovate with forest-friendly materials by developing packaging solutions that are not only biodegradable and recyclable but also sourced from sustainably managed forests. Consider materials that minimize waste and energy consumption during production.   🌲 Partner with reforestation initiatives by collaborating with organizations dedicated to reforestation and afforestation. These partnerships can involve direct financial support, volunteering for planting activities, or offering products that contribute to the cause.   🌲 Educate and engage your customers and stakeholders about the importance of forests and how sustainable packaging choices can make a difference.   🌲 Commit to sustainable practices by reviewing your operations and supply chain to ensure they align with the principles of sustainability. This can include optimizing logistics to reduce carbon footprint, using renewable energy sources, and ensuring that your materials are sourced ethically and responsibly.   🌲 Advocate for policy and change by engaging with policymakers to support legislation that protects forests and promotes sustainable packaging solutions.   🌲 Organize or join events celebrating forests: tree plantings, symposiums, art exhibitions, photo competitions or host a student debate.   🌲 Join the conversation on social media using #ForestDay.   Watch this video created by the Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8ngChTq   #IntlForestDay #ForestDay #sustainability #sustainableforests

Exciting news: The FloriPEFCR guidelines have been approved by the European Commission!   The story of flowers and plants is a powerful one that needs to be told. With a positive mindset and in a credible way, demonstrate that as a sector, we do our utmost to reduce negative emissions and create positive impact for everybody.   The FloriPEFCR (Floriculture Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules) serves as the guidance to measure the environmental impact of cut flowers and potted plants using 16 environmental indicators. The FloriPEFCR now becomes the new standard method for footprint calculations for flowers and plants, in the EU but with a global reach.   During the celebratory presentation yesterday, 14 February 2024, the footprint “cookbook” was handed over to Jeroen Oudheusden (Executive Officer of the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative) by Project leader Roline Broekema from Wageningen University & Research and the chair of the Technical Secretariat, Albert Haasnoot (Royal FloraHolland).   This moment marks the starting point for the next step of the FloriPEFCR, where practical application of footprint information will support reduction of the sector's ecological footprint and contribute to building trust and transparency.   More news to follow the coming days as we will also invite FSI members for a more in-depth webinar.   Royal FloraHolland, Fresh Produce Centre, Wageningen University & Research, UNION FLEURS - International Flower Trade Association, MPS, Glastuinbouw Nederland, Natuur & Milieu, Floriculture Sustainability Initiative, FSF Florverde Sustainable Flowers (Official Page), ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Rabobank, PRé Sustainability, Blonk Sustainability.

From biodiversity protection programmes to forest management commitments, sustainability is a foundational pillar of the forest-based sector.🌲 In the video below listen to Sakari Suuriniemi from UPM - The Biofore Company elaborate on how sustainability is ingrained into every facet of the forest-based sector - from wood production to operations financing. 👇 #Greensource eugreensource.org Cepi, Pro Carton - The association of carton and cartonboard manufacturers, The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment , European Pulp Industry Sector AISBL & EUROPEAN ORGANISATION OF THE SAWMILL INDUSTRY

Case Spotlight: Green Production at Leinos Naturfarben Leinos Naturfarben, founded in 1985, has always been a pioneer in natural colors. Their commitment? Ensuring colors are derived from natural products and nature-identical substances, free from non-degradable pollutants. This vision was born out of a desire to provide an alternative for those adversely affected by chemical-synthetic colors. Today Leinos is one of the market leaders, combining quality and ecology, all based on natural raw materials. Their success story doesn't end there. When it came to environmentally friendly labelling, they turned to us. Our wet glue labeller, wetLAN 110, meets their high standards of energy efficiency, ensuring a continuous production process, quick set-up times, and reliable results. If you're passionate about sustainable solutions and innovations in the industry, let's collaborate and make a difference. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g6RAYWWN #LangguthEngineering #EcoFriendlyProduction #NaturalColors #LeinosNaturfarben #SustainableInnovation #GreenProduction

