Searious Business

19/05/2026

Plastic pollution is not just a waste problem.

It is a climate issue.
A livelihood issue.
A systems issue.

That is why we welcome the new roadmap from WRAP: 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. It sets out how purpose‑driven funders can unlock high‑leverage change by investing beyond short‑term fixes and into the systems that prevent pollution at source.

The roadmap makes a compelling case for funding solutions that:
• reduce plastic production and use
• accelerate reuse and circular delivery models
• strengthen policy, infrastructure and coordination
• centre livelihoods and a just transition for informal waste workers

Importantly, it shows that tackling plastic pollution can simultaneously reduce climate impacts, protect ecosystems and improve social and economic outcomes across the globe.

We are proud that several of our systemic change projects are featured as examples of how funders are already backing approaches that go beyond pilots, and instead help reshape value chains, markets and governance so solutions can scale.

If you are a funder, investor or partner looking to maximise impact, this roadmap offers a clear framework for where catalytic capital can make the biggest difference.

📣 Read the roadmap and join the call to invest in systemic solutions. Full report here: https://www.wrap.ngo/resources/report/catalysing-systemic-action-against-plastic-pollution-roadmap -file

19/05/2026

Today is a big milestone for the Buddie-Pack project!

Our Lia Huybrechts will be at the REuse Economy Expo in Paris today, joining project partners to discuss the market enablers and key lessons learned through Buddie‑Pack, and to share how reusable packaging systems can be scaled across Europe.

As part of the programme, Lia will be moderating the Policy Roundtable this afternoon, bringing together leading voices to explore the future of reuse systems in Europe. The discussion builds on the policy and standards recommendations developed through WP 4.4 of the project, focusing on what is needed to move from pilots to real market adoption.

Key topics include:
• Enabling market scaling through supportive infrastructure and investment
• Improving the economic viability of reuse systems
• Boosting user acceptance and behaviour change

This session marks the culmination of the Buddie‑Pack project. The products and systems developed over the past years will also be on display at the expo, offering a tangible look at what reuse can deliver in practice.

If you are at the Reuse Expo in Paris, join us at 14:45 for the Policy Roundtable and come by to see the solutions on show.

We would love to continue the conversation on how to move reuse systems forward across Europe. ♻️

01/05/2026

Saving Plastic and saving money is Searious Business - check out what the team has been up to in our April Recap!

Making the difference in the world of plastics

30/04/2026

If you have been waiting for the Sustainable Small Grants Programme to begin....it's today! Join the webinar 👇

The Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap Project is pleased to invite you to the launch webinar of the Sustainable Small Grants Programme, developed as a regional initiative to support practical and inclusive solutions for reducing plastic waste across the Caribbean.

Join us at our upcoming session:
📌 Launch of the Sustainable Small Grants Programme, Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap Project
📅 Wednesday, April 30, 2026
🕙 10:00 – 11:00 AM (AST)
💻 Virtual Event
🗣️ English
Register to join the session 👉 https://engage.iucn.org/event/launch-sustainable-small-grants-community-based-action-program-closing-caribbean-plastic-tap

This session will provide an overview of the programme, including grant opportunities, eligibility criteria, and the application process. It is designed for community-based organisations, NGOs, cooperatives, schools, informal groups, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those led by youth and women.

Participants will also gain practical guidance on how to develop and submit strong proposals, as well as engage directly during an interactive Q&A.

🌍 Open to participants in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The programme is implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Regional Office for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (ORMACC), with support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).



Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo sede San Salvador Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Sustainable Development Saint Lucia Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy Department of Environment St. Kitts The National Solid Waste Management Authority
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

21/04/2026

This Saturday, we’ll be co‑hosting the International Ocean Film Tour at the Evoluon in Eindhoven 🌊🎬

Before the screening, Willemijn Peeters will give a short introduction on marine pollution prevention, connecting the films to real‑world solutions. We’ll also be in the foyer for a meet & greet, so it’s a great opportunity to meet in person and get to know us a bit better.

🎟️ Tickets are still available
If you’re nearby and would like to join, feel free to get in touch with us directly and we can share a discount code:
📩 emma@seariousbusiness.com

If you’re in or around the Netherlands this weekend — clients, partners, friends, or simply ocean‑minded — you’re very welcome to come along.

Hope to see some familiar faces there!

International Ocean Film Tour

01/04/2026

No April Fools! Check out what the team has been up to during March in our monthly recap.

Making the difference in the world of plastics

01/04/2026

Big news for Plastics Recycling Show Europe this year… we’re levelling up our Elephant in the Room campaign in a rather unexpected way.

After a year in which Europe’s plastic recycling industry has faced serious challenges — from falling demand to increasing economic pressure — many of you asked if the elephant would be joining us at more events.

