title: Reducing single use packaging and moving up the waste hierarchy

authors: Diprose, Gradon

abstract: Interest in circular economy practices is increasing. A key material that connects the circular economy and wider environmental concerns is plastic waste, which poses environmental, climate, and human health risks. Single-use plastic packaging is particularly problematic because it forms the largest share of the global plastics market, has a short life cycle, and has channelled investment towards the bottom of the waste hierarchy. Given single-use plastic packaging is embedded in global trade, transitioning away from use requires much more than ‘behaviour change’ from individual producers and consumers. In this article we use social practice theory to show how social change is occurring with regard to single-use plastics. We draw on two food retail case studies of (primarily) business-to-consumer packaging from Aotearoa New Zealand. We show how transitioning away from single-use plastic food packaging requires (1) understanding the function and meaning of packaging materials, and (2) coordinating other materials, skills and meanings to re-craft and substitute the functions that single-use packaging performs across businesses, supply chains and consumers. Our analysis illustrates the significant collaboration and emerging networks needed for change, and signals how investment towards the top of the waste hierarchy in reuse could contribute to a more circular economy.

text: Reducing single use packaging and moving up the waste hierarchy Interest in circular economy practices is increasing. A key material that connects the circular economy and wider environmental concerns is plastic waste, which poses environmental, climate, and human health risks. Single-use plastic packaging is particularly problematic because it forms the largest share of the global plastics market, has a short life cycle, and has channelled investment towards the bottom of the waste hierarchy. Given single-use plastic packaging is embedded in global trade, transitioning away from use requires much more than ‘behaviour change’ from individual producers and consumers. In this article we use social practice theory to show how social change is occurring with regard to single-use plastics. We draw on two food retail case studies of (primarily) business-to-consumer packaging from Aotearoa New Zealand. We show how transitioning away from single-use plastic food packaging requires (1) understanding the function and meaning of packaging materials, and (2) coordinating other materials, skills and meanings to re-craft and substitute the functions that single-use packaging performs across businesses, supply chains and consumers. Our analysis illustrates the significant collaboration and emerging networks needed for change, and signals how investment towards the top of the waste hierarchy in reuse could contribute to a more circular economy.

year: 2022-12-16

title: Multi-label classification using boolean matrix decomposition

authors: Wicker, Jörg

subjects: Machine learning

abstract: This paper introduces a new multi-label classifier based on Boolean matrix decomposition. Boolean matrix decomposition is used to extract, from the full label matrix, latent labels representing useful Boolean combinations of the original labels. Base level models predict latent labels, which are subsequently transformed into the actual labels by Boolean matrix multiplication with the second matrix from the decomposition. The new method is tested on six publicly available datasets with varying numbers of labels. The experimental evaluation shows that the new method works particularly well on datasets with a large number of labels and strong dependencies among them.

text: Multi-label classification using boolean matrix decomposition This paper introduces a new multi-label classifier based on Boolean matrix decomposition. Boolean matrix decomposition is used to extract, from the full label matrix, latent labels representing useful Boolean combinations of the original labels. Base level models predict latent labels, which are subsequently transformed into the actual labels by Boolean matrix multiplication with the second matrix from the decomposition. The new method is tested on six publicly available datasets with varying numbers of labels. The experimental evaluation shows that the new method works particularly well on datasets with a large number of labels and strong dependencies among them.

year: 2012

title: Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Report on the thirteenth session (12-23 May 2014)

authors: Toki, Valmaine

abstract: The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decisions:
Draft decision I
International expert group meeting on the theme “Dialogue on an optional protocol to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”
Draft decision II 
Venue and dates of the fourteenth session of the Permanent Forum 
Draft decision III
Report of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on its thirteenth session and provisional agenda for its fourteenth session 
Draft decision IV
Change of name of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 
Draft decision V
Additional one-day meeting

text: Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Report on the thirteenth session (12-23 May 2014) The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decisions:
Draft decision I
International expert group meeting on the theme “Dialogue on an optional protocol to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”
Draft decision II 
Venue and dates of the fourteenth session of the Permanent Forum 
Draft decision III
Report of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on its thirteenth session and provisional agenda for its fourteenth session 
Draft decision IV
Change of name of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 
Draft decision V
Additional one-day meeting

year: 2014