SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 27 February 2023 – Cellini commemorates World Sleep Day this March with a myriad of exciting deals. With the NATURA Mattress from the home-grown brand’s Nightingale product line-up taking centre stage in light of the annual celebration hosted by the World Sleep Society, Cellini aims to raise awareness about the importance of sleep. Tapping on its long-standing tradition of bringing quality craftsmanship and new technology together, escape to the luxury of deep sleep while saving hundreds!
Advancing Sleep Health with the NATURA Mattress
Released to coincide with World Sleep Day back in 2022, the sleep survey conducted by YouGov, a British international market research firm, reported that only 27% of Singaporeans have an ideal sleep cycle. Driven to empower your sleep, the range of NATURA mattresses by Celliniemphasises innovative health-improving technology to deliver optimal comfort so that sleeping deeply without interruption becomes a norm.
Going by an upgraded motto “Let Nature In”, NATURA, the mainstay of the Nightingale by Cellini luxury mattress collection, features a soft bamboo fabric, thick latex topper and unrivalled pocketed spring base support to pamper you to a well-deserved luxurious rest. Promising to dissipate heat quickly and offer an ergonomic sleep experience even on warm and humid nights, the specially developed 100% natural latex layer also uplifts comfort by alleviating allergies with its hygienic and antibacterial properties. A product of rigorous testing, the inception of the NATURA collection is a progressive step towards bringing into fruition the goals of World Sleep Day.
Don’t Miss Out on the Siesta Fiesta Deals
Kicking off the World Sleep Day fiesta in March, Cellini’s much-anticipated sale will be accompanied by an array of exclusive promotions. Never be lulled by the up to S$500 Cash Rebate that you can earn when you buy your first Nightingale mattress. Cart out with a queen, king or super king mattress from the Nightingale by Cellini collection, including the NATURA, Float, Flow, Seville Lux and Botania mattresses, and you just might be able to take home a bed frame for free too!
But that’s not all! As part of the Let Nature In promotion, cart out with your favourite mattress from the NATURA collection and get S$400 off by using the promo code <Natura> when carting out online. Those looking to buy more than one of Cellini’s premium mattresses can also leverage an ongoing promotion that offers customers 50% off their second mattress from the aforementioned Nightingale series.
Designed and made by Cellini, every mattress in the Nightingale collection is engineered to improve your overall well-being. Experience the passion of this lifestyle brand and take home a piece of luxury bedding solution by making the most of Cellini’s seasonal promotion. Hashtag: #Cellini
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Cellini Singapore
Cellini is a home-grown designer furniture brand in Singapore. Investing in state-of-the-art technology, Cellini’s furniture showrooms boast specially curated pieces that are second-to-none in terms of quality craftsmanship. It has also expanded its services to offer timeless furniture pieces across Asia, in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan, in addition to making its mark as a successful e-commerce business. For more information, please visit: https://www.cellini.com.sg/.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 February 2023 – The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) unveils 28 in-development projects and 15 work-in-progress projects for the 21st Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF21).
HAF21 will take place as a physical, in-person event for the first time since 2019 from 13 – 15 March at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in conjunction with the 27th Hong Kong Film & TV Market (FILMART).
The 28 in-development projects, covering a potpourri of genres – horror, fantasy, romance, family drama and animation, are shortlisted from 244 submissions from 38 countries and regions. They include seven projects from Hong Kong and eight that passed through HAF Film Lab. Alongside projects from acclaimed filmmakers and producers such as Arsalan AMIRI, Anthony CHEN, Fruit CHAN, Jakrawal NILTHAMRONG, LIN Yu-Hsien, NAI An, Nader SAEIVAR, Teddy Robin, and TIAN Zhuangzhuang are also 14 by budding first-time directors.
The 15 shortlisted work-in-progress projects include three from Hong Kong and eight feature debuts. Emerging and established actors from across Asia, including Fish Liew, Austin Lin, Ma Chih-Hsiang, Matsuda Ryuhei, Wang Xuebing, Wu Kang-Ren, and Zu Feng, top-line many projects. Renowned filmmakers such as Stanley Kwan, Mai Meksawan, and Ram Krishna Pokharel also featured prominently as producers.