From biodiversity protection programmes to forest management commitments, sustainability is a foundational pillar of the forest-based sector🌲 In the video below listen to Sakari Suuriniemi from UPM - The Biofore Company elaborate on how sustainability is ingrained into every facet of the forest-based sector - from wood production to operations financing 👇 #Greensource eugreensource.org Cepi 🤝 European Pulp Industry Sector AISBL, The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment , Pro Carton - The association of carton and cartonboard manufacturers & EUROPEAN ORGANISATION OF THE SAWMILL INDUSTRY

Take a look at this field report from Professor Brendan Godley, who has recently been conducting marine plastic pollution research in Malaysia ⬇ "For the last week I have had the great privilege of working with an inspirational group from the University of Malaya undertaking a survey of beach litter on the coast of the South China Sea as the University of Exeter ExeterMarine team member. (Illustrative findings in the animation below). Most of the coastline is sandy and, unless cleaned regularly, marine-borne litter, mostly (90%) plastic, soon starts to accumulate. In each 50m stretch it was not atypical to have over 1000 pieces (>2.5cm). What would the numbers be if we went smaller. To 1cm? To 1mm? Key in this study is that every item is meticulously categorized and weighed, allowing us to assess the relative magnitude of each litter type. Where possible, a brand audit is undertaken. Challenging work in the sun and the rain! The world has a plastics problem, with southeast Asia countries particularly badly affected. There is, however, positivity. I have observed first-hand that Malaysia has a wealth of young, talented, and committed scientists, changing local government practices, ever greater litter extraction from waterways, and a groundswell of eco-active NGOs. I was so very impressed by the industry and absolute dedication of the research team as well as their warm welcome. I very much look forward to engaging further. "Terima kasih!" Fieldwork was led by Dr Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad and Dr FAUZIAH BINTI SHAHUL HAMID, abley supported by Affan Nasaruddin, Syaffi Ariff Ab Samad, Azizi Abu Bakar, Nuratikah Mohd Zainodin, Sharmani Muralitharan, Jiulong Qin. Team members unable to join this field campaign were Dr Zara Botterell, Priya Mohan, MOHD FADHLI RAHMAT FAKRI and our ever supportive mentor Prof Agamuthu pariatamby of Sunway University.   This study is supported by NERC: Natural Environment Research Council (UK) under the NRF-NERC-SEAP-2020 grant call ‘Understanding the Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems in Southeast Asia (South East Asia Plastics [SEAP])." #marineplastics #plasticpollution #plasticstreaty #sustainability #plasticfree #southeastasia #southchinasea #sdg14 University of Exeter Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter News

From biodiversity protection programmes to forest management commitments, sustainability is a foundational pillar of the forest-based sector.🌲   In the video below listen to Sakari Suuriniemi from @UPM elaborate on how sustainability is ingrained into every facet of the forest-based sector - from wood production to operations financing. 👇 #Greensource eugreensource.org Cepi, Pro Carton - The association of carton and cartonboard manufacturers, The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment , EUROPEAN ORGANISATION OF THE SAWMILL INDUSTRY and EPIS

🥤 Plastic is everywhere. Its presence in everything causes major environmental issues for soil and water management. Today Gerard Blom, our director of Subsurface and Groundwater systems, opened the ‘International Conference (micro-nano) Plastics in Soil 2024’. We’re pleased that researchers from around the world are gathering for 2 days to share knowledge and discuss solutions to this massive challenge.   🤝 Deltares is organising this conference together with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. ♻ The Dutch government hopes to reduce plastic pollution to 30% in 2030, and is striving for a fully circular economy in 2050. Deltares is researching the environmental consequences as a result of leaking chemicals and plastics dissolving in the water and soil systems. Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat #plasticpollution #microplastics #nanoplastics #EnablingDeltaLife