Seventy-five percent of businesses now prioritize circular solutions, up 40% compared to three years ago, according to a report from the World Economic Forum, the University of Cambridge and Bain & Co. The report highlights the economic and environmental benefits of circular models, including revenue growth, job creation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Flooding events accounted for 70% of weather-related supply chain disruptions in 2024, according to a report from Everstream Analytics that predicted flooding will be the top issue in 2025 due to elevated ocean temperatures. The report notes that other causes of disruption include cyberattacks, geopolitical instability and restrictions on trade of rare minerals and metals.

Executives from Target, Walmart and IKEA talked at Retail's Big Show about the ways their companies are integrating circularity into their business models, highlighting initiatives that benefit consumers, the planet and business. Target's car seat trade-in program has recycled more than 3 million seats, Walmart's Resold marketplace features 5 million secondhand products and IKEA aims for 100% circularity by 2030, with programs like the SILVERSIDA series, which turns ceramic waste into tableware.

Amazon has placed its largest order of electric heavy goods vehicles in the UK. The order includes new Mercedes-Benz Truck eActros and Volvo FM Battery Electric trucks, which are expected to transport more than 300 million packages annually with zero exhaust emissions.

The global plastic recycling rate stands at only 9%, with the majority of plastic waste being incinerated landfilled, or mismanaged. The US is the largest plastic polluter and recycles just 5% of its household plastic waste. See the graphic.

The Flexible Film Recycling Alliance has introduced the Plastic Film Recycling Directory to help consumers find recycling locations and to raise recycling rates for flexible plastic film. "Within two years of the directory's launch, FFRA will publicly share verified data on its impact and progress towards increasing recycling rates," said the organization.

The Cookware Sustainability Alliance has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota over Amara's Law, which bans nonessential PFAS use and requires disclosure of PFAS in products. The alliance argues the law is unconstitutional and burdensome for businesses.

A UCLA study has confirmed the potential of Los Angeles' $6 billion Pure Water L.A. initiative to enhance water security amid climate challenges. The project aims to recycle all wastewater for drinking by 2035, generating over 250,000 acre-feet of potable water annually for more than 500,000 households. The study highlights the project's ability to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters and aging infrastructure, offering a model for other cities facing similar issues.

The thawing of tundra on Montana's Beartooth Plateau has exposed a 5,500-year-old fossilized forest, offering a glimpse into past climate conditions and potential future changes, according to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study indicates that warming could lead to the return of high-elevation forests, but also warns of possible negative impacts such as decreased water availability and increased fire hazards.