HAF introduced the work-in-progress section in 2017 for later-stage projects seeking completion funding, post-production partners, distributors and sales agents, and film festival support, complementing its main programme, which was designed specifically for projects in the pre-production or development stages.
“We look forward to welcoming back filmmakers, industry guests, and friends from the trade media after three virtual editions of the HAF,” HKIFFS Industry Office Director Jacob WONG said. “And HAF21 will again showcase itself as an invaluable platform for new talents and upcoming projects from Asia.”
In-Development Projects (IDP)
HAF Film Lab Projects
HAF Film Lab offers support to new and emerging Chinese-language filmmakers through open lectures, training programmes, and one-on-one bespoke consultations. HAF21 is excited to feature eight Chinese-language projects developed by young filmmakers at last editions’ HAF Film Lab.
They include the winners of the fifth Film Lab’s three script service awards: TANG Peiyan‘s A Better Tomorrow, a coming-of-age drama produced by Anthony CHEN (Ilo Ilo); Frankie LEE‘s Kapok, a drama about a woman burdened by work and family duties who returns to her hometown to find solace, to be produced by Fruit CHAN (Three Husbands); and The Only Way Outdirected by YEUNG Leung-chuen and produced by Jun LI (Drifting), about five lost souls in search of a way out.
Other Film Lab alumni include Hugo in the Pigpen by SHEN Sheng-Ting and SHIH Jing-Ting, a Taiwan-US co-production about a boy who raises a pig with a human body; GUAN Tian‘s The Poison Cat, produced by YANG Chao (Crosscurrent), is about an enslaved woman whose fate entwines with an evil spirit; FAN Ka-chun‘s Stair-away, produced by Teddy Robin (The First Girl I Loved), revolves around a courier, a father searching for his lost son, and the missing head of a girl’s corpse; and The Walking Bird by ZHANG Hanyi (HKIFF40 Firebird Award winner with Life After Life) follows two siblings on a bird hunting adventure.
“We are delighted to bring these projects from Film Lab to the developmental stages within our HAF ecosystem,” Jacob WONG said.
Personal Stories and Adaptations
Two HAF21 projects are drawn from the filmmakers’ personal experiences, while award-winning Chinese-language novels inspire another two.
In The Fruit, produced by Marco MÜLLER, former festival director of Venice, Locarno and Pingyao, director LI Dongmei(Mama, The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award of the Göteborg Film Festival) tracks the joy and sadness of a woman through pregnancy and miscarriage. In The Last Haven, producer-turned-director ZHANG Jun follows a woman moving back in with her parents after a divorce, only to open old wounds. ZHANG Lu (Yanagawa) produces.
Based on a novel by the late LEE Wei-Jing, The Mermaid’s Tale by Norris WONG (My Prince Edward, Hong Kong Film Awards Best New Director winner) is about a woman searching for a perfect ballroom dancing partner. While ZHAO Jin‘s directorial debut, Non-fiction Stories, adapted from WANG Zhanhei’s novel, examines the hardship of the young working class through the life of a delivery rider. NAI An (The Shadow Play) produces.
Love and Scam
Love and scam form the central theme of several HAF21 projects.
A Divorce by Jevons AU (Trivisa) looks at how a fake divorce turns real when love and trust disappear. Family of Crooksby LAI Kuo-An (whose A Fish Out of Water world premiered in Toronto) is about a family of street opera troupe feigning madness in an insurance scam. The Marriage Drive by Lawrence KAN, produced by industry veteran Cora YIM, tells the story of a couple’s marriage spanning over a decade. In ZHANG Yuxuan‘s China-Thailand-France co-production, Till Forgetfulness Do Us Part, two estranged lovers travel to Thailand to start over. Meanwhile, China’s Fifth Generation great TIAN Zhuangzhuang (The Horse Thief) joins HE Bin (The Crossing) in producing Phakpa‘s Dark Eyes, a tale of first love between a Buddhist monk and a young blind girl that transcends beliefs.
