My Knowledge

Published August 4, 2008

New Technology Pavilion at NPE2009 to spotlight exhibiting companies' latest and most innovative advances...Companies that have already contracted for standard exhibit space in NPE2009 are invited to make an additional investment in a New Technology Pavilion kiosk that will showcase developments that are new at the show and constitute real advances over existing technologies. Get more information here.

Business


myPlasticsindustry.comBottled Water In Demand Despite Economy, Critics

Some businesses continue to expand even in times of economic turmoil, said Kathy Deck, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. “In fact, often in an economic downturn, it is a chance for companies that are well-capitalized to sweep in and get some good deals,” she said. The water-bottling industry is still young after a decade of rapid growth, according to the International Bottled Water Association, a trade organization based in Virginia. There are about 300 water-bottling companies in the United States and there is lots of room for consolidation, said association spokesman Tom Lauria. Private equity firms are buying into water companies as good investments, he said. ...Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 7.27.08
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myPlasticsindustry.comTint Not Squint -- Film On Home Windows Will Cut Sun Glare

Applying tinted film to glass is pretty common in the automobile industry, but many homeowners are tinting the windows in their homes. The goals are the same, says Rod Williams, owner of Best Tinting in Albuquerque. "They want to cut down on glare, heat and ultraviolet rays that fade upholstery, carpet and curtains." And by cutting the solar heat -- in some cases up to 80 percent, depending on the film -- a home's summer cooling bill, as well as the home's carbon footprint, can be significantly reduced, Williams says. ...Albuquerque Journal, 7.26.08
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myPlasticsindustry.comDisposable Grocery Bags May Carry A Fee In Portland

The next thing you might hear at the cash register is: "Paper or plastic? That'll be extra." On the heels of San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles, Portland may impose a fee on grocery bags by next year to reduce waste and encourage people to shop with reusable sacks. "It's a simple behavioral change that we have to ingrain in ourselves," said City Commissioner Sam Adams. ...The Oregonian, 7.25.08
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A new educational program, "The Business of Plastics," will be offered at NPE2009 next June in Chicago. The program will address marketing, human capital management and other strategic business topics.

General News


myPlasticsindustry.comAlbany Official Wants Ordinance To Remove Plastic Bags At Grocery Stores

If an Albany alderman gets his way, you might never hear the phrase "Paper or plastic?" again. Common Council member Glen Casey is proposing an ordinance to ban plastic bags from being used in stores in the city. Stores would pay a $100 fine the first time they hand shoppers a plastic bag, $700 for the second violation and $1,000 for the third within a year. Reducing oil consumption, decreasing litter and saving space in the landfill are the reasons Casey cites for his proposal. ...Times Union, 7.31.08
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The first International Plastics Design Competition will provide an opportunity for designers and manufacturers of components and finished products to display their innovations at NPE2009.

Whitepapers


myPlasticsindustry.comPHA Natural Plastics: A Revolutionary Technology

By Daniel J. Gilliland, Metabolix Inc.
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myPlasticsindustry.comInnovation – New Applications Growth in the Plastics Industry Through Emerging Nanotechnologies

By Sharell Mikesell, Center for Multifunctional Polymer Nanomaterials & Devices
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SPI and the Plastics News Global Group have joined forces to co-sponsor "Sustain '08: Plastics Business Summit", a sustainability conference for 'C-level' executives this November in Chicago.