Kickstart: A circular plastics education

Five universities have each received $500,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce to develop courses focused on plastics sustainability.

The Training for Improving Plastics Circularity grant program is designed to advance the development of coursework and hands-on training to promote a skilled workforce, our sister paper Sustainable Plastics writes.

The five universities — Arizona State University, Pittsburg State University, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, the University of Missouri at Kansas City and the University of Southern California — will offer modules in sustainable plastics.

At ASU, a yearlong course for both graduate and undergraduate students will cover supply chain management, integration of circular economic systems in bio-based materials, optimization of sustainable manufacturing processes and degradable plastics for packaging.

"Our goal is to train the next sustainability leaders in the workforce," said ASU chemical engineering professor Tim Long.

The Akron, Ohio, region has always been known as a hub for the plastics and rubber industry. Industry, education, local and state leaders are trying to make that a more official designation.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted met with officials in Akron on Aug. 8 to encourage them to compete for $125 million in state funding for new innovation hubs.

A proposal for a polymer hub based in Akron failed to make the cut in a federal funding effort in 2022 but did manage to foster regional collaboration for the effort, our sister paper Crain's Cleveland Business writes.

"We are very, very supportive of the polymer cluster activity," Laura Duda, Goodyear's senior vice president and chief communications officer, said. "It will, we believe, bring increased vitality and vibrancy to the region and the economic development activity will make it a better place for all of us. We're all in."

Little red wagons have changed. For starters, a collapsible fabric version or one made of plastic — first introduced in 1994 by wagon maker Radio Flyer — is far more likely to be sold than the steel versions that were considered the "classic red wagon."

Wagons, however, are just a part of Radio Flyer's sales. It makes items such as scooters, strollers, bounce houses and foam blocks for climbing. Now the Chicago-based company has announced plans for its first retail store, in suburban Schaumburg, Ill., to show off products that are bringing it new customers.

Radio Flyer e-bikes, first launched by the company in 2021, led the decision to open a retail spot, our sister publication Crain's Chicago Business writes.

Designed for adults, the e-bikes can also transport items such as kids and cargo. The e-bikes constitute less than 10 percent of Radio Flyer's business but prompted the company to open the retail site. (E-bikes are having a moment. Auto supplier Bosch says its e-bike parts business is worth $1 billion.)

"We feel like we have the breadth of product line to support it," said Robert Pasin, the grandson of company founder Antonio Pasin, who leads the company under the title chief wagon officer. "Our products are so physical people want to touch and feel them."