Young and Old
Several non-Chinese language projects, including two featuring resilient elderly women, are also in the mix. In White Snow by Praveen MORCHHALE (Walking with the Wind, winner at India’s National Film Awards), an old woman embarks on an arduous journey to remote villages to show her imprisoned son’s banned film. While in The Witness by Nader SAEIVAR (a co-writer of Jafar PANAHI’s 3 Faces and director of No End, which premiered in Busan), a widow refuses to succumb to political pressure in Iran and publicises everything she knows about a murder.
Pre-teens play the protagonists of Bhunte by Bikas NEUPANE, about a poor village boy in Nepal who dreams of getting a football. In Nagahama (working title) by TANIGUCHI Mio (Hiko and Vega, Grand Prize winner at Aichi International Women’s Film Festival), the friendship of a half-Japanese boy and a boyish Japanese girl leads up to the traditional Nagahama Hikiyama Festival.
Queer Stories from Southeast Asia Skin Coat, the only animated project in the HAF21 line-up produced by Anthony CHEN for TAN Wei Keong, depicts a man donning a woman’s skin coat to enter his male lover’s village to meet his parents. In Rhizome, a Thailand-Laos-France co-production byJakrawal NILTHAMRONG (Tokyo FILMeX Grand Prize winner Anatomy of Time), a Hmong woman who returns to Laos to become a deminer and develops intimate feelings for a Laotian volunteer.
Work-In-Progress Projects (WIP)
Debut projects
Among the feature debut projects are:
In A Journey in Spring, filmmakers Peng Tzu-Hui and Wang Ping-Wen follow an old man who puts his wife in a freezer when she passes away suddenly, only to start a journey to face his life regrets.
Produced by Zhou Yaowu and directed byMa Xiang, The Actorstars Wang Xuebing (The Pluto Moment) as an actor who seeks help from a friend with extraordinary power to revive his career.
Starring Zu Feng (Summer Of Changsha) and Guo Keyu (Red Cherry), Lin Jianjie’s family drama Brief History of a Familyrevolves around a seemingly harmonious middle-class family disrupted by a mysterious friend of the son.
Produced by Stanley Kwan for director Sasha Chuk, Fly Me to the Moon tracks the struggles oftwo sisters who moved from Hunan to Hong Kong in the 90s, with a cast led by Wu Kang-Ren, Angela Yuen, and Chu Pak-him.
Haniby Hou Dasheng isa Yunnan-set drama about a 14-year-old boy who is about to marry a 12-year-old child bride deep in the mountain.
Qu Youjia’s She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones is a coming-of-age drama about two high school students who befriend and reject each other. Xie Meng (Memoria) produced.
Starring Austin Lin (IWeirDo) and Esther Liu (Light The Night series), Lien Chien-Hung’s Taiwan and France co-production Salli follow a 38-year-old chicken farmer who starts an online romance with a Frenchman until he disappears. Lee Lieh(Detention) is an executive producer.
Patiparn Boontarig’sSolids by the Seashorefollows a young Muslim woman who falls for a female activist-turned-visual artist in south Thailand, produced by Mai Meksawan (Manta Ray).
Leading ladies and leading men
Two projects featuring female-driven stories:
In Carefree Days,director Liang Mingreunites with his actress Lv Xingchen from Wisdom Tooth (best director winner at HKIFF’s Young Cinema Competition),who plays a young woman whose life collapses when she gets uraemia. Still, she decides to go on a trip with her best friends.
Do Fish Sleep with Their Eyes Open? follows a young Chinese woman who starts a new life in Brazil, living with her aunt in a fancy building with hidden stories. Nele Wohlatz (whose The Future Perfect won the best first feature at Locarno) directs this co-production of Brazil, Taiwan, Argentina and Germany.
Projects with top leading men include:
Su Hung-En’ssuspense thriller Hunter Brothers is about a man who, upon release from jail, attempts to settle unfinished family business with his brother. It stars Ma Chih-Hsiang, Lin Ching-Tai, and Hsu Yi-Fan (all from Seediq Bale).
