Luke Richards

"For the consumer packaged goods sector, the aim of reuse is to significantly reduce the virgin materials being used. But an ineffective, poorly executed system can perpetuate the need for even more virgin materials by failing to recover reusables after they’ve been released onto the market. Reuse is about systems before packaging." Yes, thanks for this, Upstream. And the same could be said for recyclable packaging. A material that is hypothetically recyclable but doesn't have wide-spread systems in place (and/or a viable end market) shouldn't be called "recyclable." #packaging #CPG #reuse #recycle #sustainability #petrochemicals #plastic

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5 US states are now working to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging. What will this mean for brands, packaging suppliers, and the future of recycling? Here's what you need to know: Key Takeaways from the 2024 Packaging Recycling Summit (thanks to Packaging Dive for the summary - I couldn't attend the summit myself!): 🟢 2 years ago, EPR was an emerging concept in the US; now, it's a major focus for the packaging industry. 🟢 Data Collection is Key: Brands and suppliers need to accurately track packaging weights and materials to comply with EPR regulations. 🟢 Harmonization is a Tall Hurdle: States are developing individual EPR systems, leading to a patchwork of regulations and potential confusion. 🟢 Ecomodulation Challenges: Oregon is exploring life cycle assessments (LCAs) to determine fees, but the methodology has limitations. 🟢 Minnesota's Model: Minnesota's EPR legislation is seen as a more flexible and gradual approach compared to other states. 🟢 National System Unlikely (for now): AMERIPEN projects 19 states will have EPR laws by 2030.....but with no federal system in sight. So, what's next? It's messy. The transition to EPR in the US will be a marathon, not a sprint. As Reid Lifset, my insightful professor from Yale School of the Environment, emphasized during the summit, "Governments and stakeholders want it one way in one place, and they get it another way in another place, and nobody’s willing to compromise. And so we end up with this patchwork." This underscores the need for greater collaboration and a willingness to find common ground to avoid a fragmented and inefficient system. The success of EPR hinges on data-driven decision-making and a shared vision for a more sustainable future. But hey, patchwork is better than nothing, right? #EPR #Packaging #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #Recycling #SupplyChain #LifeCycleAssessment #Ecomodulation #MinnesotaEPR #ReidLifset #Yale

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In what it’s calling a new chapter of trust and standardization for the voluntary carbon market, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market gives three carbon-crediting programs its seal of approval. https://bit.ly/3U3G0xA

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The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has just endorsed the first three carbon-crediting programs under its Core Carbon Principles (CCPs), marking a significant milestone in enhancing trust and transparency in the carbon offset space. Congratulations to American Carbon Registry (ACR), Climate Action Reserve (CAR), and Gold Standard for achieving CCP eligibility! This recognition ensures that these programs meet stringent requirements for governance, transparency, and robust quantification of emission reductions and sustainable development benefits. Let’s support this movement towards a more standardized and reliable market. By promoting and investing in CCP-eligible programs, we can drive real change and work together towards a sustainable future. #Sustainability #ClimateAction #CarbonCredits #ESG #EnvironmentalImpact #CorporateSustainability

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Join me for Sustainability Creatives #OpenDoorClimate Office Hours this Tuesday June 11 at 2 PM CT! During these office hours, we allow you to see what it's like to be creative in the sustainability sector. Each week will look different. This week we will be talking about sustainability leadership and facilitation (one of my favorite topics)! I will be holding an interactive discussion focused on our favorite collaboration tools ranging from Miro to Figjam to Notion to Google Slides. The reason I'm bringing this topic to office hours is because I believe a key way to be creative in the sustainability space is to change the way people work together. So many meetings are so boring and are not filled with purpose. However, we have the power to change that and lead with purpose. There is a lot we can do by bringing structure, facilitation, and existing resources to craft more engaging climate meetings. During this session, we will reflect on our favorite leadership tools as sustainability creatives and how they can be leveraged to allow people to convene in new ways, our creativity to flourish and bring our work in climate to the next level. I am really looking forward to hearing other people's perspectives on how they like to create meaningful sustainability gatherings through collaboration! Register on Eventbrite or DM me for more info: https://lnkd.in/gpAHXura

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Here is yet another story detailing how members of voluntary corporate multi-stakeholder initiatives are failing to take meaningful climate action, despite the so-called “requirements” of membership. Without credible accountability mechanisms, these initiatives provide a safe harbor for inaction and enable companies to make sustainability claims without investing the resources to substantiate them. If companies do not even set the targets that they've promised to set under the Fashion Pact or other initiatives such as the UN Fashion Charter, can we expect them to be held accountable for actually meeting those targets? It's time for companies to stop hiding behind the industry's collective inertia and take bold steps to lead the pack. Their future business depends on it.

