Kickstart: Never mind the bear market, let's talk gorillas and luggage

So March 11, the New York Stock Exchange officially welcomed a bear to the trading floor.

Here at Plastics News as a momentary break, we'd like to remind you of a gorilla instead.

Samsonite International SA, the global luggage company, is marking its 110th anniversary this year with the launch of "Our Responsible Journey," marking its sustainability strategy.

As a part of that strategy, the company — which has its own in-house injection molding — says it will increase its use of sustainable materials, develop innovations that will provide durable products and end-of-life plans for those products and use 100 percent renewable energy as it works to become carbon neutral by 2025.

The company already uses post-industrial recycled polypropylene and post-consumer recycled PET.

And while Samsonite marks its birthday, this is also a big anniversary year for an advertising icon that is now part of the Samsonite brand. It was 50 years ago that American Tourister unveiled its "Gorilla Commercial" to promote its hard-sided luggage. And yes, American Tourister was a Samsonite competitor in 1970 (they were joined via an acquisition in 1993), but you have to admit when you think about luggage, you probably still imagine that ad.

Or maybe, before we get to the hectic news that will likely rule the bulk of your day, let's give a virtual ovation to the marketing person who convinced Pizza Hut and Ikea to join up on making a full-size replica of the pizza saver, that little three-legged plastic item that keeps your delivery pizza from being smashed by the box.

Yes, Ikea is now offering a pizza table you can buy and assemble at home (the flat pack table comes in a pizza box, of course) that is just big enough to hold a pizza from Pizza Hut (topped with Ikea's Swedish meatballs).

No details on what the table is made of.

The project was developed by ad agency Ogilvy.

Unfortunately, it's only available in Hong Kong and only for a limited time.

OK. Time to get to the nitty-gritty with links to the stories with information you may need to find out what's facing your business for at least the next few days.

• The Center for Automotive Research expects that shortages in the global automotive supply chain are about to really hit the industry. While some companies had a backlog of parts to hold them over a few weeks, new shutdowns worldwide are now being felt.

• The link above will also take you to infomation about Molding 2020 being postponed until October.

• And Sarah Kominek also brings information of Berry Global Group increasing production for its medical products.

• Bill Bregar has information on a German machinery maker KMD that is prioritizing delivery of its equipment used to make face masks to major medical customers.

• And via sister publication Urethanes Technology International, Simon Robinson writes about urethane machinery companies in the heart of Italy's virus hotspot that have managed to keep up production even as the country closes down most travel.