The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has awarded $1m for five new recyclable and compostable packaging solutions to stop plastics becoming waste.
The foundation launched its $2m New Plastics Economy innovation prize, funded by Wendy Schmidt, to tackle the plastic pollution crisis.
Wendy Schmidt is the foundation’s philanthropic partner for the New Plastics Economy initiative, while other partner NineSigma manages the initiative.
Ellen MacArthur Foundation and NineSigma declared the winners of the Circular Materials Challenge at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.
The winners provided solutions to prevent the equivalent of 100 garbage bags per second of plastic waste being produced.
They produced lightweight and flexible packaging for products such as sauces, fresh coffee, and snacks.
According to foundation, Amcor, Ecover, evian, L’Ore′al, Mars, M&S, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever, Walmart and Werner & Mertz are focusing on using 100% reusable and recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025 or earlier.
In December 2017, the French government announced plans to recycle 100% of plastics by 2025.
In the UK, WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation have collaborated to implement the New Plastics Economy initiative.
Ellen MacArthur Foundation founder Ellen MacArthur said: These winning innovations show what’s possible when the principles of a circular economy are embraced.
“Clean-ups continue to play an important role in dealing with the consequences of the waste plastic crisis, but we know we must do more. We urgently need solutions that address the root causes of the problem, not just the symptoms.”