Directed by Peng Tao (Leaving For Love), Listening to the Wind is about a terminally ill man who returns to his hometown with his wife after a long absence, hoping to pay a last visit to his estranged father. It stars Yao Anlian (who won best actor at the Montreal World Film Festival for Factory Boss).
Kwan Man-hin’s The Remnant is about a former gangster boss who comes out of retirement when residents in his poor neighbourhood are threatened with eviction, with Philip Keung, Fish Liew and Ling Man-lung in the cast.
The two non-Chinese language projects are
Gurasby Saurav Rai (whose Nimtoh’ Invitation’ won the grand jury prize at Jio MAMI Film Festival) follows the mystical journey of a nine-year-old Nepali girl in search of her lost dog. Ram Krishna Pokharel, a winner of a Sports Emmy Award, was the producer.
Who Were We?byTomina Tetsuya (whose Blue Wind Blows premiered at Berlinale’s Generation Kplus) explores the inexplicable love between a man and a woman with no memory of the past. The film stars Matsuda Ryuhei (Before We Vanish) and Komatsu Nana(Moonlight Shadow).
Details of HAF21
All shortlisted projects will feature in an open pitch session at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Representatives of each work-in-progress project will introduce their projects and showcase footage of their films on 13 March 2023. All HAF and FILMART badge holders are welcome to participate. Details of the session are as follows:
Date: 13-15 March 2023 (WIP Open Pitch Session: 13 March 2023) Time: 14:00 – 18:00 (Hong Kong Time) Venue: Starlight Theatre, Hall 1 Remarks: HAF/FILMART badge holders may attend
Guest Accreditation for HAF21
HAF21 guest registration is now open to investors, festival programmers and other industry professionals through https://Industry.hkiff.org.hk/guest-registration. Once accredited, all guests can schedule one-on-one meetings with filmmakers to discuss their projects.
Kai KO’s Bad Education (HAF18, 2020) won Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Horse Film Awards in Taiwan
YANG Lina’s Song of Spring (HAF18, 2020) won Best Actress at the Beijing International Film Festival
LAU Kok Rui’s The Sunny Side of the Street (HAF18, 2020) won Best Leading Actor, Best New Director, and Best Original Screenplay at the Golden Horse Film Awards in Taiwan
HUANG Ji and OTSUKA Ryuji’s Stonewalling (HAF16, 2018) world premiered at Venice’s Giornate degli Autori and won Best Screenplay at the World Film Festival of Bangkok
Lav DIAZ’s When the Waves Are Gone (HAF14, 2016) world premiered out of competition at Venice Film Festival
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)
The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is widely recognised as Asia’s premier film financing platform. HAF brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for co-production ventures with top film financiers, producers, bankers, funding bodies, sales agents, distributors, and buyers. Around 30 in-development projects (IDP) and ten work-in-progress projects (WIP) are selected annually to participate in the three-day event attended by more than 1,000 filmmakers and financiers from over 35 countries and regions. HAF has the added advantage of being held in conjunction with Hong Kong FILMART, Asia’s largest film market, attracting over 8,000 professionals.
HAF enhances the prospects of the participating projects through close collaborations with international organisations such as iQIYI (Mainland China), Fox International Productions (Greater China), Cinemart (the Netherlands), Asian Project Market (South Korea), Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (Taiwan), MIA (Italy) and more. Cash and in-kind awards to the value of around US$250,000 are made with support from Create Hong Kong and Film Development Fund, among others.
About Hong Kong International Film Festival Industry Office (HKIFF Industry) To promote and support the film industry development more effectively, The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society restructured its industry services and set up Hong Kong International Film Festival Industry Office (HKIFF Industry) in 2021. From polishing up projects with a better appeal (HAF Film Lab) to getting them off the ground and finding post-production assistance (Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)), to exposing the projects in major international platforms (HAF Goes to Cannes), and on to planning the career of finished films (HKIFF Collection), HKIFF Industry offers independent filmmakers comprehensive services and windows to the world.
