Steve Toloken

Assistant Managing Editor

[email protected]

(313) 204-6273

Toloken has been an Assistant Managing Editor for Plastics News since 2019. From 2014-2019 he was News Editor/International. He has hosted and produced the Plastics News Radio podcasts, and since late 2016, has handled coverage of politics and policy from a home office near Washington, D.C. From 2008 to 2014, he was a staff reporter for PN in Guangzhou, China, covering the industry throughout Asia. In 2006-07, he lived in Hong Kong and contributed on a freelance basis. From 1997 to 2006, he served as PN's Washington reporter. He is a journalism graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Before joining Plastics News, he worked at the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., and as a freelance journalist for the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Ill.

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Recent Stories
Senators consider federal spending on global ocean plastics fight
Pew report pushes limiting plastics growth to cut ocean pollution

A new report from Pew Charitable Trusts, with endorsements from big consumer product makers, sees limiting growth of virgin plastics in packaging as a way to fight ocean pollution.
Sea-Lect sees apprenticeships as key to growth, but not without challenges

Small injection molder and mold maker Sea-Lect Plastics sees apprentices addressing some long-term training needs. But it's also found challenges.
Big retailers commit $15M to ‘reinvent' plastic bags

CVS, Target, Walmart and other retailers launched a three-year, $15 million effort to "reinvent" plastic bags, trying to find what they say are more sustainable alternatives.
Virginia enacts first COVID-19 workplace rules as calls grow for national standards

Virginia enacted the first COVID-19 workplace safety regulations in the U.S. July 15, as some call for Washington to include similar plans in the next round of coronavirus legislation being debated in Congress.
CVI sees apprenticeships as tool for competitiveness

It's not by design, but the workforce of Canon Virginia Inc.'s apprenticeship program at its mold making unit skews a little older than most.
US moves to limit derelict fishing gear as source of ocean plastic

The U.S. government July 16 said it joined a global project to contain abandoned fishing equipment, which some say is a significant source of larger sized pieces of plastic in the ocean. The State Department said it signed on to the Global Ghost Gear Initiative.
Groups target takeout orders to reduce plastic waste

Environmental groups are asking Uber and other food delivery services to require customers to "opt in" for single-use plastic utensils and paper napkins.
Plastics firms get at least $1.6B in COVID-19 PPP loans

More than 6,000 plastics firms received loans totaling at least $1.6 billion under the federal Paycheck Protection Program, according to an analysis.
New group eyes increase in PP packaging recycling with $35M in funding
Congressional Democrats target plastics emissions, health impacts

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives raised concerns about health issues linked to resin production and microplastics in the food chain at a hearing July 7. Industry supporters pointed to the role plastics firms have played in fighting COVID-19.
Plastimagen postponed until January 2021

The coronavirus is forcing the postponement of the Mexican plastics show Plastimagen from November 2020 to January 2021.
As markets suffer, states look at mandating recycled content
Dow leaves Plastics Industry Association

Dow Inc. has left the Plastics Industry Association. The company did not say why it left, but the decision comes after some large consumer product companies ended their membership in the association, with some citing policy differences.
After suspending bag bans when COVID hit, some communities are bringing them back

A few places in the U.S. are bringing back bag bans that were suspended when the coronavirus first spread widely back in March. California is bringing its plastic bag law back into force, and Vermont has decided to move ahead with its version.