The Week in Low Carbon Commerce - January 22, 2024

The Week in Low Carbon Commerce
January 22, 2024

Hello!

This week’s theme is too big to embed in the Monday link round-up, so keep an eye out for a feature-length article in a separate send later this week.

Let’s get right to the news, then:

• News — Big regulatory news out of the EU, plus new industry initiatives in the U.S. and Canada

• Deals and funding 

• Jobs 

• Podcast — How one of the world’s largest CPG companies embeds sustainability acumen across commercial functions, with Francesca Hahn of Mondelez

• Upcoming events - More on Decarbonize.co’s February webinar series

Keith

News

🛢️ The FT covers a steep increase in petrochemical production in the U.S. and China, driving the price of new material so low that its recycled alternative is uneconomical.

⚖️ The European Parliament approved the Green Claims Directive, aimed at “empowering consumers for the green transition.” This directive bans generic environmental claims like 'environmentally friendly' and 'climate neutral' based on emissions offsetting schemes, while also regulating sustainability labels.

It introduces a harmonized label for producers offering extended guarantees and prohibits practices related to early product obsolescence. The directive is part of a broader EU package and awaits final approval from the EU Council. Once approved, member states have two years to incorporate it into their national laws.

🤝 The RILA and Optera, a provider of carbon management software, announced a partnership to develop a tool to standardize how retailers measure, compare and communicate emissions for direct-use products like appliances, electronics, and outdoor power equipment. Target and Lowe’s are founding supporters of the initiative.

♻️ The Circular Innovation Council is collaborating with Canadian grocers Metro, Sobeys, and Walmart Canada, and the Government of Canada for a reuse program that aims to eliminate single-use plastics.

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Brands

🥛 NotCo, producer of plant-based NotMilk, won its appeal of a court decision that would have required it not to use dairy references in its branding and marketing.

The decision overturned a May 2023 ruling in favor of the Association of Milk Producers of the Los Rios Region.

Deals and funding

☀️ Perfect Day, which uses precision fermentation to produce lower-impact proteins, raised a ~$90M pre-series E and installed a new interim CEO.

♻️ Resynergi, based in Rohnert Park, California, raised a $6.4M series B for its pyrolosis plastic recycling technology.

From the podcast

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Upcoming Events

Virtual events are a great way to get to know Decarbonize.co, and we have three webinars featuring our analyst research coming up in February.

Members can attend at no cost, or you can license enterprise-wide access for a modest fee.

• Intro to Retail and CPG Industry Climate Action
  A crash course in how innovation, regulation, and retailer initiatives are reshaping retailing and consumer products, oriented to Sales, ecommerce, marketing, CatMan, and other commercial roles
  

• Winning with Amazon on Climate
  A guide to Amazon’s commerce-relevant climate initiatives, with a focus on those most relevant to suppliers and sellers
  

• Product-Level Climate Footprinting & Labeling
  A deep-dive on the state and near future of product footprinting and labeling, including pending regulations, emerging technologies, and leading practices

Featured jobs

• Chief of Staff (Santa Monica, CA, USA)
  Gently
  

• Industry Strategy Director, Grocery North America (USA, Remote)
  Relex Solutions
  

• Senior Project Manager (Emeryville, CA, USA, Hybrid)
  Unspun
  

• Digital Marketing Manager (Atlanta, GA, USA, Hybrid)
  Tosca
  

• Director of Data and AI (New York, NY, USA, Hybrid)
  Bowery Farming

Check out all of the jobs (or post your open roles) on the Decarbonizing Commerce Career Board.