An in-depth look at solutions to ocean pollution includes new responsible packaging options.

A collaboration between business leaders from major brands as well as top experts in scientific research participated in Challenge 2018: The Summit for a Sustainable Future on September 20th in lower Manhattan. The Summit was designed to shed light on the growing issue of ocean pollution and to address how new sustainable packaging options made from paper can help reduce plastic waste.

The summit was hosted by BillerudKorsnäs, whose mission is to challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. The company’s president and CEO, Petra Einarsson, shared insights on the company’s commitment to sustainability, and unveiled new packaging innovations and solutions.

The oceanographic researchers from the Tara Foundation presented evidence showing that the real threat of ocean pollution is not from large floating islands of plastic, but from tiny micro-plastics that saturate our seas like clouds of confetti. Although much smaller than grains of rice, these micro-particles interact with marine organisms and represent a potential danger for the entire marine food chain—including what ends up on our plates.

Summit attendees got to see and hear about a number of sustainable packaging solutions, including a product from BillerudKorsnäs that’s still in development: a battery made of paper which is designed to power smart packaging and other applications. The paper battery opens multiple possibilities for packaging that is both smart and more sustainable.