Kickstart: Nets and networking

Forget about golf. The next big networking sport may be pickleball.

The sport, which uses plastics for balls, paddles and other equipment, has been in growth mode recently, with participation up 223 percent during the past three years.

New players are showing up every day, including executives looking for a pastime that requires less time than a round of golf.

Pickleball courts are smaller and easier to maintain, and it's less expensive to get started, which means people lower on the career ladder can join in more easily. It's also a lot easier to travel to conferences with a pickleball paddle than golf clubs.

Pickleball also offers chances to connect with more people than spending hours with the same golf foursome, says the website worklife.com.

"Pickleball is like the anti-traditional networking event (think cocktails after work)," John Diloreto, a co-founder of Penguin AI who also hosts tournaments in Brooklyn, told worklife.com. "It allows people to build an authentic connection by sharing in a game together, instead of just asking questions about what each other do."

An evolving medical industry has patients able to do more of their care at home, rather than needing to be in a hospital room. That's meant new demands for makers of medical equipment.

Plastics News' Sarah Kominek notes a few interesting developments from the MD&M West trade show in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this month.

Materials supplier Covestro, for instance, rolled out its latest examples of wearable cardiac monitors that are more comfortable for users while still allowing doctors to track heart rhythms.

"You can have it applied when you're in the hospital, and then you can take it home with you," Emily Shaffer, health care market manager at Covestro, said. "This little sensor pod connects to your phone, and using AI, it can analyze if you're having any type of cardiac events and alert your doctor in almost real time."

Thermoplastic polyurethane film embedded with flexible electronics can go into shoes or sensors to detect oxygen levels.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin-based molder MGS Mfg. Group Inc. has developed its own proprietary auto injector to help pharmaceutical companies keep up with demand for self-injection of drugs such as those for diabetes or weight loss.

Annual financial reports let you know about a company's fiscal health. Performance reviews let you track your career. Manufacturing metrics provide a snapshot of machinery output and the wear and tear on equipment.

What are sustainability reports for? That's a question addressed by our sister publication Sustainable Plastics. There's not just one answer. In some regions, they're required by governments pushing for environmental improvements.

But most importantly, they provide insight for customers, suppliers, the public and corporate partners, says Emmanuel Duffaut, chief sustainability officer at packaging producer Retal.

"It's certainly clear that a comprehensive sustainability report is imperative for global businesses that work with other global businesses. We know that our key suppliers and partners value the clarity and transparency of the sustainability information we publish," he said