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Tag: plastic problem

  • All Starbucks in Korea to get paper straws from yesterday

    All Starbucks in Korea to get paper straws from yesterday

    Starbucks Korea is stocking all 1,225 of its stores nationwide with paper straws in a bid to cut down on its plastic usage. Starting last Monday, Starbucks began stocking all of its stores with white paper straws, which it found during trials to be more popular than green ones. The paper straws will also be coated with soy oil both inside and outside in response to customer complaints that its original trial straws were too flimsy.

    Starbucks trialed paper straws at 100 stores in Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island over the last two months.

    Though all stores now have paper straws, some branches will continue to offer customers plastic ones until they deplete existing stocks.

    Additionally, on Monday Starbucks began stocking all of its stores with plastic cup lids that don’t require straws. These special lids, which resemble those used with hot drinks that come in paper cups, will be provided for take-out orders of regular cold drinks. Paper straws and regular lids will be provided for specialty cold drinks like Frappuccinos and drinks topped with whipped cream that are difficult to drink without straws.

    “We developed the plastic cup lids to minimize disposable waste consumption and also offer an alternative to customers who prefer drinking without straws,” said a Starbucks spokesman.

    Starbucks will also remove the straws and stirring sticks it previously left out for customers and instead place them behind counters and only provide them on request. It will replace all plastic stirring sticks with wooden ones as well.

    Last year, Starbucks Korea used 180 million plastic straws, nearly enough to circumnavigate the earth if laid end-to-end.

    “With the adoption of paper straws we will be able to prevent consumption of at least 180 million plastic straws from next year,” said a Starbucks spokesperson.

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  • Biodegradable Packaging Material Market Remains Highly Fragmented, with Tier 3 Players Collectively Foreseen

    Biodegradable Packaging Material Market Remains Highly Fragmented, with Tier 3 Players Collectively Foreseen

    Biodegradable packaging market witnessed moderate growth during 2013 to 2027, and the status quo is envisaged to prevail over the period of forecast 2018 to 2028, according to new Fact.MR study. Volume sales of biodegradable packaging are foreseen to record a modest 4.2% CAGR through 2028, which is anticipated to equal a market value in excess of US$ 703 billion. The study finds that tier 3 players will collectively continue to account for over three-fifth share of the biodegradable packaging market.

    Biodegradable packaging market is expected to envisage healthy value CAGR of 4.2% during the period 2018-2028, with revenues surpassing US$ 703 billion by 2028 end. The study also opines that the paper & paperboard biodegradable packaging will retain its undisputed dominance in the biodegradable packaging market, as it may account for more than 95% of the total market revenue by the end 2028. The global war against plastic packaging materials is opening an attractive window of opportunities for paper packaging companies, enticing them into entering the biodegradable packaging market.

    A majority of regulatory bodies and international environmental organizations have proposed a ban on single-use packaging materials to mitigate the perilous effects of non-degradable solid waste on the environment. Increasing environmental awareness and consumer inclination towards making sustainable purchases is providing a major boost to the growth of the market.

    Positive effects of the ban on single-use packaging on the biodegradable packaging market are offset by stringent labeling regulations and certification procedures to control false claims about the biodegradability of packaging materials. The market is characterized by the needs to comply with strict quality standards established in various regional markets, which may complicate it for market players to maintain competitive prices of biodegradable packaging solutions.

    Meanwhile, the study finds that leading players in the biodegradable packaging market are adopting strategies to acquire their smaller rivals to consolidate a stronger position in the packaging sector. DS Smith plc – a British paper packaging company – recently announced its plans to acquire its Spanish rival Europac Group for over US$ 2 billion, in order to merge the Western European biodegradable packaging market. Another leading player – Smurfit Kappa Group recently completed the acquisition of Reparenco – a paper and recycling company in Netherlands – for €460 million to expand its European biodegradable packaging capacities.

    An American manufacturer of biodegradable packaging – WestRock Company recently acquired packaging businesses across the world, including Hanna Group Pty Ltd, Plymouth Packaging, Inc., and Schlüter Print Pharma Packaging GmbH, to establish a stronger presence in the market. The company also revealed its plans to acquire KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp., an American paper company, for a total enterprise value of around US$ 4.9 Bn to leverage KapStone’s expertise in biodegradable packaging using kraft paper.

    “Increasing growth of the e-commerce sector and popular trends of online grocery shopping is opening new avenues of growth for players in the biodegradable packaging market. Purchasing decisions of environment-conscious consumers are greatly influenced by sustainable packaging materials, which may create high demand for biodegradable packaging solutions in the coming future. Stakeholders in the biodegradable packaging market are shifting their focus on the dynamic trends in the e-commerce sector while adopting their future business strategies,” says a lead analyst at Fact.MR.

    The study further states that, among all the leading end-user industries in the biodegradable packaging market, food & beverage industry is expected to account for more than 30% of the total market share throughout the forecast period. Increasing demand for packaged food products, convenience foods, and ready-to-eat meals is reflected in supermarket shelves. Leading market players are introducing biodegradable packaging films, trays, and bags to further improve the fresh food experience for consumers while offering numerous environmental benefits.

    Sensing the extraordinary growth opportunities in the biodegradable packaging market for the F&B industry – the Mondi Group recently developed an innovative, paper-based, biodegradable packaging bag for food – Sustainex®, in collaboration with a Polish converter, SILBO. Multifold opportunities for biodegradable packaging in the F&B industry are boosting market players to develop innovative technologies, biodegradable packaging materials, and designs, which is expected to influence the dynamics of the biodegradable packaging market in the upcoming years.