Editor's letter November 2021

Maura O'Malley, IPM

As the climate crisis intensifies and dominates public discourse, this translates into changes in consumer behaviour. For instance, plant-based milks now feature regularly in coffee shops and supermarkets. Indeed, oat milk was the subject of a recent trademark battle in the UK between plant-based milk maker Oatly and Glebe Farm Foods over its milk PureOaty (Oatly v Glebe Farm Foods, see p25). On p17, we cover a report from the European Patent Office that focuses exclusively on plastic recycling and alternative plastics technology. As this issue went to press the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, was just beginning and dominating headlines.