Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

America has long had a plastic problem. It's an urgent question — what do we do with the 40 million tons of plastic waste we produce annually? One year of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disposable-face-mask-waste-toxic-poison-water-nanoplastics-pollution-health-2022-2">plastic waste</a> is roughly enough to smother the entirety of Manhattan a meter deep, and it has to go somewhere. For years, the answer was simple: Make a lot of it, dump most of it in the landfill, and make the rest of it someone else's problem — the US regularly exported 7 million tons a year to China alone. Some of it was melted into lesser plastic; the rest was incinerated or buried.But then, in 2018, China cut off plastic imports.Now, America is coming to terms with a hard truth: Plastic was never designed to be recycled and there's no profitable way to recycle 91% of it. The environmental impacts have been disastrous. About 430 million tons of plastic are produced globally every year, accounting for 14% of global oil demand. The refinement of plastic alone emits up to 235 million tons of greenhouse gases a year. Most of that plastic breaks down into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">microplastics</a> that make their way into the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/expert-how-i-keep-baby-family-safe-toxic-plastic-microplastics-2023-1">air, rain, and our bodies</a>. Almost 95% of America's water supply contains plastic fibers.While the US, the UK, and other European countries responded to China's ban by sending their waste to places like Thailand and Malaysia, those countries then followed China in cutting off waste imports. The message was clear: The Global South would no longer be a dumping ground for the West.<div type="image" title="A scavenger drinks water while collecting plastic waste to sell to a recycling center at a landfill in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia in March 2024" height="3333" width="5000" msid="109561992" hostid="261"></div>America is now scrambling to find alternatives. One approach peddled by oil corporations like Chevron and Exxon has been to turn plastic into crude oil, which they say extends the life of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-americas-largest-waste-hauler-investing-in-a-plastic-recycler-2022-9">plastic that would've otherwise ended up in a landfill</a>. As these companies look to replace projected lost revenue from the phasing out of fossil fuels, they're lobbying to blanket the country with 150 plants that specialize in pyrolysis, a form of chemical recycling that melts plastic down into crude oil to be used for fuel and petrochemicals, as well as to make lesser-quality plastics. While advocates champion these facilities for breaking down hard-to-recycle plastics that other <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-recycling-startups-aluminum-plastic-valuable-materials-2024-4">recyclers toss aside</a>, critics condemn them for emitting toxic particles, relying heavily on government subsidies, and acting as a greenwashed alternative to addressing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plastic-recycled-into-bricks-ivory-coast-conceptos-plasticos-2023-2">the plastic problem</a>.As they're pitched as an innovation set to bring us a "circular economy" of plastic that allows us to stop making new plastic and just reuse what we have, marketing for pyrolysis and recycling overlooks a glaring fact: Plastic production doubles every 15 to 20 years.This isn't sustainable, Tim Miller, a vice president at the Ohio plastic-recycling center Royal Paper Stock, told me, adding: "But I don't know how to stop it." Pyrolysis is another sign of America's plastic paralysis.In the years after World War II, plastic flooded the marketplace as a cheap alternative to otherwise scarce and finite materials. It was hailed as a democratic harbinger of a new, utopian age of capitalism, fueling the subsequent decades of cheap consumerism that became synonymous with the American dream."The continuous flow of oil fueled not just cars but an entire culture based on the consumption of new products made of plastics," Susan Freinkel wrote in her book "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story."Plastic went from being practically nonexistent in 1940 to being consumed at a rate of 30 pounds a person each year by 1960. Just as quickly, it became a target of environmental movements protesting litter, garbage-filled oceans, and landfills brimming with plastic. Oil and chemical companies responded by looking into whether recycling was realistic or, more importantly, profitable. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled">It wasn't</a>. So companies shifted the blame for the pollution onto consumers. The "Crying Indian" commercial, funded by beverage and packaging corporations, aired in 1971, showing a Native American character crying at the sight of litter.The messaging worked. As companies expanded plastic into every facet of life, recycling became the due diligence needed to sustain our hyperconsumption. We didn't worry about plastic bottles because the recycling truck carried them off to a new life. Companies like Coca-Cola and Nestlé slapped "100% recycled" and "100% recyclable" labels on their packaging to appear sustainable. Just last year, the Plastics Industry Association launched a million-dollar ad campaign, "Recycling Is Real," claiming that it's "not only real, but feasible and economical."While recycling is real, the vast majority of plastic isn't recycled, mostly due to how expensive it is to clean and sort it effectively. A 2022 report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found only 9% of all plastic ever produced had been recycled; 72% ended up in landfills or the environment. Unlike aluminum or glass, the plastic that can be recycled rarely results in replacing one recycled water bottle with another.<div type="image" title="Recycling sorters at Recologys Recycle Central sort out pieces of flimsy and film plastic destined for landfill in 2019 in San Francisco" height="4480" width="6720" msid="109561996" hostid="261"></div>Instead, it's a process of downcycling — turning plastic into lesser plastics like plant containers or bins before they are relegated to a landfill. By downcycling a tiny portion of plastic waste, companies can genuinely reuse a relatively small share of plastic, while convincing consumers that the industry has created a circular economy of infinitely recycled plastic. Never mind that products advertised as being made from recycled plastic are made almost entirely out of new plastic or that almost all the 300 pounds of plastic every American consumes each year (10 times as much as in 1960) ends up in a landfill, in the ocean, or incinerated.Larry Thomas, a former president of what's now called the Plastics Industry Association, told NPR in 2020: "If the public thinks that recycling is working, then they are not going to be as concerned about the environment." And if they aren't worried about the impact of plastic on the environment, they won't threaten the plastics industry.Since 2018, the fossil-fuel and plastics industries have faced two harsh realities: Oil is being phased out in favor of clean, renewable energy, and plastic waste can no longer be exported to developing nations in the South. To replace their fuel losses, oil companies are going all in on plastic. The International Energy Agency predicted in 2018 that petrochemical products like plastic would outpace trucks, aviation, and shipping in oil demand by 2050. In a recent report, ExxonMobil predicted that petrochemicals used largely for plastics and fertilizer would account for nearly all of the oil industry's growth by 2050, replacing industrial fuel demand, which is projected to decrease. To keep expanding plastic production, however, it needs to look sustainable.