Sustainability

Research Triangle Park, N.C. – September 15, 2026 -- RTI International has opened a $14 million expansion of its Pilot Xcelerator platform, doubling the independent research institute's commercialization infrastructure for energy and industrial technology startups.

Expansion doubles pilot-scale capacity in North Carolina

The 25,000-square-foot facility on RTI's Research Triangle Park campus gives innovators access to pilot infrastructure, engineering expertise and independent scientific validation to bridge the gap between lab research and commercial deployment. RTI describes the Pilot Xcelerator as the only privately owned industrial pilot laboratory in North Carolina.

Ashburn, Va. – September 15, 2026 -- QTS Data Centers has committed $1 billion to a global water stewardship initiative aimed at making the company water positive by 2035, restoring more water than it withdraws across its operations.

QTS commits $250 million to Texas water infrastructure over the next decade

The company's first major deployment under the pledge targets Texas, where it will fund water infrastructure and conservation projects, including replacement of the aging water tower in Turkey, Texas. QTS is also allocating $15 million over 10 years to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation for leak detection, habitat restoration and irrigation-efficiency projects across the state.

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 15, 2026 -- The global molded pulp packaging market is projected to grow from $8.02 billion in 2026 to $10.82 billion by 2031, a 6.2% compound annual growth rate, according to MarketsandMarkets.

E-commerce and plastic-reduction rules drive fiber packaging demand

Rising e-commerce volumes are fueling demand for protective molded pulp inserts and cushioning for fragile goods, while corporate sustainability mandates push brands toward fiber-based alternatives to plastic and foam. Improved recycling of paper and agricultural fibers is expanding the raw-material base for manufacturers.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- Midea has sold more than 10 million air conditioners using the natural refrigerant R290 since 2018, cutting an estimated 5.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions, the company said at IFA 2026 in Berlin.

Midea holds the top spot in R290 air conditioner production for a 16th consecutive year

The company positioned itself as the world's largest manufacturer of R290-based air conditioning units, citing the refrigerant's near-zero CO2 footprint, absence of PFAS chemicals, and roughly 10% higher energy efficiency compared with conventional alternatives. Midea said the emissions avoided through its R290 sales volume are comparable to the carbon absorption capacity of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. A cutaway model at its booth let visitors view the compressor technology in operation.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- Midea has sold more than 10 million R290-refrigerant air conditioners globally since 2018, cutting carbon emissions by approximately 5.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, an impact the company compares to the carbon absorption of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. The Chinese appliance maker detailed its sustainable HVAC portfolio at IFA 2026 in Berlin, positioning R290 natural refrigerant technology as the centerpiece of its European growth strategy.

Gothenburg – September 15, 2026 -- Volvo Group will develop an energy park near its planned Mariestad battery cell production site, initially providing approximately 70 MW/260 MWh of battery storage capacity, making it one of the largest energy parks in Sweden.

Volvo Group commits to 70 MW/260 MWh storage capacity as first development phase

The energy park will grow along two parallel tracks: a large-scale battery storage facility using Volvo Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) from Volvo Energy, and a future test bed for developing new energy solutions. The facility is expected to become operational during 2027.

Hwaseong, South Korea -- The European Union's February 12, 2028 deadline requiring food service outlets to offer reusable packaging for takeaway is exposing a washing infrastructure gap that could determine compliance across the bloc.

EU packaging waste hit 79.7 million tonnes in 2023

The EU generated 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2023, equal to 177.8 kg per citizen, with only 42.1% of plastic packaging recycled. Global disposable cup demand is projected to reach 491 billion units by 2028, while the UK alone consumes 7 million cups daily, generating 30,000 tonnes of cup waste annually.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- Midea has sold more than 10 million R290 air conditioners globally since 2018, cutting carbon emissions by an estimated 5.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, the company disclosed at IFA 2026 in Berlin.

Midea claims 16 straight years as the world's leading manufacturer of R290-based air conditioners

The natural refrigerant carries an ultra-low global warming potential, near-zero CO2 emissions, no harmful PFAS substances, and roughly 10% higher energy efficiency than conventional alternatives. Midea says the emissions reduction achieved through its R290 unit sales matches the carbon absorption capacity of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. At its stand, the company displayed a transparent model demonstrating internal system operation to visitors.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- Midea has sold more than 10 million R290 air conditioners worldwide since 2018, cutting an estimated 5.2 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions, the company said at IFA 2026 in Berlin.

Midea marks 16 years as world's leading producer of R290 natural-refrigerant air conditioners

The company presented its latest lineup of HVAC and energy-management solutions under its 'Green Vision, Cloudless Future' initiative. R290 carries an ultra-low global warming potential, near-zero CO2 emissions, no PFAS substances, and roughly 10% higher energy efficiency than conventional refrigerants, according to Midea. The 5.2 million tCO2e reduction is comparable to the carbon absorption of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest, the company stated.

London – September 15, 2026 -- KraftPal Holdings Ltd has completed construction of the KP25039, a new semi-automatic paper pallet production machine capable of producing up to 100 pallets per hour, as the company accelerates its licensing-based manufacturing network.

KraftPal cuts entry costs to speed licensing partner adoption

The KP25039 is designed as a lower-cost, entry-level alternative to KraftPal's existing production lines, aimed at lowering the barrier for businesses to become licensing partners and manufacture lightweight corrugated pallets locally. The machine requires greater manual labor to operate than KraftPal's fully automated systems, but its faster engineering build cycle allows the company to produce more units and enable quicker in-country production start-ups.