Content director Jennifer Hermes Nastu looks back on 2021 and offers a preview of what’s coming in 2022. Note that the editors will take a break the week of Dec. 27 through Dec. 31. We’ll see you back on January 3.
by Emily Holbrook
Shake Shack recently announced the introduction of sustainable AirCarbon cutlery and straws from Restore Foodware at select Shake Shack locations in the US. The straws and cutlery will be available across all guest ordering services including walk-up window, drive-up window, curbside pickup, in-Shack pickup shelves, and delivery.
Shake Shack is introducing AirCarbon cutlery and straws at select locations by joining forces with Restore Foodware. The company launched the world’s first natural and regenerative foodware made from AirCarbon in late 2020, a biomaterial certified carbon-negative by SCS Global Services and Carbon Trust, showing it reduces the amount of carbon in the air through production. As a natural material, AirCarbon contains no synthetic plastics, PLA or synthetic glues, requires no food crops for production and is home compostable, soil degradable, and ocean-friendly, degrading naturally if it ends up in the environment. Shake Sha
by Emily Holbrook (Environment + Energy Leader) … US Department of Energy (DOE) announced the establishment of a Division of Minerals Sustainability. In a statement on its website, the DOE says the division was created to bring an increased focus to securing a US critical minerals supply chain that will transform the US energy and manufacturing systems to make them cleaner, more resilient, and more secure.
“Improving the domestic availability and supply of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, is a priority for the Trump Administration. Not only are these minerals vital to US national security, they are also essential components in technologies entering the marketplace including next-generation nuclear, renewables, innovative fossil technologies, storage technologies, and electric vehicles,” said Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg. “This Division is about the minerals that the Nation requires to power the 21st century, support our national de