<div type="image" title="A Good Year sign in Akron, Ohio" height="960" width="1200" msid="109562000" hostid="261"></div>Akron, Ohio, which hosts about one-quarter of the country's polymer companies, is ground zero for this push. Designated by the Biden administration as the only "tech hub" in Ohio, the city has received tens of millions of dollars from the CHIPS Act, which it hopes to use to create a circular economy around plastic.In 2012, Alterra Energy opened America's first large-scale plastic-pyrolysis facility. According to its website, Alterra converts "plastics back into their original building blocks to produce new plastics and other valuable products." The crude oil produced by the Akron facility is shipped to petrochemical companies around the globe to be purified and made into new plastics. But it's unclear how effective this process is.A study published in 2023 by researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that the economic and environmental impact of turning pyrolysis oil back into plastic was actually far worse than it was to make brand-new plastic. As a result, they said, pyrolysis oil is "typically reintegrated into the petrochemical industry where only a small fraction is used for closed-loop recycling."<div type="image" title="The Alterra Energy facility in Akron, Ohio" height="960" width="1200" msid="109562003" hostid="261"></div>"It has had, let's say, limited success," Miller, the Royal Paper Stock vice president, said about pyrolysis. "No one yet in the United States that I know of is just cranking in plastic and pumping out oil." He pointed to a pyrolysis facility in Oregon that just announced it would shut down after tens of millions of dollars in losses.Residents in Akron are split on the impacts of the Alterra facility. On the one hand, pyrolysis melts plastic to be reused instead of sending it to the landfill or incinerator. On the other, it emits cancerous pollutants such as mercury, benzene, and arsenic, and props up the very fossil-fuel companies that are driving the climate crisis.<div type="image" title="Kelley Sayre in front of her garage in Akron, Ohio" height="1500" width="1200" msid="109562007" hostid="261"></div>"Akron's going for 'the green city on the hill,'" Kelley Sayre, a fourth-generation Akron resident, told me, "but it's really 'the greenwashing city.'"Vicky Abou-Ghalioum, the lead petrochemicals organizer of Buckeye Environmental Network, has been working with Akron residents concerned about the environmental and health impacts of chemical recycling, but it's proved challenging in a city ruled by polymers. "People are afraid to talk about plastic," she told me. Her organization has been pushing the EPA to address the influx of planned pyrolysis facilities in Ohio, arguing that they're bad for the environment and people, and aren't even profitable.In a statement to Business Insider, Alterra Energy said its Akron facility is profitable and diverts over 100,000 pounds of plastic each day from landfills. "We operate in a heavily regulated industry and are in compliance with those requirements," the company said in response to concerns about toxic emissions. It also said one of its customers uses Alterra's oil product exclusively for making new plastic.Despite the problems of pyrolysis, many manufacturers hail it as a sustainable miracle. Companies such as Eastman Chemical Co. see chemical recycling as the solution to recycling or composting 50% of their plastic packaging by 2025, and the American Chemistry Council claims the growing industry is necessary for fostering what it calls "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america/news-trends/press-release/2022/america-s-plastic-makers-encourage-congressional-focus-on-advanced-recycling-to-achieve-circularity">plastics circularity</a>." But these companies face an uphill battle. Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg of New York City launched an $85 million campaign in 2022 to stop over 120 proposed petrochemical facilities. "Petrochemical plants poison our air and water — killing Americans and harming the health of entire communities," Bloomberg said in a statement.In the plastic-recycling industry, pyrolysis is seen as a well funded but failing experiment. A 2023 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.beyondplastics.org/publications/chemical-recycling">report</a> by Beyond Plastics and the International Pollutants Elimination Network found that the 11 pyrolysis facilities in operation in the US required massive public subsidies, most couldn't operate at full capacity, and only two of the plants sold the crude oil to be used exclusively for plastic production. Most of it was sold to make fuels and chemicals. Based on their findings, they argued that pyrolysis was ultimately "a public relations distraction to prevent plastic regulation and prop up the profits of the petrochemical/plastics industry."Though the conundrum of plastic grows more dire by the day, there are signs of hope. In early <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/historic-day-campaign-beat-plastic-pollution-nations-commit-develop">2022</a>, the UN adopted a resolution that could send shock waves throughout the entire plastic-disposing world. Heads of state, environment ministers, and UN representatives agreed to end all plastic pollution with a legally binding international plastic treaty to be officially adopted later this year. "Plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic," Espen Barth Eide, Norway's then-minister for climate and the environment, said in the announcement. "With today's resolution we are officially on track for a cure."The resolution would establish an agreement addressing plastic at every level, from production to recycling, in an attempt to reduce plastic pollution worldwide. Organizations such as the international coalition Break Free From Plastic have said that cutting the production of plastic has to be on the table. "The oil and gas industry sees plastic as its primary growth market and is investing billions of dollars in new and expanded facilities," the organization wrote in a 2022 statement. The group recommended bans on single-use plastics, a plastic tax, and regulations that prioritize plastics that can be recycled."Reduction in the production of plastic is entirely possible," Abou-Ghalioum of Buckeye Environmental Network told me. She pointed to the more than 500 cities and 12 states that have banned plastic bags, reducing the number of bags used by the billions. "It's talked about how we rely on plastic for so many things, and it just feels like a marketing ploy to make us reluctant to shift away from it," she said. "We had everything we ever needed before plastic."The tough reality is that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/landfill-plastic-area">9.5 billion tons of plastic</a> with us will be here for hundreds of years. But how many millions of more tons are added will be determined by the types of solutions we arrive at today.<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/taylor-dorrell">Taylor Dorrell</a> is a writer and photographer based in Columbus, Ohio.

