Kickstart: Expect big changes in the supply chain from Amcor's Berry acquisition

My first response to the news that Amcor plc is buying Berry Global Group Inc. — probably just like most people following the industry — was "wow."

The second thought was a question that's going to be hard to answer: What does this mean for the supply chain?

The combined Amcor and Berry will have annual sales of $24 billion. Amcor is the largest blow molder in North America. Berry is the biggest injection molder in the region in addition to being a significant blow molder. They both also have extensive operations in thermoforming, while Amcor is a global leader in flexible packaging. (Berry recently spun off the bulk of its film operations into a new joint venture company, Magnera.)

The amount of resin purchasing power of that combined company is hard to picture. The companies' potential need for recycled content — driven by requirements from governments and their own customers — likewise would make them an even bigger player in the sale of post-consumer plastics. Machinery, auxiliary equipment, and operating software and control sales would outpace those of any competitors.

If the bigger Amcor wanted to invest in vertical integration to supply its own needs, then it would already have a very large in-house customer.

It's too early to know exactly what the new company will look like, but it definitely has the potential to really shake up packaging and the wider plastics industry.

Polyolefins supplier Braskem and the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles are building up their STEM education efforts at schools in the Philadelphia area.

Braskem has partnered with the Eagles since 2018 to support science, technology, engineering and math programs, an outreach program that worked with 15,000 students so far.

During the 2024-25 school year, the new Tackling STEM program will be able to reach up to 10,000 kids in just one year. The project also partners with the Science of Sport, a nonprofit group that teaches STEM concepts through sports.

Middle school students at 20 schools will be able to participate in virtual or in-person training programs.

"By empowering kids with the tools they need to expand their ambitions for learning, we are inspiring a love for STEM and creating a brighter future for our next generation of leaders," Mark Nikolich, CEO of Braskem America, said in a news release.

When Edmonton, Alberta, began its ban on single-use plastic bags and expanded polystyrene containers in July 2023, it said businesses that failed to comply would be fined.

But more than 500 days in, the city hasn't issued a single ticket.

The website Edmonton City News notes that Edmonton has issued 55 warning letters, but no fines yet. Some of that comes down to residents and businesses generally following guidelines for plastics reduction. CBC News reported earlier this year that Edmonton officials said 76 percent of businesses were in compliance by the end of 2023 with another 23 percent in the process of reaching the required goals.