Perspectives
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While there are some legislative prognosticators who believe that the plastics industry should patiently wait out 2012 on the sideline due to next November’s presidential election, I respectfully disagree.
The Container Recycling Institute recently published “Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers.” At Nestlé Waters North America, we share CRI’s desire to capture more beverage containers, and to use recycling as a means of job creation. Where we respectfully part ways, however, is on the narrow focus of this report. Let’s think bigger.
Early in my career, a mentor offered me an excellent piece of advice. He told me that if I was to be successful in the plastics business, the character of my company would be critical. At least once a year I should ask myself two questions: 1. Am I proud of my company? 2. Do I trust my company to do the right thing?
The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program recently published its 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC). RoCs have historically classified substances as either “known” or “reasonably anticipated” human carcinogens. Yet, some of NTP’s recent classifications are based on incomplete and unbalanced scientific reviews, which have resulted in incorrect conclusions.
The blow molding market in North America has been affected, like all other sectors, by the U.S. economy and macro trends including globalization. All manufacturing sectors are coming off the Great Recession into a new season and a different economic cycle. The North American blow molding market will continue consolidating.
Much of the talk on our 24/7 news networks is regarding the lack of employment opportunities in America. But when connecting with companies that produce molds and dies, the opposite message rings clear: Help wanted.
While most of us who participate in the plastics industry would characterize our businesses as manufacturing, the fact is that polymer chemistry is at the heart of all we do.
An editorial in The Wall Street Journal on Aug. 8 described a recent EPA-funded study, replicated in several labs, that should allay the fears of parents and other consumers that exposure to small quantities of bisphenol A may cause adverse health impacts. It should also raise troubling questions about the Department of Health and Humans Services’ recent Report on Carcinogens (RoC), particularly the shaky science it used to classify styrene as “reasonably anticipated to be” a carcinogen.
As some plastics injection molders seek to wring every last dollar out of operations during these trying economic times, they may be overlooking a significant source of revenue that can help them hire more workers and expand operations: the research and development tax credit.
A paper I co-wrote with Dr. Morton Barlaz titled, “Is Biodegradability a Desirable Attribute for Discarded Solid Waste? Perspectives from a National Landfill Greenhouse Gas Inventory Model,” has made news recently.
The plastics recycling community is disappointed in the recent
Plastic News editorial [“As goes Coke ...,” April 25, Page 6], which links operational problems of one recycling entity to a supposed malaise for the entire plastics recycling industry. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The monthly report on the state of the labor market released June 3 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics was unsettling, enough to lead numerous domestic and international agencies to lower their forecasts for U.S. economic growth in 2011 and 2012. This setback generated a number of conflicting interpretations.
Beneath the eye-catching growth in China’s plastics machinery market, there are signs of big changes, with domestic-made equipment taking significant market share from imported machinery in what has become one of the world’s most vital markets.
During the recent global macroeconomic crisis, mold-shop owners looked at their industry’s economy, and voiced concern over the future of the mold-making business and the viability of their companies ahead. But now the macroeconomics are different, not only on Wall Street, but on Industrial Drive as well. Mold makers I talk to today are more likely to say they could use more guys in the shop or a project manager.
With the passage of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act in November 2010, it appears at first glance that the need for estate tax planning or business succession planning for many may be a thing of the past. There has never been a better time to reposition assets. Here are three ways of doing so, along with pros and cons of each.
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