About The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS) The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organisation dedicated to discovering and promoting creativity in film’s art and culture. It organises the annual Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) and the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). Another highlight is the Cine Fan Summer International Film Festival (SummerIFF) held every August. In 2013, HKIFF introduced the repertory HKIFF Cine Fan Programme to enrich and deepen Hong Kong moviegoers’ experience through a monthly programme of contemporary, retrospective, and thematic showcases. In 2021, HKIFFS restructured its film industry services and set up HKIFF Industry to promote and support non-mainstream film industry development through co-production and festival strategies and overseas distribution (HKIFF Collection).
New York, New York – Newsfile Corp. – February 24, 2023 – WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Gaotu Techedu Inc. f/k/a GSX Techedu Inc. (NYSE: GOTU (NYSE: GSX) between March 5, 2021 and July 23, 2021, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important February 28, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Gaotu securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Gaotu class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=2595 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 28, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose, among other things, that: (1) China was barring tutoring for profit in core school subjects and the policy change would restrict foreign investment in a sector that had become essential to success in Chinese school exams; and (2) the impact such regulations would have on Gaotu’s operations and profitability and the value of Company securities. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm’s attorneys are ranked and recognized by numerous independent and respected sources. Rosen Law Firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for investors.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
New York, New York – Newsfile Corp. – February 24, 2023 – WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Enovix Corporation (NASDAQ: ENVX) between February 22, 2021 and January 3, 2023, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important March 7, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Enovix securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Enovix class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=10931 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 7, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants overstated Enovix’s ability to produce batteries at scale, touting the Company’s “meaningful progress” in scaling up its manufacturing facility, and its being positioned to deliver batteries ahead of competitions, despite its continued manufacturing issues.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
LONDON, UK – Media OutReach – 27 February 2023 – Plastic consumption is on track to nearly double in the G20 by 2050 unless the United Nations agrees on a sweeping set of new global policies, including worldwide bans on some single-use plastic products, extended producer responsibility schemes and taxes on virgin plastic production, according to a new report.
The report, Peak Plastics: Bending the consumption curve, is the first study to forensically model the potential impact of policies being considered by United Nations plastic treaty negotiators. Plastics consumption across G20 countries will hit 451 million tonnes each year by 2050, nearly twice the 2019 level of 261 million tonnes, in a business-as-usual scenario, the study found.
The research comes from Back to Blue, an initiative of Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, and was supported by prominent authorities on plastic production, consumption and pollution including OECD, the World Bank, SYSTEMIQ, CSIR, and WWF. It also reveals that on our current trajectory countries will not reach peak plastic consumption this century: the tipping point after which plastic consumption begins to decline.
In March last year, 175 nations agreed to develop a legally binding global instrument to end plastic pollution: the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution. This historic treaty is being negotiated through a series of meetings across the globe and is expected to be in place by the end of 2024. Only policies at the most ambitious end of those under consideration will have a meaningful impact on a soaring plastic waste crisis, the Back to Blue research found.
Researchers for the report explored three policy approaches that have reached the advanced stages of the UN treaty’s negotiations, deemed by experts as those with the greatest potential to bring about peak plastic consumption.
These policies, which cover the entire lifecycle of plastic, from production to disposal, are a ban on problematic single-use plastic products; “polluter pays” Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for full end-of-life costs; and a tax on virgin plastic production – all fail to prevent a relentless rise in plastic consumption.
Only a combination of these policies and bolder action, including possible restrictions on virgin plastic production, will bring about peak plastics and see consumption slow in the future. If the negotiators fail to agree on any policy interventions, the research projects that plastic consumption in the countries under study will nearly double by mid-century.
According to the report, a global ban on unnecessary single-use plastic (SUP) items is the most effective policy of those studied. However, even with a SUP ban in place, plastic consumption will still be 1.48 times higher in 2050 compared with the 2019 baseline.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes will have a minimal effect on the consumption of single-use plastic products but it is still a vital part of the solution. If EPR schemes become mandatory in the countries under focus, plastic consumption would be 1.66 times higher in 2050 compared with 2019. This is barely lower than the baseline of 1.73 times if no policies are implemented.
Modelling shows the impact of a tax on virgin plastic resin will be limited and will still see consumption rise by 1.57 times by 2050. Taxes must be aggressive to be impactful, according to the research. In the absence of a tangible impact on plastic consumption by increasing taxes, the research suggests that negotiators should consider capping plastic production.