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51% of American consumers are influenced by the How2Recycle® (H2R) label while making a purchase decision. So, how can we make this label even better? The How2Recycle label is getting a refresh! GreenBlue Org, the organization behind this helpful on-package recycling guide, is launching the How2Recycle Forward campaign to evolve the program with a focus on adaptability, credibility, and responsibility. A few key metrics about the H2R Label // news 🟢 800+ brands, retailers, and other members currently use the How2Recycle label across the U.S. and Canada. 🟢 8 in 10 Americans recognize the How2Recycle label. 🟢 The updated label, How2Recycle Pro, will feature a refreshed design based on consumer and corporate research. 🟢 The Recycling Partnership's National Recycling Database will provide twice-yearly data updates to inform label accuracy. Nice work Aaron Burman!!! 🟢 How2Recycle is partnering with organizations like the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) of , the Carton Council of North America, and the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) to enhance data accuracy and credibility. These changes are poised to make the How2Recycle label even more effective in guiding consumers towards proper disposal and supporting a more circular economy. As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation gains momentum, clear and accurate labeling will become increasingly important in helping consumers understand their role in the recycling process. What are your thoughts on the How2Recycle label refresh? How can we further improve on-package recycling instructions to empower consumers? Read more here - https://lnkd.in/gKCjDwkF #sustainability #circularity #packaging #recycling #how2recycle #greenblue #EPR

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This great report focuses on the cold supply chain. https://lnkd.in/eicFBVKU. Anyone reading this and Ceres, Inc. should look at 1) the size of the companies in the scope 3 results. Most will be small or not public, and this leads to gaps in the Scope 3 values that leak Scope 3 results to be of a lower quality 2) The Disclosures of the companies reporting may unintentionally only report a portion of their Scope 1 emissions since they may only be profiling assets that EPA Regulations effect. Refrigerant emissions in some companies may only reflect assets over 50 LBS, whereas the Scope 1 results include systems below 50. Some, like Kroger, only report HFC emissions, excluding HCFC - the narrative is explained in their disclosures. We have seen the values reflect as much as a 15x difference when applying comprehensive versus selective reporting. But this report is eye-opening.

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🛍 The Future of Shopping: To tackle climate change, we as a society need to drastically change the way we live and operate. This study conducted workshops on low-carbon lifestyles and found strong public support for many lifestyle strategies and futures: https://lnkd.in/gZRpMG3Y Here's a snapshot of their findings about the future of shopping:

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🌎 The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) is essential in mitigating climate change, but its success depends heavily on the rigorous and honest methodologies used by participating organizations. Recently, Renoster conducted an evaluation of Open Forest Protocol's (OFP) methodology for afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR). OFP's approach includes significant innovations aimed at improving quality and addressing major challenges in the carbon markets. We commend their efforts in taking action to come up with tangible solutions, and hope their work acts as a catalyst for improved methodologies across the broader market. 🔍 Key Innovations in OFP’s Methodology: 🌱 Tackling Conflicts of Interest in Carbon Verification → OFP's unique system utilizes randomized, multiple Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) to enhance the credibility and independence of carbon verifications. 🌱 Setting High Quality Standards for ARR Projects → Strict standards allow only genuine native forest restoration, setting new benchmarks in additionality and ecological impact and surpassing standards like Verra and Gold Standard. 🌱 Empowering Small Farmers with Accessible Technology → An automated, app-based system opens carbon market access to small landowners and simplifies verification, enhancing project viability and promoting community involvement. 🌱 Advancing Transparency in Carbon Accounting → OFP ensures public access to critical data like project locations and tree measurements, encouraging accountability and letting stakeholders directly assess project impacts. While we do offer suggestions for further improvement in our review, we find OFP’s approach to be incredibly rigorous and free of conflict especially in comparison to other existing methodologies. OFP is among those leading the way with better standards and solutions that genuinely address issues that have plagued the VCM, and the credits issued through their approach will likely be some of the best in the VCM today. 🎬 If you’re interested in learning more about OFP’s methodology, have questions, and are eager to engage in conversation, we highly encourage you to attend our upcoming webinar, "Setting a New Standard: How OFP’s Methodology is Shaping the Future of Carbon Credits". Our lineup includes Renoster team members Elias Ayrey (PhD) and Mary Ignatiadis, OFP team members Jeremy Epstein and Aureline Grange, and Robbert van Doorn from Green Horizon to provide a project operator perspective. We will share more about this event in the upcoming weeks and look forward to digging in with all who attend! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gA3M6eiy In the meantime… 💡 Read our full review of OFP’s methodology: https://lnkd.in/ggc-VxyT #DeepTransparency #VoluntaryCarbonMarket #CarbonMethodology #ARR #CarbonVerification #CarbonAccounting #ClimateTechnology #ClimateSolutions

