October 2025 The Shift e-newsletter
FREE Webinar: Packaging Sustainability | New Cotton LCA Publication | Packaging Across Industries | Packaging Innovation
Free Webinar:
Packaging Sustainability with Dr. Rafael Auras
DATE: Thursday, October 30th, 2025
TIME: 1pm - 2pm EST
PRESENTERS:
Dr. Rafael Auras
Michigan State University
Description:
This month’s theme is Packaging — and we’re thrilled to welcome one of the field’s leading voices to our October Brown Bag Webinar!
Join us on Wednesday, October 30 at 1:00 PM (ET) for an engaging session with Dr. Rafael Auras, Professor and Amcor Endowed Chair in Packaging Sustainability at Michigan State University’s School of Packaging.
Dr. Auras leads groundbreaking research on biodegradable and compostable polymers, life cycle assessment (LCA), and sustainable packaging systems. His work bridges science, innovation, and industry — helping organizations design packaging that reduces environmental impact and supports circular solutions. With over 200 publications and four books to his name, Dr. Auras has become an international authority on packaging sustainability, advising Fortune 500 companies and government agencies alike.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leading minds shaping the future of sustainable packaging.
EarthShift Global is pleased to announce the release of From Data to Impact: How to Get Cotton LCAs Right, a collaborative position paper developed for Cotton Incorporated, Cotton Australia, and the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol — with consultation from Cascale, Textile Exchange, and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.
The paper challenges how Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are often used within the fashion and textile sector, emphasizing that data alone doesn’t drive impact — people and context do. While LCAs remain an important tool for industry alignment and reporting, the paper underscores that they are not a silver bullet for decision-making and must be applied with scientific rigor, transparency, and real-world understanding.
How Packaging Contributes to Environmental Impacts Across Industries
Blog Author: Miguel Hernandez, Senior Sustainability Advisor & Operations Manager
Packaging is often the first thing people notice — and the first thing they critique — when it comes to sustainability. From designers to policymakers, it’s under constant scrutiny — which makes sense, as packaging is one of the most tangible elements in a product’s life cycle and often represents a “low-hanging fruit” for potential improvements or impact reductions. But how much does packaging really matter in the bigger picture of a product’s life cycle?
As with everything in Life Cycle Thinking, it depends.
Designing for Impact: Why Sustainable Packaging Takes Intention and Creativity
Blog Author: Tess Konnovitch, Scientific Marketing Manager at EarthShift Global
When it comes to sustainability, packaging is often one of the most visible and scrutinized elements of a product. It’s the first thing customers see, touch, and discard — making it both a powerful opportunity and a potential liability. But moving toward sustainable packaging isn’t as simple as swapping out one material for another. True progress requires intentional thought, creativity, and a willingness to reimagine design from the ground up.
Why Intentional Packaging Design Matters
Sustainable packaging means more than choosing recyclable materials. Designers and sustainability teams must weigh trade-offs: lightweighting vs. durability, recyclability vs. performance, simplicity vs. branding. Each decision influences not just the package itself, but the product’s overall environmental footprint across its life cycle.
That’s where intention comes in.
Without deliberate planning, even well-meaning changes can create unintended consequences — such as shifting burdens to other parts of the life cycle, reducing shelf life, or complicating recycling streams.
Upcoming Online Training
October 8-9, 2025
Advanced Life Cycle Assessment: Interpretation
November 5-6, 2025