Kickstart: May the Fourth be with you (a day early)

I, Erin Sloan, have (officially) become more powerful than you could possibly imagine, bringing again a yearly transmission of Star Wars news with a plastics twist.

Treaty negotiations among politicians and industry trade groups came to little consensus this round. What, do you think I'm talking about the global plastics treaty? I'm talking about the 25th anniversary of everyone's favorite treaty and trade embargo film, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

While the prequel film wasn't a fan favorite after its launch, a whole generation of Jedi have come to adore the film as it returns to theaters for annual unofficial Star Wars holiday, "May the Fourth."

Speaking of film, plastic packaging for old VHS tapes is catching collectors enough Imperial credits to satisfy even the shrewdest scoundrel, should they decide to sell. The first run of Star Wars VHS tapes are worth plenty as is, but one with the tape seal still in place jumped in price to $315,000 with one seller hoping to snatch $400,000 for a set of three.

One mention of plastics that didn't do the franchise any favors this past year came when the ceremonial dress worn by Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia at the conclusion of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was found after being "stuffed in a plastic bag" for more than 40 years.

The dress was found and restored but failed to fetch what the seller wanted at auction and remains up for private bids.

Another big milestone this year for plastics in Star Wars: 25 years ago, Lego took its first step into a larger world with its first franchised range of sets of Star Wars.

Lucasfilm was no stranger to toymaking at the time, but Lego was embarking on a mission that would broaden its customer base.

Today there are more than 11 different themes of sets, many native to Lego, and many more retired or dormant. Lucasfilm went on to renew its contract with Lego a few times, so the line will continue until 2032. Lego is releasing special sets and minifigures to celebrate its own anniversary and that of The Phantom Menace.

Until next year, I leave you with this: Let the Wookiee win.

And now a return to things that are not from so long ago or far away.

As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cracks down on China-made plastic syringes, New Jersey-based Becton, Dickinson & Co. (BD) is reiterating its commitment to increasing production of syringes in the U.S.

FDA has issued a series of warnings about the use of luer lock syringes made by Jiangsu Shenli Medical Production Co. Ltd. in U.S. health care operations, saying they do not meet device quality operations. On April 24, it specifically called out Cardinal Health, telling it to remove the products from circulation.

When BD released its quarterly fiscal report on May 2, it placed its expansion of production capacity in Connecticut and Nebraska for syringes at the top of its "recent business and corporate sustainability highlights."

"The medication delivery solutions business unit … is further increasing domestic production of syringes to support U.S. health care needs following the latest FDA safety communication regarding certain non-BD plastic syringes," it stated.