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👏 Renoster ratings agency just published an in-depth review of Open Forest Protocol's reforestation (ARR) methodology! This review represents the first time a third party has undertaken and published an in depth review and analysis of Open Forest Protocol. Our team has aimed to remain transparent, honest, and adaptive in how we share our methodologies, activities, and future vision for the protocol and the Voluntary Carbon Market. Renoster granted us an incredible opportunity to put our system to the test through a thorough, honest, and evaluative review. As a new standard for reforestation (ARR) credits, we hope that this assessment helps capital providers, project developers, and off-takers alike to gain confidence in a new paradigm where inclusivity, scalability, and quality are not at odds, but mutually attainable with Open Forest Protocol. 🌲Key general findings from the Renoster review of Open Forest Protocol ARR methdology: 1. Tackling Conflicts of Interest in Carbon Verification. 2. Above-average Quality Criteria for ARR projects 3. A System for Small Farmers and Large Scale Projects Alike 4. Transparency Through a Blockchain-Based Platform Renoster also shared recommendations for refining our best-practices into the future! Read the full review and please know our team is available for any questions, comments, or feedback. Thank you once again to Renoster for their hard work and dedication to thorough, honest evaluation to shape the landscape of the VCM for decades to come. Read the review here: https://lnkd.in/ggc-VxyT Read our methodology here: https://lnkd.in/gynDe2Rg Get in touch with us here: https://lnkd.in/g2VTZV2h Sean Penrith, Jaxon Love, Anton Root, Diego Saez Gil, Anna Lerner Nesbitt, Andrew Heald, Lulu LaViolette, Jill Brachhausen Orhun, Fred Campos, Chandler Van Voorhis, Rhett Ayers Butler, Elizabeth Lokey Aldrich, Fernando Campero, Nerea Escribano, Kim Raath, PhD, Scobie Mackay, Dan Harburg, Mathew Jeffrey, Zoe B Hall, Alexia Kelly, Braydon Delgado, Hope Bristow, Paulo Quadri , PhD., Julia (Osterman) Strong, Juliet Munroe, Diego Parra, Aaron Minnick, Catherine Adam-Albarracin, Michael Grohmann, Adrian Wons #carbon #methodology #carboncredits #review #Renoster #report #forest #green #blockchain #greenfinance #climateaction #climatechange #carboncredits #afforestation #reforestation #regeneration #future

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📜 We'll provide our members with the opportunity to purchase nature-based carbon removals credits that meet our quality bar through a joint RFP in addition to their own procurement efforts. 🌳 The first RFP will focus on afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation projects (inclusive of agroforestry) and will launch later this year! 🤓 Working with independent technical experts, we developed 8 specific quality criteria covering everything from dynamic baselining to biodiversity to community engagement and more! Check out our ARR-specific quality criteria here: https://lnkd.in/gSTAmmNi #naturerestoration #carboncredits #carbonmarkets #carbonfinance #climatefinance #climate

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❄ Working solo to create systems-level change is like using a toothpick to take down an iceberg—it won’t get you very far. This is the message from the Jurisdictional Resource Hub (an Initiative of the Tropical Forest Alliance and the Jurisdictional Action Network) for companies looking to have an impact on big issues like deforestation, biodiversity and human rights issues endemic to a sector or geography. 🤔 Some tips: 🗣 Put affected stakeholders at the core of landscape-level actions and investments. Consult with stakeholders from the start and throughout the initiative to capture their priorities, perspectives and challenges. And don’t forget to communicate, communicate, communicate with those stakeholders to create a feedback loop. 🤝 Maximise impact by finding partners that can help tackle different parts of the puzzle, from peers to governments to civil society organisations. Create shared goals and action plans that ensure approaches are aligned, mutually supportive and cost- and resource-efficient. 💡 Be credible and transparent when reporting the impacts of landscape-level action. This means communicating on measurable targets, how efforts contribute to a broader change, and acknowledging challenges and lessons learned. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/eEKChVbn

