Insights: Building a world where packaging never becomes waste

Insights: Building a world where packaging never becomes waste

We are long past ‘sustainability’ being a buzzword. Of more concern, we are past the point of claiming ‘now’ as still a good time to act – that was yesterday. According to the latest , the world is veering off track to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Based on the current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that outline countries’ commitments to reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we are on a dangerous path of experiencing temperature rises of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels during the 21 century. While there is a call for individuals to adopt climate-friendly habits at a grassroots level, corporations need to champion the efforts, and motivate consumers to change their behaviors through providing products that are sustainable and processes that are kinder to the planet. In this vein, the UAE has declared 2023 the Year of Sustainability, as it gears up to host the 28 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). The spotlight shines even brighter on World Environment Day. This year’s theme – ‘Solutions to plastic pollution’, is one that no doubt raises the question on how soon all industries can take the big pivot to sustainable production. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, approximately