China stopped taking our plastic. Now America is drowning in it. 

I tested 5 single-use plastic straw alternatives using water and iced coffee, and there were clear winners and losers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Chen Teng moved from New York to South Korea eight years ago.</li><li>Teng said healthcare costs in Korea are extremely low compared to the US.</li></ul>Chen Teng is a US expat from New York, now based in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korean-millennial-income-housing-ambitions-jobs-2023-3">Seoul</a>, South Korea.She told Business Insider that after graduating college and experiencing burnout from her corporate job, she wanted a change."I wanted to move somewhere I didn't know anyone. I didn't speak the language. I was like, Korea — sounds great," she told BI. She initially planned to stay for two to three years.It's now been eight years since Teng moved, and she currently works in the entertainment industry, modeling and freelancing.Teng has been documenting her journey of discovering the surprising things she experiences in South Korea on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@chenfrombklyn">TikTok</a>.She has more than 32,000 followers who enjoy watching her navigate life in Korea, from photoshopped passport pictures to clubs turning down entry to foreigners."I've always preferred to be upfront and transparent in sharing the highs and lows of my personal experiences," she told BI.Here are seven things she found surprising about life in Korea.<h2>Plastic surgery is advertised on public transportation</h2><div type="image" title="A plastic surgery advertisement in a subway station in Seoul, South Korea." height="2196" width="3214" msid="106234631" hostid="261" sizebytes="270188"></div>Teng said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-plastic-surgery-gangnam-biggest-misconception-2018-6">plastic surgery culture</a> is mainstream in Korea.She told BI that having procedures like laser facials and botox is approached with the same blasé attitude as getting a manicure."There's posters plastered on the trains, literally everywhere," she added.Teng told BI that these advertisements are targeted at Koreans rather than tourists and expats, so she hasn't felt pressure to go under the knife.<h2>Healthcare is extremely affordable compared to the US</h2>Teng said when she first arrived in Korea she had to visit the doctor while uninsured."My coworkers were like, 'It's going to be so expensive,'" she told BI.After having a check-up for her fever and sore throat, Teng was surprised to be handed a bill for the equivalent of $8.She told BI her coworkers said that if she had been insured, the bill would have been roughly $3.<h2>Some night clubs don't allow foreigners to enter, according to Teng</h2>Teng said that Korea is a homogenous country, so while acceptance of foreigners is getting better, it's still a new adjustment.She told BI there are foreigner-friendly areas in Seoul, which are parts of the city where a lot of foreigners live and work.She said a club in the area had a sign saying that unless entrants had a card which is given to Koreans and Korean nationals abroad, they wouldn't be permitted entry. "Which essentially means no foreigners are allowed in," Teng added."There's no <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/08/south-korea-lawmakers-must-pass-landmark-anti-discrimination-act/">discrimination law</a> in Korea, so technically, that is allowed," Teng told BI.She said the city has foreigner-friendly clubs, but others aren't always forthright about denying entry.<h2>Rent can be as low as $120 a month</h2>"There's an interesting system in Korea with housing and there's something called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-jeonse-rent-free-renters-hit-by-property-downturn-2023-02-21/">jeonse</a>, and wolse," Teng told BI.Teng said jeonse is when someone gets a large loan from the bank, but they pay the interest back rather than the loan, and this makes rental payments very small. She added that from her experience, this is an option usually only given to Koreans."I just pay the deposit and my monthly rent," Teng said, adding that this is called wolse."I would say the average rent here per month is maybe like 700,000-800,000 won," Teng told BI. This is around $540-$610.Teng said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/south-koreas-millennials-lives-arent-different-dire-realities-squid-game-2021-10">goshiwons</a> are small closet rooms that are popular among young people who move to Korea to study. "You can get those for 200,000-300,000 a month," she added, which is around $150-$230.She said the basement apartments depicted in the Korean film <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-best-picture-winner-parasite-has-made-box-office-2020-2">"Parasite"</a> do still exist, but many are refurbished and are a far cry from those on the silver screen.Teng told BI a friend of hers pays about $700 for a basement apartment.<h2>Food variety is limited, and vegans may find it difficult to source different options, Teng said</h2><div type="image" title="Someone picking out milk in a Korean grocery store." height="2622" width="4041" msid="106234633" hostid="261" sizebytes="690220"></div>"Fruit here is quite expensive," Teng said. She added that on a recent trip to a grocery store it was roughly $20 for a few apples."I miss my variety of apples, there's not a variety of produce," Teng added.She said the reason for these high prices and a lack of variety is that produce is rarely imported into Korea.She added that those with dietary restrictions like gluten free or vegan diets may find it difficult, as these diets aren't widely followed outside large cities like Seoul and Busan."We didn't get oat milk until post-Covid. Alternative milk options in coffee shops, that's now becoming a thing," she said.<h2>Passport pictures are often automatically edited by staff, Teng said</h2><div type="image" title="A screenshot of a lady hoping up a passport size picture with text at the bottom of the image" height="1080" width="1440" msid="106234635" hostid="261" sizebytes="44736"></div>"In Korea, they Photoshop everything, so your passport photo gets Photoshopped," Teng told BI.She said after your picture gets taken at a photography studio, they automatically begin the editing and you can watch them do it.Teng told BI: "You can be like, can you slim my chin down? Or can you get the hairline a little bit more?"She said if you don't want your picture edited, then you need to specify this.<h2>It's safe to leave your belongings unattended</h2>"The other day I was working in this cafe. I had to go up to the third floor to the bathroom and I left my laptop, my cell phone, my bag, and my wallet. I came back and everything was there," Teng told BI.She said when she returns to New York for vacations, she has to mentally prepare to watch her belongings.Teng added that in most cases if you lose your belongings in Korea, it's likely where you left it or someone has handed it to the local police station."We always say if you lose your stuff, it's actually not a huge deal," she told BI.Teng told BI the positives of living in Korea explain why she has stayed in the country for as long as she has.