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As we closely monitor fashion’s policy evolution, we zoom into GFA’s Policy Matrix: Americas Edition, offering clarity and updates on emerging and existing legislation. Since the last review, these are the most relevant updates: NY Assembly Passes Fashion Workers Act Fighting PFAS Pollution A Pause on Climate Disclosure Rules Explore more updates and stay informed as we track these vital developments in our GFA Policy Matrices: 🌎 Americas Edition: https://lnkd.in/dB3rhyaA 🌍 EU Edition: https://lnkd.in/euqzGifX The GFA Policy Matrices are both regularly updated and serve as overviews of the main policy efforts relating to the five priorities of the Fashion CEO Agenda. #GFAPolicyMatrix #PolicyUpdates #FashionNews #SustainableFashion #FashionPolicy

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🌲 Building on the work of the The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) and integrating the latest and greatest science and best practice, we're focused on projects that provide high certainty of climate impact and represent the highest quality bar for people and planet. 📋 As a group, we're guided by five overarching quality pillars developed with independent, technical experts: 1️⃣ Conservative accounting: Use conservative carbon accounting, baselining, additionality, and leakage approaches based on the latest science and data to provide high certainty of real climate mitigation. 2️⃣ Durability: Create the conditions for lasting impact while monitoring, accounting for, and supporting mechanisms that fully compensate for reversals. 3️⃣ Social and community benefits: Engage local communities equitably and fairly; prioritize projects that integrate local leadership throughout the project life cycle and confer net-positive financial and social benefits that are distributed fairly. 4️⃣ Ecological integrity: Prioritize approaches with high biodiversity and ecological value while ensuring climate benefit, and at minimum, do no net harm to ecosystems. 5️⃣ Transparency: Provide details on project activities that enable independent evaluation of successes (e.g., over-performance) and failures (e.g., over-crediting). Learn more about the Symbiosis quality pillars: https://lnkd.in/gJ5RXe3D #naturerestoration #carboncredits #carbonmarkets #carbonfinance #climatefinance #climate

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This week at #ClimateWeekNYC, University of Exeter released a new report on ‘positive tipping points’. With negative news on climate dominating the headlines, the teams of Earth Minutes, Global Optimism, University of Exeter and Open Planet challenged 50 young minds to co-create a piece of content (in a 2hr workshop!), to share this story of possibility with global youth audiences who couldn’t be here this week. https://lnkd.in/ezqJ2CKD The new report shows how a set of government policies can make clean technologies cheaper than fossil fuels, faster, and go on to trigger cascades of positive change across sectors. What does this mean for us? Positive tipping points show us how we can make the biggest impact this decade and flip the script on our futures. We need to dial up the volume on what’s possible! How? ➡️ Read more in the ‘A positive tipping, cascade in power, transport and heating’ report by University of Exeter ➡️ Think about the context of your own communities – how could you help trigger a cascade of #PositiveTippingPoints? ➡️ Share this message and help us change the climate narrative. You can find the report here: https://lnkd.in/ens5tceH #latestresearch #youthvoices #climateaction #power #energy #heating #community #positivechange #carbonemissions #cleantechnologies Freya Juanita Matthew Christiana Fiona Garth Tim Kate Emily Colin Bethany Emma Nuriya Siôn Dominique Kat Janine Clover Victor Mitzi Force of Nature Youth Climate Justice Fund We Are Family Foundation

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🌳💡 Ever heard of REDD+? It's a big deal for forests in Southeast Asia! Our new Journal entry unpacks forest finance & how REDD+ initiatives are working (or not working) to protect these vital ecosystems. Head over to the blog to learn more!🍃🔍 #ForestConservation #REDDPlus #Sustainability #EcoFinance #SoutheastAsia https://lnkd.in/gTB89aZH

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World Bank publishes state and trends of carbon pricing annual report. Emissions trading schemes generate majority of this revenue, over half of which funds climate and nature programs. In 2023, carbon pricing revenues hit a record $104 billion, according to the World Bank’s “State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2024” report For the key points and annual report visit: https://lnkd.in/dqtEyNYp #WorldBank #CarbonPricingReport #CarbonPricing2024

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