LAST WEEK, the UN Environment Assembly agreed on a new resolution on plastic pollution, which establishes a process towards a legally binding agreement by 2024. This is an opportunity for the private sector and governments to act firmly and decisively to tackle the plastics crisis.
Matching this momentum, Blue Skies, an award-winning fresh produce company, and Waitrose & Partners, have launched the Fresh Produce Impact Hub (FRESHPPACT). FRESHPPACT is a Research & Development Hub that aims to identify ground-breaking, sustainable solutions to challenges in the fresh produce industry and implement three Challenge Funds. The Hub initially seeks to fund solutions to address problem plastics found in agricultural mulch, workwear and packaging. Solutions may include new technology and business models that mitigate plastic pollution through material substitution, accelerated biodegradation and improved manufacturing and remanufacturing processes.
The UK Aid’s Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme supports FRESHPPACT and has provided initial funding for the Hub. (For more information on SMEP’s plastics pollution mitigation initiative, click here.)
FRESHPPACT invites Expressions of Interest from organisations who would like to be involved in supporting the challenge funds and/ or identifying solutions.
