Steve Toloken

Assistant Managing Editor

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.

See All Staff Page

Recent Stories

Material Insights: Paris treaty talks conclude; what's next?

This round of the United Nation's global plastics treaty negotiations concluded with plans to create a draft of the treaty but questions and hurdles remain.

Treaty talks end with plans for a draft agreement, but hurdles remain

Countries wrapped up the second round of global plastics treaty negotiations on June 2 agreeing to prepare a detailed draft of the treaty for the next negotiating round, with observers saying they saw signs of significant progress as well as major obstacles.

Debate exposes divisions in plastics treaty talks

Representatives from Saudi Arabia and Russia put more emphasis on the benefits of plastics while countries in the "High Ambition Coalition" called to reduce plastics production and phase out problematic materials.

Plastics additives one focus in Paris treaty talks

Health concerns around additives in plastics are taking an elevated role at the plastics treaty talks.

Treaty talks stumble on debate over resin production cap

Negotiations for a plastics treaty got off to a rocky start in Paris, with some sources suggesting that disputes over potential caps on resin production were a significant reason.

Plastics treaty talks bring industry leaders to Paris

As the second round of the global plastics treaty kicks off in Paris, plastics industry groups and companies step up their presence with about 60 delegates from different companies and trade associations, roughly double the first round of talks in Uruguay in November.

States, EPA want tougher green marketing guides for plastics

The Federal Trade Commission is hearing calls from some state governments and the EPA to limit the chasing arrows on plastic resin ID codes and take a skeptical view on green marketing for chemical recycling.

Durez plant faces $171K OSHA fines over explosion risks

Federal safety inspectors want to fine a Sumitomo Bakelite resin plant in Ohio $171,000 for repeat violations of fire and explosion safety rules.

UN targets 80% reduction in plastics pollution

A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme tries to put numbers behind levers that can reduce plastics in the environment.

Charlotte Pipe targets Midwest with $80M Kansas plastics plant

Large plastic pipe maker Charlotte Pipe and Foundry plans a new pipe extrusion plant in Kansas, its seventh in the United States.

Canada wants more recycled content, tougher labeling rules

Canada's government is out with a proposed new regulatory framework that would mandate recycled content for plastic packaging and toughen rules on green labeling.