Kickstart: Watch what you say in your Bubl

COVID-19 has led to some unexpected changes for businesses, both bad and good. The bad news is only now starting to trickle down in the form of permanent factory and business closures and consolidations.

But on the positive side, some firms have been able to pivot by embracing a role in the need for personal protective equipment, packaging and home improvement trends.

Consider this story, originally from our sister paper Sustainable Plastics. Denroy Plastics Ltd., an injection molder in Bangor, Northern Ireland, normally serving aerospace and automotive, has added new presses from Engel as it moved into large-scale production of face shields.

And Denroy launched a new business line, Denpro, to make medical products including Bubl, a thermoplastic elastomer clear face mask with replaceable polypropylene filters.

The Bubl's clear material is key for people who rely on reading lips to communicate. Even people who don't have hearing problems know that being able to see a person's face makes it easier to understand not just the words being said, but the expression behind those words.

About five months have passed since Plastics News (and the rest of our Crain Communications Inc. siblings) essentially moved to working from home offices. If your offices are similar to ours and you don't need to be physically present, you're probably still working at home, too.

But how long will that last?

Quite a bit longer, if Ford Motor Co. is any example. CEO Jim Hackett said during an event launching the Bronco SUV that he expects office workers for the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker to continue working at home until some time in 2021.

"Bill [Ford] and I feel the company's running really well right now the way we're all working it," said Hackett, who is set to retire Oct. 1. "So we don't want to prematurely get back."

That's similar to tech giant Google, which said it will allow employees to work from home until July 2021.

Usually when we mention the nonprofit group Surfrider Foundation in Plastics News, it's because the organization is making a statement related to single-use plastics.

Not this time.

Instead, Surfrider is partnering with Igloo Coolers in promoting a small, reusable plastic cooler, with proceeds going to support Surfrider's work on ocean plastics and coastal cleanups.

"We are inspired by Surfrider's powerful activism and honored to play a part in their efforts through this collaboration," Igloo Chief Marketing Officer Brian Garofalow said.

The Surfrider Foundation x Igloo Playmate Elite features Surfrider's Oceans of America flag design.

The partnership doesn't mean Surfrider is about to let plastics off the hook. CEO Chad Nelson noted that foam is a frequent item found washed up on beaches. But a reusable cooler such as the ones made by Igloo are part of a sustainable lifestyle.

"On your next beach day, pack your new Surfrider Playmate cooler with a sustainable lunch and reusable drink containers knowing you're doing a good thing for the planet (and your appetite)," Igloo writes on its website. "And don't forget to leave the beach better than you found it by cleaning up your trash and whatever you find when you pack up."