So we thought it was time to address the situation properly.

We’re bringing a real, live elephant to PRSE 2026. 🐘

Fully trained, fully certified, and ready to help visitors Ring the Bell for Recycling.

She’ll be making her way around the exhibition floor, offering a quiet but unmistakable reminder of the issues we still aren’t fully addressing — from the volatile price gap between virgin and recycled plastics to the lack of consistent demand for recyclate.

If you see her, feel free to take a photo, tag us, and give the bell a ring.

With thanks to the PRSE organisers for accommodating our newest (and largest) team member, and to the partners continuing to support the campaign during a critical moment for the industry.

See you there. Keep your eyes open — some things are harder to ignore than others.

30/03/2026

Zero waste starts on your plate… and across the whole system.

As we mark the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞, it is worth remembering that most of the environmental impact lies in the food itself, not the packaging. When food is wasted, all the land, water, energy and emissions invested in producing it are wasted too.

But that does not mean “more plastic” is the answer. Far from it.

🅐. Packaging should support food waste reduction, not justify overuse.
Yes, packaging can extend shelf life…
…but the majority of food waste happens in homes, in retail forecasting, and due to overproduction, not because of a lack of packaging.

🅑. Excess packaging does not equal less waste.
If packaging is multi‑material, unrecyclable or simply oversized, it adds environmental impact without meaningfully reducing food loss.

🅒. The real systemic win comes from circular design.
Reuse systems, smart logistics, better forecasting, shorter supply chains and regenerative agriculture all reduce food waste far more effectively than adding another layer of plastic.

At Searious Business, we help organisations cut waste at the source and shift to circular solutions that deliver real impact.

👉 Want to explore what this could look like for your business? Send us a message.

30/03/2026

⚙️ Please join us in welcoming Alejandro to the Searious Business team!

We are very happy to welcome Alejandro Albaladejo Cifre as he begins his Bachelor End Project with us. He is a third‑year Industrial Engineering student at TU Eindhoven and will be supporting our RePLHA project, where we are building an interoperable reuse system for large household appliances across Europe.

He will be applying his analytical strengths directly to the project, helping us understand packaging flows, spot inefficiencies and explore how data can make our operations smoother, more reliable and ready to scale. His fresh perspective will support the development of a reuse system that works seamlessly for manufacturers, retailers and logistics partners.

We are excited to see the impact he will bring and are delighted to have him on board.

Welcome to the team, Alejandro!



If you would like to follow our progress on RePLHA, keep an eye on this space for updates. www.seariousbusiness.com/replha

26/03/2026

Belgium has a real opportunity to lead Europe towards a truly circular economy.

This week, we signed the Fair Resource Foundation’s petition supporting the Belgian regions in their plans to introduce stronger measures to reduce packaging ahead of the incoming PPWR rules. These measures are not only necessary, they are long overdue.

With today’s geopolitical turbulence, supply chains are more fragile than ever. Companies can no longer rely on linear systems that leave them exposed. Circularity is not just good for the planet. It is a strategic buffer. By reducing material dependency and designing for reuse, manufacturers strengthen their resilience where it counts most.

Belgium’s proposal is simple and fair:
• Producers take legal responsibility for meeting EU prevention targets.
• From 2030, missing the target means a €50-per‑tonne fee, applied per material type.
• No loopholes and no shifting the problem to other materials.

This approach keeps the focus on real prevention, protects public space, and drives innovation that will strengthen long‑term competitiveness. 💪

Belgium can hold its course and set the pace for Europe. We urge policymakers to stay strong, and we call on other member states to help ensure the EU crosses the finish line together.
If you support this vision too, let us know and help spread the message.

21/03/2026

🤸‍♂️ It’s our 10th anniversary!

For a decade, Searious Business has redesigned packaging for global brands, cutting costs, plastic, CO₂, risks, and regulatory exposure — all at the same time.

To celebrate, we asked you to send in your Top 10 Worst‑Ever Packaging examples.

And wow — you delivered.

Today, we’re revealing 10 real disasters → 10 real
SeariousSolutions, each showing the same pattern:

Bad packaging is expensive packaging.
Clever packaging is profitable packaging.

Across all 10 redesigns, cost savings ranged between 40% and 90%, thanks to:

Lighter materials
Mono‑material designs
Lower EPR fees
Avoided plastic taxes
More efficient logistics
Reusable or refill formats
Future‑proof PPWR compliance

10 years. 10 fixes. Searious solutions.

👉 Swipe through
👉 Tell us which one surprised you most

And if you want us to take a closer look at your packaging portfolio, you know where to find us.

Here's to the next 10 years!