The Future of Packaging: From Linear to Circular, written by Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of waste solutions company TerraCycle, is an Outstanding Book of the Year gold medalist and “Most Likely to Save the Planet.” of the 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards.
Designed to be a primer on packaging design for the circular economy, Szaky’s fourth book integrates perspectives from the author and 15 innovators in sustainability – including government leaders, corporate risk takers and international waste management experts – to create a guide that can help everyone from a small startup to a large corporation move towards a future of innovation and growth with less waste.
Topics include the evolution of plastic and recommendations and “watch-outs” for producing and consuming in the circular economy. For instance, biodegradable and bio-based plastics may not be as “green” or sustainable as marketed, black plastics are typically non-recyclable, and though lighter in weight, packaging such as pouches and cartons take a heavy toll on the planet. These and more in the book designed to empower champions for change and a more sustainable future.
The 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards was the 23rd iteration of the annual contest originally launched in 1996. Since then, the “IPPY” Awards have increased the recognition of deserving yet frequently overlooked works produced by independent authors and publishers. As the first and only awards contest that exclusively invites independents to compete, over 5,000 “IPPY’s” have been awarded to authors and publishers worldwide.
“I am honored and humbled to accept the IPPY from The Independent Publisher Book Awards,” says author Tom Szaky. “It was a privilege to co-author this book with the best minds in the global packaging movement and it’s nice to see not only recognition for our efforts, but also raised awareness for the global waste crisis in general.”