A US expat in South Korea says plastic surgery is advertised on trains, passport pictures are edited, and shares 5 other surprising differences

<ul><li><keyword id="15532259" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cello-World" source="Orion">Cello World</keyword> is a Mumbai-based family owned business and is involved in the manufacturing of storage containers, water bottles, tiffin boxes, dinnerware and more.</li><li>The family-owned business has a presence across 30,000 retail outlets through more than 300 distributors.</li><li>ICICI Venture is among largest alternative asset managers with assets under management/advice of over $6 billion.</li></ul><keyword id="521692" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Venture-Funds" source="Orion">ICICI Venture Funds</keyword> Management, an alternative asset arm of ICICI Bank, has announced an investment of ₹360 crore in Cello World, a branded consumer houseware company. Cello World is a Mumbai-based, family-owned business and is involved in the manufacturing of storage containers, water bottles, tiffin boxes, dinnerware and more. The company was founded in 1967 but this is the time it has divested stake to a PE firm. “We are excited to welcome ICICI Venture Funds as our first investor in Cello World. We are confident of company maintaining its growth and profitability trajectory while providing the consumer with quality products. We look forward to benefitting from the vast managerial expertise of ICICI Venture as we expand our presence across products and geographies,” said Pradeep Rathod, chairman and MD at Cello World. The business has a presence across 30,000 retail outlets via 300 distributors with focus on steel and plastic bottles, thermoware, along with glassware/opalware. The company says that the houseware industry has witnessed secular growth along with a shift from being an unorganised to organised industry. Cello believes that it has been at the forefront of new product introduction with presence across materials i.e., plastics, steel, glass, opal, melamine, copper etc. “Cello World under the leadership of Rathod Family, its capable management team and its pan -India distribution network has demonstrated industry leading growth and profitability characteristics. The organised section of the industry will see further acceleration in the coming years with branding and premiumisation gaining ground,” said Gagandeep Singh, senior director, private equity, ICICI Venture. ICICI Venture is among largest alternative asset managers with assets under management/advice of over $6 billion. The company has a presence across four verticals i.e., private equity, real estate, infrastructure and special situations. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/elon-musks-weight-loss-mantra-is-not-new-but-heres-how-to-do-it-right/articleshow/95550740.cms">Elon Musk’s weight loss mantra is not new, but here’s how to do it right</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/indian-markets-open-flat-amid-mixed-global-cues/articleshow/95548382.cms">Indian markets open flat amid mixed global cues</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/medanta-hospitals-operator-global-health-lists-at-18-5-premium-3x-the-premium-quoted-by-grey-market/articleshow/95546750.cms">Medanta Hospitals operator Global Health lists at 18.5% premium, 3x the premium quoted by grey market</a>

ICICI Venture Funds invests ₹360 crore in houseware brand Cello World

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In the US, the volume of plastic waste hit 44 million metric tons in 2019. </li><li>Some beauty companies are ditching plastics in favor of aluminum, glass, or plant-based materials.</li><li>Consumers are willing to pay a higher price for sustainable products. </li></ul>Retail buzzwords like clean, green, and sustainable are the face of consumer-product goods today. But for the beauty industry, they're becoming an identity — for the companies creating their products and to the consumers who use them in their everyday routines. As more people seek out smaller, purpose-driven companies — i.e. companies whose missions go beyond products and services to making a positive impact on the larger world — <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/beauty/best-beauty-brands-with-sustainable-refillable-packaging">sustainable packaging</a> can make or break a user's loyalty to the brand. "Beauty products come in bottles and pots with pumps and lids, and we're noticing the first question a consumer asks is, 'Is this all recyclable?'" Michelle Brett, the CEO of <a href="https://usa.renskincare.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKKGN5MBwiDdZaPa7pcVzEZ-ym2zlZMtkauHvGM6I1wTDxxPlm1Sg8hoCRgoQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REN Clean Skincare,</a> told Insider.Single-use-plastic packaging, especially in the beauty industry, has long been under scrutiny. <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GPUS_FinalReport_2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 2022 report by Greenpeace</a> indicated that most of the plastic items we're encouraged to wash and recycle actually end up in landfills. In the US alone, the volume of plastic waste reached <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GPUS_FinalReport_2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">44 million metric tons</a> in 2019, and only about 5% to 6% was recycled in 2021, Greenpeace found. That's where smaller beauty brands come in. These companies are on the cutting edge of the industry, making real changes to their products, and paying attention to what consumers want: an unboxing experience that aligns with their identities — sustainable packaging included. Purpose-driven beauty companies are ditching plastics in favor of aluminum, glass, or plant-based materials. If they use plastic, they're trying to ensure that it's designed to be recyclable (mindful of inks and coatings). And some companies are using refillable packaging, so after consumers finish using the product, they can send back the bottle to be washed and refilled. <h2>Consumers are more informed than ever</h2>Denise Masi, the founder of <a href="https://maed.co/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MAED</a>, a lifestyle website devoted to natural and alternative beauty and lifestyle content, said today's consumers are smarter than ever about their purchases. "They want to know their purchase isn't contributing to a problem," she said. "If a brand is going to make a sustainability claim, they need to lay it out and explain where and how they are making a positive impact."Consumers aren't just more knowledgeable about eco-friendly products — they're willing to pay a higher price. A study conducted by First Insight and the Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania found that <a href="https://160569.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/160569/docs/The-Sustainability-Disconnect-Between%20Consumers-and-Retail-Executives-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">72% of consumers</a> say sustainability is important to them when making a purchase. "Consumers are absolutely proving that they're voting with their dollars," Angela Ubias, the cofounder and CEO of <a href="https://commonheir.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Common Heir</a>, told Insider. Lindsey McCoy, the CEO of <a href="https://www.plaineproducts.com/shop/?gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKGkbgEy9mYyXVh6BvsKaw7SnVEZ3ICTgxBww6DtxffVa1ZejCnan5BoCyYQQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plaine Products,</a> told Insider that today's consumers are savvier at picking up on when a company might be "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tell-if-companies-greenwashing-investments-2022-2">greenwashing,</a>" or trying to appear more environmentally friendly on the surface. And they're demanding more transparency because of it. Being able to give consumers an inside look at sustainability efforts is a competitive edge for smaller, purpose-driven beauty companies, McCoy said, adding that her company puts out annual <a href="https://www.plaineproducts.com/sustainable-products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainability reports</a> for customers to understand how Plaine Products cuts packaging waste, eliminates greenhouse gas, and more. "We are transparent and have an honest understanding with our customers," she said. "I absolutely think it's helped with our growth."<h2>Some beauty brands have already made the switch </h2>Embracing consumer demand for more sustainable packaging — and leaning into it as a brand — is a way for smaller companies to stand out in the crowded beauty field. Brands like <a href="https://us.gisou.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gisou</a>, for example, package some of their products in glass that's sourced from a <a href="https://us.gisou.com/pages/our-sustainability-promise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solar-power-dependent manufacturing site</a> and include recycling instructions. And <a href="https://helloeverist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Everist</a>, a hair and body brand, said it's gone "zero-waste" with the entire product experience, including 100% recycled aluminum tubes and a <a href="https://helloeverist.com/pages/zero-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CapBack program</a> that covers postage costs for customers to return their used tube caps. Brett's REN Clean Skincare is also a <a href="https://usa.renskincare.com/blogs/clean-thoughts/ren-clean-skincare-sustainability-stats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">major player</a> in the sustainable beauty industry. The brand's bottle is made from 80% recycled plastic and 20% plastic debris reclaimed from the ocean. For every 150,000 bottles that are made, about 1.5 tons of waste is removed from the ocean.The growing interest in sustainability — with a push for fewer plastic products — is also drawing attention from lawmakers at all levels. Last June, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/06/30/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-cutting-harmful-plastic-pollution-to-protect-communities-oceans-and-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed a law requiring packaging</a> to be recyclable or compostable by 2032. The <a href="https://www.state.gov/u-s-actions-to-address-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal government</a> has also taken action with initiatives like the National Recycling Strategy and the WasteWise Program. Internationally, countries like <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/national-plastics-plan-2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a>, <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/reduce-plastic-waste/single-use-plastic-overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canada</a>, and <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/india-ban-policy-single-use-plastic-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> are working to minimize <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/paper-forest-products-and-packaging/our-insights/the-drive-toward-sustainability-in-packaging-beyond-the-quick-wins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">packaging waste.</a> <h2>Online spending brings sustainable shipping into the equation</h2>Ubias, Masi, and other beauty experts interviewed by Insider say that while the push for sustainable packaging in the beauty industry has been ongoing, the pandemic accelerated the discussion as people stayed home, consumed more health-and-wellness information on social media, and prioritized self-care routines. As a result, shoppers, namely millennials and Gen Z, are skipping the store and <a href="https://www.powerreviews.com/insights/2021-beauty-industry-consumer-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordering their beauty products online</a>. This means beauty companies need to consider the sustainability of their shipping materials, too. The <a href="https://facts.usps.com/total-shippingpackage-volume/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Postal Service</a> reported it shipped nearly 8 billion packages in 2021, with the vast majority packed in plastic or cardboard. When you add other shipping companies like UPS and FedEx into the mix, the numbers increase significantly.Some purpose-driven beauty companies are switching to recyclable or reusable shipping materials. <a href="https://boox.eco/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAic6eBhCoARIsANlox87lPeV7QAbKGMR7XhnyMOIpM732t4z3dywO2eulSeCPAEyIG7JmPWwaAjBPEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boox</a> is one startup that works with smaller companies, some of them beauty brands, to provide reusable packaging. Boox told Insider it's grown its business from providing 75,000 packages a year to 2 million in 2022. Matt Semmelhack, the company's cofounder and CEO, told Insider it's a drop in the bucket now, but a wave is coming. "It's going to seem like overnight to the average consumer, but there will be a big shift in the next 10 years with more sustainable, reusable packaging," Semmelhack said.

