myPlasticsindustry

My Knowledge 03-17-08

My Knowledge

Week in Review
PUBLISHED 03/17/2008

More Cancer Research Funding Is In The Bag

That ubiquitous pink ribbon that raises millions of dollars for breast cancer research is getting a new starring role. But this cameo's in the trash. In an unusual marketing campaign, Berry Plastics' flexible films division in Bloomington has developed a philanthropic brand called "I Commit" that is being launched nationally with a line of pink trash bags to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In doing so, parent firm Berry Plastics Corp. -- a $3.2 billion company based in Indiana with plants in Bloomington, Lakeville and Coon Rapids -- is joining the likes of General Mills (NYSE:GIS) , Re/Max Realty, Mars Inc. and other corporations that are using support for breast cancer research and other philanthropic causes as a sales tool. ...Star Tribune, 3.14.08
>> Read Full Text

Oil Prices Seep Over Economy: We Energies Asks To Boost Rates As Crude Touches $111

The price of crude oil surged to a trading record of $111 a barrel Thursday, continuing a run-up that has led to record gasoline prices and high home heating costs while sending expensive ripples through the economy. The latest example: We Energies (NYSE:WEC) of Milwaukee asked state regulators to approve an increase of $79 million in electricity rates. That would be an increase of $2.24 a month, or 2.6%, in the average residential consumer's bill. A key reason for the request is the record price of diesel fuel used by trains carrying coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin to the utility's coal-fired power plants. Some energy analysts expect the pain to continue. The federal Energy Information Administration said the price of a gallon of gasoline will hit $4 in some regions this year, and it projects the price of a barrel of oil will average $94 in 2008. ...The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3.14.08
>> Read Full Text

Bioplastics Debate Continues

Editor's note: Included in the special section on sustainable packaging in the February issue of Packaging World was a story titled Analyzing bioplastic packaging's future. We received the following comment shortly after the story's appearance. I just finished reading Sterling Anthony’s article on Bioplastics. While I agree that consumers and others are confused, I would like to correct a few errors and omissions. * “Only natural materials are biodegradable.” This is not correct. I call attention to BASF’s Ecoflex, which has a demonstrated track record of biodegradation under aerobic conditions found in a professionally managed composting facility. * Composting promotes biodegradation under aerobic conditions. While disintegration is an important component in ‘compostability,' it is not the only one. You can find all the requirements in ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868, which require specific levels of disintegration, biodegradation along with maximum metals and plant safety requirements. ...Packaging World, 3.10.08
>> Read Full Text

The Flap Over Plastic Shopping Bags

Everyday at the Norfolk entrance to the Downtown Tunnel, white plastic shopping bags blow between the wheels of fast-moving cars. Out in the western part of Hampton Roads, the lightweight bags routinely rest in the cotton fields. And somewhere out in the ocean floats a "Sargasso Sea" of plastic sacks, suggested Richard Wool, a University of Delaware professor of chemical engineering. Americans adore the plastic bag, and their landscape shows it. No one has exact figures, but many environmental groups refer to 380 billion plastic bags and wraps used every year in the United States. Many of those escape into streets, trees and waterways. Ultimately, most bags end up in landfills, where they stay for decades, if not centuries. It's debatable who's to blame for the proliferation. ...The Virginian-Pilot, 3.10.08
>> Read Full Text

Everything Old Is New Again: Glass Baby Bottles Make A Comeback Amid Concerns About Chemicals

Meg Robustelli had heard reports that a chemical in most plastic baby bottles could be dangerous, but she had not done anything about it. That's when her mother stepped in and bought her glass bottles. "She's an alarmist, but I'm grateful," said Robustelli, whose daughter, Mia, is 14 months old. "I switched because of all the concerns about the plastic." She made the change about six months ago, becoming one of a relatively small but growing number of parents turning to glass bottles amid concerns over a chemical used to make plastic bottles, bisphenol A. "I wish I was using glass from the beginning, so I could have avoided any exposure," said Robustelli, of Stamford, Conn. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a manmade chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, the material used to make most baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic food containers. Americans are widely exposed to BPA, but opinions on its safety are mixed. ...Associated Press Online, 3.13.08
>> Read Full Text