Food industry reacts to consumer desire for gluten-free products
Gluten-free foods are rapidly becoming a major player in the American food market. In the last year, sales of gluten-free products skyrocketed to $8.8 billion, and the Economist anticipated they will...
View ArticleBritain aims to improve recycling rates
Britain has a rich history of successful recycling programs, but growth has slowed in recent years. According to a recent Parliament report, England's recycling hovered around 43 percent during 2013....
View ArticleEPA hopes to improve US recycling requirement awareness
When it comes to recycling, many Americans have a lot to learn. While most people understand the basics of separating their trash, confusion abounds over different plastic types and their suitability...
View ArticleMetal detectors required to eliminate foreign objects in food
Many bakeries and restaurants leave their food exposed to potential contamination by metal objects. While it's unpleasant to think about, it is remarkably easy for a screw or bolt to get lost in food...
View ArticleAutomotive plastics do more than save weight
Plastics have helped the automotive industry decrease vehicle weight for years. With new emissions standards on the horizon, the weight savings provided by plastic components are a welcome tool in the...
View ArticlePet food sales continue their climb
The industry surrounding our furry friends continues to expand, and it is beholden to many of the same health food trends that affect humans. Pet food is a huge business in the U.S. and elsewhere, and...
View ArticleDriven by autos, resin remains a bright spot
The Department of Commerce released new data for October retail sales this week, and the results exceeded expectations. After a September that witnessed declining sales in several industries, October...
View ArticleMetal contamination in cookies draws attention to food safety threat
Metal fragments that end up in food are an enormous safety concern. Once metal fragments enter the body, they can cause reactions ranging from extreme discomfort to internal lacerations and other...
View ArticleAppliances remain a bright spot for plastics suppliers
With all the attention given to flashy new automobile models, it's easy to forget about the plastics being used in the other items consumers interact with every day. Appliances remain a developing...
View ArticleOrganizations raise awareness of recyclable plastics
When it comes to recycling, Americans have a problem. While they often mean well, widespread confusion about what can and cannot be recycled results in a variety of plastic items that could be reused...
View ArticlePlastics ready to take on automotive body panels
The quest for decreased weight and improved durability has led automakers to experiment with a variety of materials for auto bodies, but plastic has often been overshadowed by a variety of metal...
View ArticlePlastics processing machinery shipments increase in response to growing demand
Plastics are increasingly a part of our lives, and many items that would have been constructed out of metal or glass in the past have incorporated more plastic parts in recent years. Plastic's...
View ArticleFabrics created with recycled bottles continue to make a mark
When people think of plastic bottle recycling, they generally assume that their old bottles will be used to craft objects out of solid plastic. That's not necessarily the case, however, as more and...
View ArticleSingle-stream recycling programs aim to improve recycling rate
Consumer confusion is one of the biggest hurdles to increasing recycling rates, and education programs have struggled to build customers' understanding of what can be recycled. Now, more communities...
View ArticleMetal contamination in food presents a serious health hazard
A pizza night gone awry in Washington state highlights the need for restaurants and other food producers to invest in metal detection systems that can protect customers from metal fragments in food....
View ArticleUpdated information about ocean pollution prompts improved recycling efforts
Many people are familiar with pictures of enormous floating piles of plastic in the world's oceans, but very few individuals know what to do about the enormous problem of marine plastics pollution. New...
View ArticleBioplastics set for major growth
Plastic's durability makes it an ideal choice for packaging applications, but it also means those same packages do not decompose quickly when they are deposited into landfills. As the world becomes...
View ArticleRevised trade agreement with Cuba could increase US manufacturing
The U.S. and Cuba have maintained frosty relations since the cold war, with a U.S. trade embargo severing most economic ties to the island nation. Now, President Obama has said the U.S. will allow some...
View ArticleHolidays could bring influx of recycling
The holidays are associated with an uptick in the amount of waste that is sent to landfills, but there is potential that this year could bring an increase in recycling as well. The decorations and gift...
View ArticleU.S. economy skyrockets in Q3, necessitates manufacturing increases
The U.S. economy is on a tear of late, and much of the growth is coming from consumer goods. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported the country's gross domestic product for third quarter 2015 grew 5...
View ArticlePlastic bags may return to California
In September, California became the first state in the U.S. to sign a ban on plastic bags into law,but now there is the chance they may return to stores. As CNNMoney reported, the law will prohibit...
View ArticleUS labor market is strong despite increased jobless claims
The U.S. economic recovery has been one of the big stories at the close of 2014. The end of the year saw big gains in wages and employment for people across the economic spectrum, and low gas prices...
View ArticleConsumer interest in functional foods demands updated labeling
Packaged food producers must always remain conscious of changing consumer tastes and trends, and 2015 looks to be the year that functional foods take off. While momentum behind this food sector has...
View ArticleUS demand for plastics hits high amid falling costs for producers
While plastics have been part of the American economy for decades, now demand for plastics materials has hit new heights. The record-setting domestic demand for plastic materials comes at a time when...
View ArticleBottled water sales continue to climb amid a decline in sugary drinks market
Bottled water is a worldwide phenomenon, and the sector's growth shows no indication of slowing. The gains follow growing consumer health awareness and a significant decrease in the annual sales of...