More beauty brands are ditching plastic packaging — and consumers are buying in

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Three groups of entrepreneurs and scientists are trying to find an eco-friendly alternative to <keyword id="34567" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="plastic">plastic</keyword>.</li><li>UBQ Materials, a startup in Israel, claims it can turn trash into plastic-like pellets, which can then be sent to manufacturers who can mix them with regular plastic pellets to create materials.</li><li>EcoSafe, a Vancouver company, produces compostable film products that are composed of a polyester-material that's made from corn but mainly petroleum-based.</li><li>Berkeley scientists stumbled upon what they say is a formula for endlessly recyclable plastics called PDK.</li></ul>

Scientists and entrepreneurs are pioneering plastic alternatives with the goal of creating materials that can be recycled over and over

<ul><li>80% Indians are aware about the impact of plastic and waste management on <keyword id="6361617" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change">climate change</keyword> but fail to act due to lack of alternatives. </li><li>As many as 88% of the country thinks eco-friendly alternatives are either not effective or very pricey. </li></ul>The absence of affordable, eco-friendly alternatives is stopping Indians from taking environmentally-friendly steps. According to<a href="http://mahindra.com/news-room/press-release/research-confirms-lack-of-alternatives-blocks-climate-action"> a survey ‘Alternativism’ by Mahindra Group,</a> 80% of Indians are aware about the impact of plastic and waste management on climate. But they fail to act due to lack of alternatives. As many as 88% of respondents think eco-friendly alternatives are either ineffective or pricey. <keyword id="6355744" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahindra-Group">Mahindra Group</keyword> surveyed over 2,000 respondents between the age 25-55 from Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Success in finding alternative to plastic There is a large gap between awareness about climate change and finding sustainable substitutes. While most Indians are aware, only 27% of the Indian always find an alternative to plastic. 
 
 
 <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[
<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/913864"></div>
]]></cdata></div>





 "Today’s generation of Indians are more environmentally conscious than at any time in our long history. However, to transform this awareness into action, consumers need viable, environment-friendly alternatives,” says Anirban Ghosh, chief sustainability officer at <keyword id="45224" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahindra">Mahindra</keyword> Group. Want employers to offer alternative solutions As many as 89% of respondents said they will be able to contribute actively towards climate change if their employers offered them alternative solutions. And 70% Indians want their company “to act on water conservation using aerators, with rainwater harnessing and recycling,'' said the report. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/best-sustainability-practices-in-mahindra-havells-itc-nestle-hero-ambuja-and-other-top-brands/articleshow/71951205.cms">Top Indians companies like ITC, Mahindra, Bharti Infratel and others have been setting sustainability goals and meeting them</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/heres-how-much-plastic-people-ending-up-eating-everyday/articleshow/71688666.cms">Here's how much plastic people end up eating everyday</a>

Indians are aware about climate change but find it difficult to help because of pricey and ineffective alternatives

