Kickstart: Don't rely on caterpillars to clean up your trash

A few years ago, a study came out of China on how insect larvae could eat expanded polystyrene, raising hopes about a solution to plastics trash. Then came a study that a certain kind of moth larvae could eat polyethylene.

But don't start celebrating just yet. Fraunhofer Institute in Darmstadt, Germany, has taken a closer look and is strongly urging caution.

"The results to date have been startling: According to the project team, the caterpillars eat holes in PE foil, taking in small amounts and losing considerable body mass in the process," writes Karen Laird, editor of our sister publication Sustainable Plastics. "However, having nibbled through the material, the larvae then stop eating."

Using high-resolution microscopes and computer software modeling, Fraunhofer researchers were unable to determine if the caterpillars even digest the PE. They may just be excreting it as tiny bits of microplastic.

For now, the institute is planning further studies, and encourging consumers to rely on standard recycling systems, rather than the insects in their gardens.

Last week, we mentioned that Toyota Motor Corp. won an award for its injection molded seat back. Now Sarah Kominek has the interesting background on what went into creating that part.

Toyota, it seems, was looking out for stressed parents with too many things on their plate — and in their hands.

The third-row seats were injection molded to make it easier to pull them up for use from their floor-level storage. Reducing the weight means it takes 19 pounds of force, rather than 53 pounds, to raise the seat.

"This will change the seating at Toyota for a while," said Todd Muck, senior principal engineer for body design at Toyota.

Check out Sarah's story and a video with Muck here.

Saying that 2020 has brought new challenges to company leaders is a whopper of an understatement. CEOs, presidents and other executives have had to contend with shutdowns, rising demand, social distancing, workforce shortages, layoffs, working from home and federal support programs — often all on the same day.

So for this year's CEO issue, we're asking you for some input about the ways you and your companies have responded to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the normal questions about your business and your leadership style.

Editor Don Loepp has more on this year's survey in his blog. Please help us out as we prepare our annual profiles of corporate leadership.