My Knowledge

Published August 25, 2008

Business

Free Grocery Bags Targeted For Extinction In California

The plastic grocery bag is fighting for its crinkly life. From the city of San Francisco to Los Angeles County, more than a dozen local governments around the state have proposed or passed plastic-bag restrictions, ranging from recycling mandates to outright bans. Now, a proposal in the Legislature would put a 25-cent fee on all disposable bags -- paper or plastic -- given out at drug and grocery store check stands starting Jan. 1, 2010. It has won key support from the grocery and retail industries and faces its next legislative step today. ...The Sacramento Bee, 8.25.08
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Northwest Region’s Colleges Getting Greener; Movement Brings A Variety Of Benefits

A garden that lives on rainwater. A no-till wheat field on campus. Campaigns against plastic bottles and paper cups. From cafeterias to research labs, the region's colleges are making environmental practices and programs a growing priority in every corner of campus life. It's not the first flush of green at the schools, some of which have been involved in researching alternative energy (OOTC:AEGC) for decades. But in many ways, this school year will be the greenest ever, whether it's as a focus of new programs and initiatives, the design of new buildings or a push to reduce waste in cafeterias. “It is growing as a research area," said Howard Grimes, vice president for research and dean of the graduate school at Washington State University. "It is driven by the society we live in." ...The Spokesman-Review, 8.24.08
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University Of Washington Shows Compostable Containers, Utensils Can Work

When the University of Washington switched to compostable spoons, they went soft as soon as they touched a bowl of hot soup. Eighteen months later, the spoons stand on their own. Through trial and error, the UW has found that containers and utensils made of paper, corn, sugar cane and reed work just as well as plastic for the 28,000 meals served each day around campus. Spending on disposable ware is down 9 percent, and the university has saved more money by sending food scraps and compostable trash to a private composting facility instead of a landfill. Although the UW made the change voluntarily, all businesses that serve food in Seattle will be required to eventually stop using plastic and foam containers. Under a city law passed last month, food-service businesses must stop using foam containers Jan. 1. In July 2010, businesses must convert to recyclable or compostable containers and utensils. ...The Seattle Times, 8.21.08
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Plastics Industry Veteran Al Damico Is New SPI Executive Vice President

The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) has appointed Al Damico as executive vice president. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in the business management and marketing of plastics manufacturing operations, Damico assumes the number two position at the trade association as of September 8, 2008. Damico will oversee the work of SPI staff and leadership in managing SPI's three councils formed last year to meet the specialized needs of the industry sectors represented by its membership: equipment manufacturers, material suppliers and processors. Damico will also oversee management of SPI's four regional offices and membership activities.Damico comes to SPI from Daikin America, where he increased sales revenue and market share by implementing a new market strategy focusing on key accounts. ...SPI, 8.21.08
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New Technology

Conagra Adds Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic To Frozen Meal Trays

ConAgra Foods announced that it is the first company in North America to incorporate post-consumer recycled plastic in its frozen meal trays, which will divert approximately 8 million pounds of plastic from landfills to the recycling stream annually. ConAgra Foods has begun to use between 30 to 40% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic in nearly all of its frozen meal trays for Healthy Choice, Banquet, Kid Cuisine, and Marie Callender's products. Most frozen meals trays used by other companies are made of crystallized PET plastic, a material that uses only newly produced plastics and that requires more energy and resources to produce. ConAgra Foods is the only company in North America using PCR plastic in frozen meal trays. ...Packaging World, 8.19.08
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Whitepapers

Hybrid Hydraulics For The Plastics Industry

By Todd Simmon, All World Machinery Supply
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Integrating RFID With Plastic Products And Packaging

By Randy Stigall, UPM Raflatac
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