View ArticleWill a gas tax lead to increased plastics use in automobiles?
The decline in gas prices through the end of 2014 ended up being one of the top news stories in the past year. It also spurred auto sales to record-setting levels and helped to drive consumer spending...
View ArticleConsumer interest in single-serving snacks necessitates improved recycling
Americans love to snack, and food producers have started to take notice. More than ever, consumers are able to purchase a variety of foods in single-serving packages that limit portion size and boost...
View ArticleRigid plastic packaging growth leads to increased recycling
Rigid plastic packaging is familiar to many consumers as the moderately flexible tubs and bowls that transport everything from soups to yogurt. These lightweight containers are taking over the food...
View ArticleBig employment gains point to strong manufacturing growth
The U.S. economic recovery that has been spurred on by low gas prices and high consumer confidence continues to gain steam. The most recent job numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show...
View ArticleInvestment in composite materials points toward future automotive plastic use
Lightweight composite materials, such as carbon fiber, have been used primarily in race cars and pricey exotics for years, but that exclusivity may end soon. New investment from the U.S. government and...
View ArticleMetal shards contaminate frozen meat
Consumers across the U.S. should check their refrigerators for recently recalled frozen meat products. A California company has been forced to recall frozen beef and pork products after a shard of...
View ArticleDemand for turbochargers increases resin sales
The automotive industry has used plastic and composite body panels for some time to limit the weight of new vehicles. The lightweight cars get better gas mileage than heavier models, and generate...
View ArticleOrganic packaging improves sustainability
In the ongoing quest to create more sustainable plastic products, many organizations have turned to bio-plastics that incorporate some degree of organic matter to make plastic packaging that will...
View ArticleAffordable electric cars finally a reality
For years, fully electric cars seemed like an impractical dream that would never be realized. While certain companies created street-legal electric vehicles, such as General Motor's 1997 EV-1,...
View ArticleNew recycling technique could increase efficiency
Even as recycling rates creep up around the world, there is still incredible potential to improve the consistency and effectiveness of the actual recycling process. Given the amount of waste plastic...
View ArticleIMF cuts growth predictions, but US economy remains strong
Though 2014 closed on a high note for the U.S., the rest of the world remains mired in the fallout of the global financial crisis that sent many European countries into austerity. While there were...
View ArticlePlastics propel the zero-energy future
While most people consider the smog generated by cars' internal combustion engines when they think of emissions, but the power plants generating the energy used by our homes and electrical appliances...
View ArticleEuropean agency proclaims BPA safe
Until a few years ago, few people were familiar with the abbreviation "BPA." Then, a rash of studies claimed bisphenol A, a common additive used to manufacture many plastic products, was linked to...
View ArticleAmericans gravitate towards healthier foods
The new year always brings resolutions related to improving personal health, and this year people are focusing on enhancing nutrition. A recent survey conducted by Family Medicine for America's Health...
View Article3D printing set poised to improve injection molding efficiency
Though 3D printing is a relatively new technology, it is already altering the prototyping process in ways that will have an enormous impact on companies' bottom lines. Even when 3D printers do not...
View ArticlePlastics allow drones to soar
Remotely-piloted drones, which used to be limited to military applications, have started to make inroads with commercial organizations and consumers. These robotic vehicles hold enormous potential for...
View ArticleAgricultural pesticide container recycling rate shoots up
The pesticides that farmers need to protect their crops from a litany of parasites and insects have been packaged in plastic bins for many years, but many farmers failed to properly recycle these items...
View ArticlePlastics make cars safer than ever
Consumers have valued automotive safety for decades, and auto manufacturers compete to deliver the safest vehicles on the road. This competition, in conjunction with regulations that forced carmakers...
View ArticlePlastic helps the environment, but recycling lags
The widespread use of plastic in packaging and other products has diminished humanity's environmental impact in many ways, but recycling rates are still too low. The plastic industry continues to...
View ArticleStrong consumer spending offers good news for manufacturers
The U.S. economic recovery continues to gain steam in spite of lower business spending in the fourth quarter. While some economic indicators lagged at the close of 2014, consumer spending is strong and...
View ArticleCompanies lose billions of dollars in profits by not having recyclable packaging
While companies often look at packaging as a way to convey their marketing message to consumers in stores, how they package their products could affect their revenue and whether they connect with...
View ArticleHigher auto sales in January are part of upward trend
With oil prices falling, leaving more money in consumers' wallets, buyers are heading for car dealerships to replace their older vehicles. Autodata said year-over-year auto sales in January surged 13.7...
View ArticleWhat's in the future for food safety regulations?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently requested a higher budget for the implementation of its food safety regulations that significantly impact the food industry. With new regulations,...
View ArticleCompanies cite product appeal, profitability as reasons for recycling
While companies often introduce more efficient and eco-friendly products to reduce consumers' environmental impact, firms may fall short of their goals if they fail to recycle their products and other...
View ArticleEconomic impact of corn, grains to increase this season
Corn production around the world is projected to surpass market expectations and reach record levels. A forecast by the International Grains Council predicted corn output will rise from 990.7 million...
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