Popular software engineer, entrepreneur, and YouTuber CodeMonkey Mike has done a bang-up job of researching and presenting the hot topic of plastic bag bans in an engaging Youtube video. Greeted with antipathy in some areas of the country, demanded by residents and politicians in others, while generating little more than a yawn elsewhere, plastic bag bans are put to the test by Mike. His charming and inquisitive delivery all but…
Like many of his peers in the plastics industry, Jamestown Plastics CEO Jay Baker has struggled to find skilled workers. The shortage is only going to worsen, he figured, as more manufacturing is reshored to the United States. The solution is obvious — nurture an interest in manufacturing among young people — but getting the local school district on board seemed insurmountable. Then he had an epiphany. What has been accomplished since…
Some plastics industry groups want the legislation to succeed, even if they don’t like all of it, because they see it as a better alternative than the referendum before voters in November.
Sinclair & Rush Inc. has grown in thermoforming by acquiring Indepak Inc. for an undisclosed price.
A fire broke out at a C&E Plastics Inc. plant in Georgetown, Pa., about 4:30 p.m. June 16 — an hour after the manufacturer of polypropylene tanks for the steel industry had closed.
Getty Images/Petmal You’ve probably all heard of the term “greenwashing.” It’s become quite fashionable of late, though Merriam-Webster.com says it dates back to the 1980s. Increasing demand for “environmental responsibility” from manufacturers, coupled with inadequately defined criteria, intensify the temptations to exaggerate claims of sustainability. So there’s a double warning in my headline: (1) Don’t risk your company’s reputation by succumbing to that temptation; and (2) don’t be fooled by…
Join us on July 19th at 2pm (edt) for the Polymer Points Livestream. Resin pricing has been unpredictable this year, with force majeure declarations, the Ukraine crisis and supply chain issues contributing to volatility even as suppliers have added to their margin. Senior Reporter Frank Esposito breaks down the latest pricing news and answers viewer questions live. Presented to Plastics News Subscribers only
Food packaging is optimized when it protects food and minimizes waste, which has traditionally been a role played by thin plastic films. However, those materials are difficult to recycle and may end up in the wrong place after use. VTT has developed a polymeric solution to address the problem: regenerated or recrystallized cellulose that can replace clear plastic films. “We can produce transparent and flexible cellulose film,” says Ali Harlin,…
With the goal of making recycling of lightweight, high-volume fiber and flake recyclate much more economical and, in some cases even possible, Coperion has developed a new version of its ZS-B side feeder. Using the ZS-B MEGAfeed, plastic recyclate with a bulk density under 200 kg/cu m³–long considered intake-limited and not worth recycling–can be reliably fed in large quantities into Coperion’s ZSK twin screw extruder and be concurrently recycled and…
Greenpeace has ended a high-profile lawsuit against Walmart over recyclability claims on its plastic packaging. But concerns over environmental marketing around plastics recycling continue.