USA – Method, an eco-friendly cleaning and personal care product manufacturer, has announced that all clear plastic bottles are now made from 100% recycled recovered coastal plastic.
This initiative, part of a partnership with SC Johnson and Plastic Bank, allows consumers in the US and Canada to purchase Method’s products, including gel handwash, foaming handwash, and dish soap, in sustainable bottles.
Method’s commitment to using recycled coastal plastic began in 2012 with limited-edition soap bottles and has since expanded to a broader range of products.
SC Johnson’s collaboration with Plastic Bank, which started in 2018, has established over 550 plastic collection points in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Brazil, recovering the equivalent of three billion bottles.
Plastic Bank founder and CEO David Katz emphasized the partnership’s significance, stating, “Our collaboration with SC Johnson is a rallying call to businesses worldwide to step up to end poverty and stop plastic pollution.
“We believe that collective, incremental efforts ignite sweeping transformations. No matter how big the global waste footprint is, every step we take together for the good of our people and the planet counts.
“It’s time for businesses to realize that strong environmental and social impact can catalyze growth by genuinely winning the hearts of their customers.”
Method is also focused on reducing plastic consumption through innovative product design. It offers an all-purpose cleaner and foaming handwash in reusable aluminum bottles, complemented by recyclable glass concentrate refills.
This approach reportedly reduces plastic usage by 96% compared to traditional single-use bottles.
Plastic bag recyclers rally against Californian legislation
In other news, a coalition of plastic film recyclers and reusable bag manufacturers has launched California’s Responsible Recycling Alliance (RRA).
The RRA, comprising EFS Plastics, Merlin Plastics, and PreZero US, opposes two pending bills (AB 2236 and SB 1053) that aim to eliminate the state’s reusable plastic film grocery bags.
The coalition advocates for adding these bags to the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Program (SB 54).
PreZero US vice-president of public affairs Roxanne Spiekerman explained, “While I am certain that the proponents of these bills have the best of intentions, as written this legislation would roll back environmental gains, make shopping more expensive for low-income Californians, eliminate jobs across California, and hinder SB 54’s efforts to improve plastic film recycling.”
The RRA argues that reusable plastic film grocery bags, made in California with at least 40% recycled post-consumer content (PCR), can be recycled into new bags and other materials.
They oppose canvas and sewn poly-woven or non-woven polypropylene bags and paper bags due to their lack of recyclability and reusability and higher carbon emissions from water and energy consumption.
The RRA believes that including reusable plastic film grocery bags in SB 54 will facilitate easy collection, provide the necessary volume for recycling, protect low-income Californians from higher costs for alternative bags, and preserve jobs in the state’s reusable plastic film grocery bag manufacturing and recycling industry.
Spiekerman concluded, “It’s important to note that plastic film bag producers, as defined by SB 54, are the ones who will fund the plastics collection infrastructure and the system-wide improvements necessary to ensure that plastic film is recycled.”
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