When setting up a new home, plastic stools are required to make life easier, just like other essential household items. Plastic stools are durable, easy to maintain and can go through rough usage too, without being damaged. They can also be moved around easily and are suitable for just any space in your house- be it the kitchen, living room, washroom or your garden. Especially important for houses with kids and elderlies, plastic stools will also assist you in pulling off day-to-day house errands with utmost ease. Alternatively, these stools can be used as storage solutions too! So keeping the utility and longevity of plastic stools in view, we've listed out 6 durable and affordable options for you to check out. <bulletContentEmbed name="B089QNQRLD" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B089QNQRLD_head"><div type="image" title="Sturdy Design" msid="87286726" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B089QNQRLD</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B089QNQRLD_body"><bulletContentRow name="B089QNQRLD_6778112041220413"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Nilkamal Heavy Duty <keyword id="12395020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="plastic-stool" source="Orion">Plastic Stool</keyword>, White</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This heavy-duty sturdy plastic stool offers a stylish look to your space while providing functionality and longevity. With a load capacity of approximately 120 kg, this rectangular yellow-cream plastic stool will be a clever addition to your office space, patio, terrace, living room, among other places. You can also buy a set of two for a close one as a practical and durable housewarming gift.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B089QNQRLD_2104835474730788"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This heavy-duty sturdy plastic stool offers a stylish look to your space while providing functionality.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08K3MHS7X" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08K3MHS7X_head"><div type="image" title="Lightweight Design" msid="87286731" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08K3MHS7X</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08K3MHS7X_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08K3MHS7X_1311814357427776"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Beaver Hindz by Premium Plastic Stool</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This ultra-light yet super sturdy plastic stool serves various roles and is available in different colours too. Made of supreme quality plastic, this assembled stool is perfect for your bathroom, garden, patio, terrace and so on. It can hold up to 100 kg of weight and because of its size, it is perfect for children to sit on. Although small, the utility of this stool surely packs a punch.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08K3MHS7X_9746935743229103"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This ultra-light yet super sturdy plastic stool is available in different colours.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B01KXQ8E8U" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B01KXQ8E8U_head"><div type="image" title="Anti-Skid" msid="87286739" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B01KXQ8E8U</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B01KXQ8E8U_body"><bulletContentRow name="B01KXQ8E8U_9558473024296184"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Cello Classic Perfect Posture Plastic Stool</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This brown plastic stool comes with an anti-skid base, which increases the safety of this product and it can bear a load of 100 kg. Ideal for your kitchen and bathroom, this stool also makes it easier for you to perform everyday tasks. The stool is made of high-quality plastic and its comfortable height makes it easier for the elderly, pregnant women and children to use it. Easy to clean and portable, this plastic stool is a must-have for daily chores and is available in 2 different sizes, to suit your needs..</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B01KXQ8E8U_9714074392465629"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This plastic stool has an anti-skid base and it can carry up to 100 kg.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B01N4DRLJG" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B01N4DRLJG_head"><div type="image" title="Easy Carrying" msid="87286773" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B01N4DRLJG</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B01N4DRLJG_body"><bulletContentRow name="B01N4DRLJG_7748263801311924"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Nayasa Strong No 515 Plastic Stool</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">For increased support and a substantial load-bearing capacity, this grey plastic stool has 5 legs which allow equal gravity distribution. It is the perfect choice, particularly for households with children, elderlies. The stool is super light, making it really easy to carry around and its brand swears upon its durability. It can be placed anywhere for daily tasks like bathing, gardening, cleaning the corners of your cabinets, and so on. Add a pair to your house and let life become a bit easier.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B01N4DRLJG_7084496516045923"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This grey plastic stool has 5 legs which allow equal gravity distribution and increased support.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07N976QK5" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07N976QK5_head"><div type="image" title="Durable Plastic" msid="87286797" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07N976QK5</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07N976QK5_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07N976QK5_1279602964271040"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Milton Duplex Crown Plastic Stool, Blue</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">A blue plastic stool with a sturdy round sitting surface, this product has an acceptable height and seat space. The body of the stool has a double coating and the pebble prints make it a fun addition to any space. Additionally, the stool has an anti-skid bottom surface which increases its grip on the floor. It also has antibacterial properties to prevent termites or other microbe attacks as well. Overall, it can find a place in your bathroom, patio, terrace or kitchen.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07N976QK5_3839857451673808"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This durable plastic stool has a sturdy round sitting surface with anti-bacterial properties.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B0925ZQTNM" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B0925ZQTNM_head"><div type="image" title="Minimalistic Design" msid="87286824" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B0925ZQTNM</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B0925ZQTNM_body"><bulletContentRow name="B0925ZQTNM_9724571871670720"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Goldfinch Plastic Multipurpose Stool</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">A multipurpose plastic stool for your kitchen, bedroom and living room area, this stylish product comes with years of functionality. The stool is made up of supreme quality plastic which makes it hard-wearing and it's compact size is an advantage for small spaces. It is assembled and delivered, since it is moulded in one piece. Further, the stool requires no re-tightening, like the other available variants. The minimalistic design of this stool offers seating comfort and high functionality too.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B0925ZQTNM_3765477129992134"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This multipurpose and economic plastic stool offers seating comfort and high functionality as well.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>