A combination of all three scenarios still leaves plastic consumption rising albeit at a slightly slower pace – 1.25 times higher in 2050 compared with 2019. The findings highlight the ‘considerable’ possibility that the UN treaty will be too weak to bend the consumption curve downward.
To suppress plastic consumption at the scale needed, the report presents the need for measures and conditions so stringent that they are likely to encounter opposition from producers, retailers, industry bodies, consumer groups and other actors.
QUOTE 1: “Negotiators of the UN plastics treaty must maintain the highest levels of ambition possible when entering the next round of negotiations, and industry needs to play a constructive, not obstructive, role in reaching a deal.
So far, commitments by industry, retailers and brands to reduce plastic waste are short on detail and have failed to materialise. We have to slow the soaring production of single-use plastic. Only a bold suite of legally-binding policies will result in plastic consumption peaking by mid-century.” – Charles Goddard, editorial director, Economist Impact
QUOTE 2: “Back to Blue’s research is a timely call for urgent, ambitious solutions to the plastic crisis. Plastic pollution extends beyond all borders, impacting the health of the ocean and natural environment. It will take global co-ordination to address the scope and scale of this issue.” – Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation.
QUOTE 3: “The urgency to reach peak plastic waste—and also peak production of disposable plastics—is crucial for preserving our planet and safeguarding our well-being.” – Perinaz Bhada Tata, World Bank
QUOTE 4: “Proper plastic management is the biggest challenge facing us today. With mounting evidence that the world is generating more single-use plastics than ever before, the Back to Blue report plays a crucial role in identifying countries that are likely to become major sources of such waste. The report is also an essential guide to understand effective policy-making to address the plastics conundrum.” – Aafrin Kidwai, Solid Waste India
QUOTE 5: “This report confirms that an urgent, global effort is needed to stop the flood of plastic pollution at its source. The entire lifecycle of plastics, from feedstock extraction and production of plastic precursors to disposal, must be addressed by the future, legally binding UN treaty to end plastic pollution. The policy levers examined in this report will not be sufficient: bolder action is needed, including globally coordinated tax mechanisms coupled with ambitious caps on virgin plastic production.” David Azoulay, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
‘Peak plastics’ is the tipping point after which plastic consumption begins to decline. Back to Blue’s modelling uses a quantitative forecasting methodology to predict at what point each country will reach a peak in its consumption of plastic.
Back to Blue selected three real-world policy scenarios that are already being implemented at various degrees globally: a ban on single-use plastic (SUP) products; a mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for industrial consumers; and a producer tax on virgin resin. These three policies are cited in the advance documentation for negotiators related to the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution.
The seven categories of polymers used in the model account for 80% of all plastic production. The objective is to test if plastic consumption will reach a peak, assuming that consumers, producers and policy makers understand the true cost of producing and using plastic products. We are assuming that some products, not only single-use plastic products, shift towards using substitute materials.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Back to Blue
“ Back to Blue” is an initiative launched by Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation in 2021 to focus efforts on evidence-based approaches and solutions that tackle escalating ocean challenges, such as those posed by major threats such as climate change, pollution and habitat destruction.
While governments and policymakers have begun efforts towards restoring biodiversity and regenerating ocean health, there remains an ostensible knowledge gap on plastic and chemical pollution.
Recognising the need to stimulate fresh dialogue and solutions to pressing ocean issues, this multi-year initiative brings together both organisations’ unique capabilities in ocean research and programme-building to build a powerful platform which will accelerate momentum in improving ocean health. In 2021, the Plastic Management Index published under Back to Blue addressed the issue of marine plastic pollution. In 2022 the focus is on the less visible pollution from chemical contaminants that are damaging ocean life and ecosystems and in the long term, human health.”
About Economist Impact
Economist Impact combines the rigour of a think-tank with the creativity of a media brand to engage a globally influential audience. We believe that evidence-based insights can open debate, broaden perspectives and catalyse progress. The services offered by Economist Impact previously existed within The Economist Group as separate entities, including EIU Thought Leadership, EIU Public Policy, EIU Health Policy, Economist Events, EBrandConnect and SignalNoise.
We are building on a 75-year track record of analysis across 205 countries. Along with framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, we provide creative storytelling, events expertise, design-thinking solutions and market-leading media products, making Economist Impact uniquely positioned to deliver measurable outcomes to our clients.
About The Nippon Foundation
Established in 1962, The Nippon Foundation is Japan’s largest philanthropic foundation, providing support to public-service activities in a variety of fields across national borders. In ocean affairs, the Foundation aims to cultivate human resources who will chart a course for the ocean’s future and to pass on the ocean’s riches to future generations. Other primary areas of activity include support for children, persons with disabilities, disaster relief, and international cooperation, with the ultimate goal of achieving a society where all people support one another.
What could be better than a pot of bubbling broth, an assortment of fresh ingredients to toss into it, and a group of friends with whom to share it all?
Futurism and tradition, functionality and elegance, OPPO Find N2 Flip catwalk at Milan Fashion Week wearing the creativity and mastery of ACT N° 1
MILAN, ITALY – Media OutReach – 24February 2023 – OPPO, one of the world’s leading companies in the field of smart devices, is once again at the center of Milan Fashion Week 2023, one of the most awaited international events in the fashion scene, thanks to the new collaboration with ACT N°1, amongst the most reputable brands supported by the Maison Valentino. Under spotlight, the new OPPO Find N2 Flip symbolizes OPPO’s dedication to support young talents in the fashion industry, enhancing its flagship features, embellished by the exclusive ruffle bag created from the designer Luca Lin’s iconic tulle.
The collaboration was created with the aim of celebrating the perfect union between fashion and technology, attention to detail and product exclusivity. A value that unites the two protagonists of the fashion show and that can be enclosed in OPPO’s brand mission, “Inspiration Ahead”, the continuous effort to improve today’s reality that OPPO translates into innovation and beauty of its products, and ACT N°1 through the creation of inclusive models that are always inspired by art.
In this way, Milan Fashion Week becomes the perfect setting to demonstrate how technology is not only creativity, but also an increasingly fundamental part of the creative process. The essence of OPPO and ACT N°1 is tangible in each of their creations as they concretely translate their values and leave an indelible imprint linked to a strong connection with their own history and at the same time with an eye to the present but especially to the future.
“Fashion is about expressing a style. In our time, fashion needs to open up to different collaborations to create synergies and a storytelling. This collaboration is about the balance between innovation and elegance, free creativity and functionality, interiority and aesthetics, power and lightness.”,said Luca Lin, Cofounder of ACT N°1.
The combination of materials, colors, and design give shape to a unique and functional union: the smartphone’s lightweight but premium materials are intertwined with the transparency of handmade tulle, which, in addition of being the iconic and recurring material of the fashion brand, allows you to see the smartphone cover and its innovative vertical screen further embellishing the design. The OPPO Find N2 Flip’s sleek and elegant style, delicate camera design, and device body are just some of the features that are highlighted by ACT N°1’s craftsmanship. Just like the new OPPO Find N2 Flip, the ruffle bag aims to be practical and functional, without forgetting style and originality.
Technology and fashion evolve in step with the needs of consumers, changing shape and characteristics, researching, and developing a product that meets the real needs of the moment. Therefore, the perfect balance becomes a key element to achieve the best results in terms of quality and satisfaction. OPPO, by creating the Find N2 Flip, has developed the best technologies, creating a premium and high-performance foldable device, without sacrificing aesthetics, a common element with ACT N°1.
“The technological excellence achieved with the new Find N2 Flip consolidates an important growth path in the flagship category, allowing us to enter the flip market. As a result of our consolidation in co-branding partnerships, the collaboration with ACT N°1 is intended to be the first act of a show that allows us to continue to oversee and strengthen our positioning in the fashion world. Having the opportunity to support new generations of young talents enriches our history and broadens the search for new areas of expansion” said Billy Zhang, President of Overseas Sales and Services, OPPO.
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About OPPO
OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone – “Smiley Face” – in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.