Plastics News - Packaging

Bans on polystyrene containers and single-use bags continue to spread

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:18:05 -0500

WASHINGTON (Feb. 22, 4:15 p.m. ET) -- Unless there is an unexpected reversal in a second vote, Dana Point, Calif., is set to become the 50th community in California to enact a ban on polystyrene takeout foodservice containers. The vote is the latest in a string of bans on PS containers and single-use plastic bags in California communities.

Firm brings patent suit against nine stretch film producers

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:09:16 -0500

MEMPHIS, TENN. (Feb. 22, 1:10 p.m. ET) -- A technology licensing firm has filed a lawsuit against nine plastic film producers -- including some of the industry’s biggest names -- claiming that they are violating a patent on stretch cling film.

Wisconsin Film and Bag expansion gets green light

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:39:35 -0500

SHAWANO, WIS. (Feb. 21, 11:30 a.m. ET) -- A planned expansion at Shawano-based Wisconsin Film and Bag has been given the green light after a building permit denial was overturned. As a result, the company will add five extrusion lines and 24-28 employees.

USDA warns French BPA ban may harm US food exports

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:25:14 -0500

WASHINGTON (Feb. 21, 11:30 a.m. ET) -- The proposed French ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging would jeopardize exports of food products to France, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mauser buying drum maker Varicon

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:25:21 -0500

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Feb. 17, 11:25 a.m. ET) -- Mauser AG continues to expand its North American industrial container base with the acquisition of Varicon LLC. Mauser plans to close Varicon’s operations in Greenville and Cleveland.

Natureworks and BioAmber form bioplastics joint venture

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:41:48 -0500

MINNETONKA, MINN. (Feb. 17, 10:40 a.m. ET) -- AmberWorks, a new joint venture between polylactic acid maker NatureWorks LLC and biochemicals company BioAmber Inc. is developing new compounds that will greatly expand the property range of bioplastics, a NatureWorks official said.

Indian plastics firms see growing opportunity in Africa

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:19:43 -0500

NEW DELHI (Feb. 17, 10:20 a.m. ET) -- As Africa’s plastics industry grows, Indian companies say they are picking up substantial business there, with exports rising for machinery firms, and India’s resin and processing companies making investments.

Three California lawsuits highlight bag ban struggle

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:10:11 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO (Feb. 16, 2 p.m. ET) -- The Save the Plastic Bag Coalition has its hands in several lawsuits fighting against bag bans in California. A suit against Santa Cruz County is wrapping up, a suit against San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority is in its midst and a suit against the City and County of San Francisco will be filed within the next 30 days.

Ikea picks plastics pallets

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:51:26 -0500

LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS (Feb. 16, 2 p.m. ET) -- Global household goods retailer Ikea is phasing out the use of wooden pallets in favor of plastic alternatives.

United Arab Emirates mandates oxo-bio additives

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:50:41 -0500

ABU DHABI (Feb. 16, 2 p.m. ET) -- The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) has said that all suppliers and manufacturers of bags to the country will need to be using oxo-biodegradable additives starting next year.

Perpetual Recycling hires PET veteran Cavin

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:08:13 -0500

RICHMOND, IND. (Feb. 16, 9 a.m. ET) -- Perpetual Recycling Solutions has hired veteran PET recycling buyer Phil Cavin as senior director of purchasing for the $30 million plant in Richmond that the company is opening in December.

Global expansion under way at medical packaging thermoformer Prent

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:37:48 -0500

ANAHEIM, CALIF. (Feb. 15, 2:35 p.m. ET) -- Medical packaging thermoformer Prent Corp. is building on its strategy of supplying customers globally, with expansions under way in Costa Rica, Malaysia and Denmark. All that growth is on top of a 50,000 square foot expansion at its headquarters plant in Janesville, Wis., last year.

Polyplex reports lower PET film prices

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:07:11 -0500

BANGKOK (Feb 15, 2:05 p.m. ET) -- Polyplex (Thailand) Pubic Co Ltd said its net profit for the third quarter ended Dec. 31, fell 82 percent year-on-year to Baht260.64 million (US$8.44 million) as PET prices came under pressure from new supplies.

Despite complaints from recyclers, Washington bag ban fails

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:24:27 -0500

OLYMPIA, WASH. (Feb. 14, 11:20 p.m. ET) -- For the second straight year, a legislative initiative to ban plastic bags in the state of Washington has died in committee. But a new report issued Feb. 14 by the Environment Washington Research and Policy Center charges that industry claims about the recyclability of plastic bags don't mesh with its study, which found that less than 5 percent of the plastic bags used annually in the U.S. are recycled.

Ohio packaging firm Rohrer buys Hogue Printing

info@plasticsnews.com (Plastics News) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:00:48 -0500

WADSWORTH, OHIO (Feb. 14, 4 p.m. ET) -- Packaging firm Rohrer Corp. is off to a roaring start in 2012, making two acquisitions in the first two months of the year. The latest addition for Wadsworth, Ohio-based Rohrer is Hogue Printing Solutions, a commercial and package printing specialist based in Mesa, Ariz.