Best plastic stool for home in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>There are more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the oceans, and companies are racing to find solutions.</li><li>More than $30 trillion in global investments are driving companies to innovate alternative forms of plastic.edi</li><li>Around the world, scientists and entrepreneurs are pioneering plastic alternatives, with the goal of creating materials that can be recycled over and over again.</li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/BusinessInsiderToday/470155010549573/">A Closer Look</a>, Business Insider's new weekly show on Facebook Watch, spoke to leaders in science and tech who are in a race to find a new plastic.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Earth's plastic problem is getting worse by the day.Right now, there are <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111913">at least 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris</a> floating in the oceans. And by 2050, there will be so much plastic in the ocean, <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_New_Plastics_Economy.pdf">it will outweigh the fish</a> it shares the water with.Troubling statistics like those are driving scientists and entrepreneurs to innovate new forms of plastic that could replace the one we're so accustomed to using on a daily basis. And investors are taking note - <a href="http://www.gsi-alliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GSIR_Review2018.3.28.pdf">more than $30 trillion </a>is currently held in sustainable investments around the world.Israeli startup UBQ Materials claims to have found a solution. The company has raised $30 million from private investors for a patented process it hopes will revolutionize waste management and erase the need for landfills.The company says it has the technology to convert all kinds of trash - food waste, mixed plastic, even cardboard and paper - into tiny, plastic-like pellets, the kind that are <a href="https://qz.com/1689529/nurdles-are-the-biggest-pollution-disaster-youve-never-heard-of/">the base for regular plastic</a> before it's molded into shape.UBQIsraeli startup UBQ claims it can convert trash into pellets, which can then be converted into a base for plastic.The magic happens at its plant and research facility south of Jerusalem, where UBQ workers sort and dry garbage, and - using proprietary machinery - shred it, grind it into a confetti-like material, melt it into long strands, and then chop it into pellets. The team sends those off to conventional plastic manufacturers who can mix them with regular plastic pellets to create new materials.Part of UBQ's production process takes place behind closed doors, and what exactly happens there remains unclear. Prominent plastics consultant Duane Priddy <a href="https://apnews.com/c6c8e896a0884f55a04c1e1d891fb0b7">dismissed the technology</a> as "too good to be true" and compared it to alchemy in 2018.But UBQ has the endorsement of other prominent scientists. Oded Shoseyov, a Hebrew University biochemist who serves on the company's advisory board, told Business Insider that there was "something unique and novel in this technology."And the company's technology could soon make its way to the United States. Waste management authorities in Virginia <a href="https://wtvr.com/2019/08/28/virginia-possible-us-headquarters-for-ubq-materials-ltd-tech-that-turns-trash-into-recyclable-plastic/">ordered 2,000 recycling bins</a> made from UBQ material last summer, and CEO Jack Bigio said he hopes to eventually open a production plant in the state, <a href="https://wtvr.com/2019/08/28/virginia-possible-us-headquarters-for-ubq-materials-ltd-tech-that-turns-trash-into-recyclable-plastic/">according to a local CBS affiliate</a>.Meanwhile, in November, UBQ announced a contract with Arcos Dorados, the largest independent McDonald's franchisee in the world, who said it will use the trash-based pellets to produce materials for use inside its restaurants. The rollout is planned for <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191121005132/en/Arcos-Dorados-Partners-UBQ-Climate-Positive-Materials">early this year</a>.<h2>Investments are driving companies to innovate plastic alternatives.</h2>Jonas Opperskalski for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesUBQ Materials CEO Jack Bigio.From 2016 to 2018, investments relating to sustainability and social responsibility <a href="https://www.ussif.org/files/US%20SIF%20Trends%20Report%202018%20Release.pdf">grew by more than 38%</a>. And as the public becomes more and more aware of the environmental consequences of plastic, the appetite seems to be growing."I think we're seeing rising regulatory pressures globally on bans around plastics and single-use plastics," Sarah Brenton Hughes, a sustainable investment director at Schroders, told Business Insider. "But I also think we're continuing to see those social pressures. You're seeing more and more of it on social media. It's really opened up this issue to the masses." Companies are also feeling the pressure to use plastic alternatives in their packaging.The Vancouver-based company EcoSafe manufacturers compostable film products intended to replace conventional plastics. Their products are made from a type of polyester that is mainly petroleum-based, but is safe for the compost bin.As demand increases for products like the ones EcoSafe produces, so does the size of the alternative plastics industry. Geoff Woolley, president of EcoSafe, said his company has "more than quadrupled in size" in the past six years.It's a sign of how the industry gone mainstream over the last decade. "You're seeing more and more stockholders going to companies and saying, 'You need to be green. You need to be more sustainable,'" Frank Franciosi, executive director of the US Composting Council, told Business Insider.The attention is spurring companies to push the limits of how sustainable products can be."Instead of a cradle to grave, they're looking to develop products that are cradle to cradle, that are part of the circular economy," Franciosi said.<h2>The goal is to make plastics that can be recycled over and over again.</h2>Cheryl Ravelo/ReutersRight now, there are at least 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris floating in the oceans.Many of the plastics we toss into the recycling bin, like straws and shopping bags, are not recyclable at all. Others never get a second life because the chemicals added to make them useful, like fillers or solvents, make them impossible to recycle.Only 25% of the most recyclable plastic, polyethylene terephthalate, actually gets properly sorted and recycled. And once it does, it only goes through the recycling process once or twice before ending up in incinerators, landfills, or in the ocean.Therefore, the ultimate goal is to make plastics that can be recycled over and over again.Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently stumbled upon what they say is a formula for endlessly recyclable plastics.A group of researchers announced in May the discovery of a new kind of polymer that, like Lego blocks, can be broken down into molecular parts and then "reassembled into different shapes, textures, and colors," <a href="https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2019/05/06/recycling-plastic-from-the-inside-out/">according to a press release</a>.The new material, called polydiketoenamine or PDK, could breathe new life into plastic products that were made unrecyclable because of the presence of other materials, like fillers or solvents, that make the plastic harder or more flexible.The next step is for the team to commercialize PDK plastics and find ways to apply their uses to things like textiles, 3D printing, and foams."We're interested in the chemistry that redirects plastic life cycles from linear to circular," Brett Helms, a staff scientist and leader of the research team, <a href="https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2019/05/06/recycling-plastic-from-the-inside-out/">said in a statement</a>. "We see an opportunity to make a difference for where there are no recycling options."Until then, however, the race to find the perfect plastic continues. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-sneakers-plastic-bottles-ocean-waste-recycle-pollution-2019-8">Adidas is turning plastic ocean waste into sneakers and sportswear</a></h3>

Investors are pouring trillions into the alternative plastics industry - and these companies are racing to deliver

