Kickstart: Plastics and the harsh spotlight of public policy

Between a push at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York this week to pursue stronger language regarding plastics and sustainability, and a new $85 million fund backed by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg seeking to halt expansions of plastics and petrochemical plants, it can be easy to feel like everyone is picking on the plastics industry.

But beyond all those headlines, there are a few signs that at least some government officials are willing to listen to concerns from the industry.

Let's start with the discussion on a plastics treaty on the sidelines of the U.N. meeting. While Espen Barth Eide, Norway's climate minister and co-chair of the 20-nation High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, says he would "like to stop [production] tomorrow," he also says that's simply not feasible.

As PN's Steve Toloken writes, Eide pointed out that some plastics companies are already working to address pollution issues. And Inger Andersen, executive director of the U.N. Environment Programme, says policy makers need to "invite [the industry] inside the tent" and consider issues related to trade and working with the public on recycling.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill on Sept. 19 that would have required recycled content in thermoformed packaging, saying the state should focus on implementing new regulations related to single-use plastics, recycling and extended producer responsibility.

That's not to say that the industry can — or should — ignore increased calls to improve its sustainability practices. But there are officials who recognize that plastics have value and don't want to lose that while also addressing pollution.

"Plastics is actually an extremely useful product, when it's used correctly, and terribly bad if you use it wrong," Norway's Eide said. "It's not about whether you're for or against; it's about using this genius thing, which is everlasting, for sort of long-lasting uses which are meaningful."

I'm barely touching the surface of all the discussions here. Click through to Steve's stories for more details and context.

Auto supplier Toyoda Gosei Ltd. is bringing lightweight plastics to another part of the auto industry: reusable totes.

The Kiyosu, Japan-based company said in a news release that it used cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as a reinforcement in polypropylene for containers used in one of its plants. The natural fiber is "one-fifth the weight and five times the strength of steel," Toyoda Gosei said. It uses recycled polypropylene from containers that were no longer in use.

The containers are 6 percent lighter and will reduce the containers' carbon footprint by 6 percent, the company said.

The totes also will help determine how to use CNF in future auto parts.

Manufacturing Day — an annual event for companies to show off their operations to students, teachers, parents, government leaders and neighbors — returns Oct. 7.

While most events were curtailed in 2020 and operated in a reduced capacity in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers from The Manufacturing Institute are encouraging companies to renew efforts in 2022.

"[Manufacturing Day] is manufacturing's biggest annual opportunity to inspire the next generation to start careers in modern manufacturing," the group notes on its website.

The Manufacturing Institute lists 240 participating companies on its website and is encouraging others to sign up.