Kickstart: SPE wins a seat at the table for treaty talks

The Society of Plastics Engineers is joining the plastics treaty talks.

SPE announced July 9 that it's been accredited with the United Nations Environment Assembly, which allows it to participate in the treaty talks and other UNEA meetings alongside industry and environmental groups.

It's an unusual step for the technical and professional society that doesn't typically get directly involved in government work like the treaty.

SPE President Conor Carlin said it's taking a long-term view and wants SPE members to be part of formal meetings in coming years to implement the treaty. It hopes to contribute to discussions on polymer science, technologies and plastics education.

SPE joins more than 1,000 other industry and civil society groups with UNEA accreditation, including more traditional lobbying groups already in the treaty talks like the American Chemistry Council, the Plastics Industry Association and Plastics Europe.

SPE said it's one of 87 scientific and technical organizations globally with UNEA accreditation.

Thanks to Plastics News' Steve Toloken for writing this up.

The National Corvette Museum is marking the 10th anniversary of the day the Earth swallowed eight vintage cars.

A sinkhole opened beneath the museum in Bowling Green, Ky., overnight on Feb. 12, 2014, and eight cars fell about 30 feet. The composite-bodied cars included a 2009 ZR1 whose carbon-fiber trim was damaged, a 40th anniversary Ruby Red edition and a 1962 Corvette that was hit by a 5-ton slab of concrete after it fell.

In its Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined exhibit, open until Sept. 15, the museum recounts the work to recover both the museum and the cars from the sinkhole damage.

"[It] showcases a decade of grit and innovation, highlighting our epic recovery journey," the museum says on its website.

Coffee giant Starbucks has been working hard to find a good replacement for plastic straws for its cold drinks. Earlier this year, that included rolling out a new cold cup and lid combination that would eliminate the need for a straw.

But on July 10, it put a spotlight back on straws with a one-day-only giveaway of reusable polypropylene straws available with cold drinks sold at its U.S. and Canadian outlets. Fans could also get one by ordering from delivery services such as Uber Eats and GrubHub. Starbucks didn't reveal the free straw event until the day before it began.

The colorful straw was presented by the company as matching its summer drinks and food menu, although it obviously fits in with a broader sustainability focus adopted by the chain. In its news release introducing the straw, Starbucks noted that it fits its single-use cold cups as well as its reusable cups.