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Insider spoke with plastic surgeon <a href="https://www.drgalmd.com/">Gal Aharonov</a> on his technique for reducing the size of a forehead. </li><li>Aharonov makes an incision across the entire hairline, lifts the scalp, and stitches it closer to the face.</li></ul>A few months back, plastic surgeon <a href="https://www.drgalmd.com/">Gal Aharonov</a> received a new patient: a woman in her early thirties, desperate for a procedure that would shrink the size of her forehead. Aharonov, a double-board certified facial plastic and cosmetic surgeon with a practice in Beverly Hills, is the pioneer of a <a href="https://www.insider.com/most-popular-plastic-cosmetic-surgery-us-2018-2019-3">cosmetic surgery</a> that brings the hairline down the forehead. The complicated surgery, which involves lifting the entire scalp off the head, is meant to reduce the size of <a href="https://www.insider.com/ariana-grandes-forehead-photo-tweet-2018-10">genetically large foreheads</a>. Within two weeks of performing forehead lowering surgery on the woman, her husband told Aharonov she went from an introvert who rarely went out to someone who is constantly meeting friends and family, and doing "things she's never done before.""He's like, 'You have no idea how different my wife is since the surgery,'" Aharonov said in an interview with Insider. "'You have changed her life.'"To shed more light on his novel approach, Aharonov walked Insider through how he performs forehead reduction surgery, what the major risks are, and who makes a good candidate.<h2>A plastic surgeon pioneered a new way to reduce the size of someone's forehead.</h2>Candidates for forehead reduction surgery are people born with bigger foreheads than they'd like, not people with <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/male-pattern-baldness">receding hairlines</a>.Though <a href="https://www.insider.com/4-new-hair-loss-treatments-discovered-this-year-2022-12">treatments to male- and female-pattern baldness</a> exist, Aharonov said there aren't many ways to put hair in places on the head that never grew hair in the first place, and he said he wasn't taught in school how to lower the hairline. "There weren't really many people doing anything about this issue," he said.One alternative technique involves placing a balloon under the scalp and inflating it over the course of 2 to 3 months, which expands the scalp tissue. Surgeons go back in a second time, remove the balloon, and then stitch the newly stretched scalp further down the forehead. Aharonov said the balloon technique has "a lot of issues," like stretching out and separating hair follicles, which gives the appearance of <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/treatments/hair-loss-treatment">thinning hair</a>. The technique is also more time consuming for patients, as it requires two surgeries and sometimes several follow-ups for doctors to assess how the scalp stretches. <div type="image" title="Dr. Gal Aharonov" height="2073" width="2764" msid="98644109" hostid="261" sizebytes="260684"></div>Aharonov began researching other options, and in 2008, he said he pioneered a new technique that involves one surgery, not two. The surgery works as follows: <ol><li style="list-style-type: none;"><ol><li>An incision is made just outside the hairline. </li><li>The entire scalp is lifted off the skull.</li><li>The scalp is then "glided" to the desired location of the hairline, which is decided upon prior to the procedure by both patient and doctor. </li><li>Stitches are then used to connect the hairline to the forehead skin, excess skin is trimmed off. </li></ol></li></ol>"What you end up with is normal scalp and normal hair density, just now in a lower position," he said. The greatest reduction Aharonov has performed was 2.5 inches, but most patients get about 1 to 1.5 inches reduced. The cost of the procedure can vary, but typically starts at $15,000, Aharonov said, which includes consultation, operating room, and anesthesia fees. <h2>Patients are left with a large scar at their hairline.</h2>The biggest risk to the surgery is <a href="https://www.insider.com/surprising-things-that-cause-hair-loss-diet-dry-shampoo-2022-11">"shock hair loss,"</a> where the stress of the procedure causes hair loss for several months. Aharonov also said he's had to re-do botched forehead reduction surgeries, performed by other doctors attempting to copy his technique. The largest trade-off for forehead reduction surgery, Aharonov said, is the long scar that forms across the length of the hairline, just under where hair grows. Still, Aharonov said most patients would rather deal with the scar, which can be masked once the hairline grows out, rather than a larger forehead. The procedure is far from a quick fix. Aharonov said it takes about six months for patients to heal, and a year for the <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-prevent-a-scar-2019-1">scar to settle</a> and hairline to appear natural.The best candidates for the surgery are people who have thick, course hair, which can hide the scar better, and with good "scalp mobility," or pliability of the skin, which Aharonov assesses during an in-office visit. He said his patients keep normal forehead mobility, but the scalp will feel tight for a few months after the procedure.<h2>Many of Aharonov's patients have dealt with the insecurity since they were kids, so they travel far and wide to see him. </h2>Though Aharonov pioneered this particular scalp lowering surgery, the doctor said he didn't have a personal connection to anyone with a large- than-average forehead, and was unaware it was an insecurity for so many people. But, after 15 years of performing hairline lowering surgeries, Aharonov said the issue has become more personal. He said many patients come to him deeply self conscious and having been bullied for their appearance since they were kids. Aharonov said most of his patients aren't local to Southern California, instead traveling from across the country and from parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Aharonov's patients are typically under 30, though he's had patients in their 70s come in for the surgery."It's not like other surgeries in plastic surgery, where you take someone and maybe just make them prettier," he said. "This is different because you're taking a deep-rooted insecurity that a lot of people have had since they were little kids. It's very gratifying compared to, let's say, just doing a face-lift."

You Searched For "plastic alternative" and got 11 results

China stopped taking our plastic. Now America is drowning in it.

Taylor Dorrell

I tested 5 single-use plastic straw alternatives using water and iced coffee, and there were clear winners and losers

Maria Noyen

A US expat in South Korea says plastic surgery is advertised on trains, passport pictures are edited, and shares 5 other surprising differences

Priya Raj

ICICI Venture Funds invests ₹360 crore in houseware brand Cello World

Bhakti Makwana

More beauty brands are ditching plastic packaging — and consumers are buying in

Korie Wilkins

Scientists and entrepreneurs are pioneering plastic alternatives with the goal of creating materials that can be recycled over and over

Samara Abramson,Amelia Kosciu…

Indians are aware about climate change but find it difficult to help because of pricey and ineffective alternatives

Preeti Soni

Best plastic stool for home in India

BI India Bureau

Investors are pouring trillions into the alternative plastics industry - and these companies are racing to deliver

Samara Abramson,Mark Abadi,Am…

Scientists and entrepreneurs are pioneering plastic alternatives with the goal of creating materials that can be recycled over and over

Business Insider

A plastic surgeon who performs forehead reduction surgeries to lower hairlines shares before and after photos, and what to expect

Allana Akhtar

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides