Talk Trash initiative promotes eco-conscious cannabis packaging at MJBizCon event
Every trash, recycling, and compost receptacle at the B2B cannabis event will feature information on AE Global’s Talk Trash and the program’s global impact
The cannabis industry is expanding due to newly legalized markets and the DEA's pivotal cannabis rescheduling announcement. AE Global (AEG) is championing eco-conscious packaging solutions through initiatives like Talk Trash, which addresses the global plastic crisis at the ground level. In a new initiative, AEG will manage all trash at this year's MJBizCon, a B2B cannabis industry event held December 3-6, 2024, in Las Vegas, and share how they "turn trash into treasure" through the company's recycling programs.
Empowering the industry to take actionable steps toward sustainable packaging
This partnership with MJBizCon underscores the event's commitment to sustainability for itself and the cannabis industry. "Environmental responsibility is important for everyone, but in an industry focused on plants, it is a fundamental business strategy. We are excited to partner with AE Global and the Talk Trash initiative to introduce an engaging way to enhance sustainability at MJBizCon. By integrating eco-friendly practices into our event, we aim to empower the industry to take actionable steps in reducing plastic waste and protecting our planet," said Emilie Lewis, senior vice president of marketing, audience, and content strategy at MJBiz.
Every trash, recycling, and compost receptacle at MJBizCon 2024 will feature information on Talk Trash and the program's global impact. About 80 percent of the oceans' plastic contamination originates on land. AE Global's Talk Trash captures this ocean-bound plastic before it ends up in the water, transforming it into pellet form to be reintroduced to the supply chain where viable.
AEG has launched a full-scale plastic sorting facility in the Dominican Republic and, along with its brand partners, has funded impactful ocean-bound plastic collection efforts in Goa, India. Talk Trash is actively looking for additional brand partners to help expand its reach. As of September 30th, 2024, Talk Trash has already removed 326,792 pounds of ocean-bound plastic from the environment, equivalent to over seven million 16-ounce water bottles.
Engaging cannabis industry professionals
By activating this sustainability campaign at the trash receptacles throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center during MJBizCon, Talk Trash aims to engage cannabis industry professionals when and where waste is top of mind. The goal is to capture their attention and initiate conversations about how their packaging solutions can be more sustainable, without sacrificing quality or increasing costs.
"Through the funding of waste collection with the Talk Trash program, we are focused on making a difference in the communities we support in real time," says Mike Forenza, CEO of AE Global. "Although there are countless ways for brands to make sustainable decisions in the future, we are most interested in the short term impacts of waste management infrastructure. Our brand partners have appreciated the tangible difference that resonates with their eco-conscious consumers."
The Talk Trash initiative is rapidly gaining momentum, says AE Global, and early brand partners include Coast Cannabis Co., INSA, and City Trees among others.
