Kickstart: Vaccines and plastics

While it's still early in the process, the news this week about advances toward a COVID-19 vaccine has been a ray of light. Now let's shine some of that light onto a role plastics may play in bringing forward a vaccine for wide use.

Our sister paper Urethanes Technology International originally had this story on the German company Mecotec that has introduced a mobile shipping container that can maintain the extreme cold temperatures that will be needed once a vaccine is ready to be distributed, to keep it safe during travel and storage. The container relies on polyurethane insulation to ensure a temperature of -80°C.

Another medical contribution is coming from employees of Trelleborg AB's sealing business in Rochdale, United Kingdom, who are taking part in a trial program for a rapid COVID-19 saliva test.

Medical testing company Medusa 19 tested 67 Trelleborg volunteers and successfully spotted two positive tests later confirmed by other tests.

There's a lot of forecasting happening in Washington these days. Some of it involves plastics.

Steve Toloken has two items from lobbyists about what to expect from a Joe Biden agenda.

On the environmental side, there is some agreement that there will be more of an emphasis on recycling, specifics beyond that are harder to see. Joshua Baca, who heads up the plastics group within the American Chemistry Council, said he believes there is some common ground between legislators and business. And environmental groups including Beyond Plastics hope to see a new emphasis on chemical plants.

Meanwhile, the ACC and the National Association of Manufacturers are taking a closer look on what may happen with tariffs and regulations in the future.

This doesn't have anything to do with plastics specifically, just a tip to watch out for the latest marketing buzzword.

Humaning.

Mondelēz International, the company that makes Oreos and other snacks, rolled out the phrase this week as part of a plan to, apparently, focus on the humans that buy its crackers and cookies.

"Humaning is a unique, consumer-centric approach to marketing that creates real, human connections with purpose, moving Mondelēz International beyond cautious, data-driven tactics, and uncovering what unites us all," the snack marketer announced in a statement, as our sister paper Ad Age wrote. "We are no longer marketing to consumers, but creating connections with humans." (Before you ask, the company italicized "with.")

So the next time you're asked to "think outside the box," maybe you can just shout out your preference for humaning and impress the bosses.