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PLASTICSMODERN

Weekly

Vol . 02 | Issue- 01 5 - January 2018 Page. No. 1Week - 11

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INSIDE NEWS

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Plastindia Foundation Promote Recycling of Plastics Waste by Making World’s “Largest T-Shirt”

Out of 100% Recycled Plastic WasteAn initiative to promote recycling plastics waste.

The giant T-Shirt of size 97.5 metres height x 70.08 width made out of recycled plastic waste of 200,000 bottles catapulted Plastindia Foundation into the Guinness World Records. The apex body of plastics

industry in India, Plastindia Foundation took up this initiative to create awareness

among the masses on the need to manage plastics waste so that it is recycled more efciently. Swapnil Dangir ikar, the ofcial adjudicator of Guinness World Records conrmed that this T-Shirt is bigger than the current record holder T-Shirt which is 93.2metres height x 62.73 metres width. Among those witnessed this record creation effort was Afroz Shah, the renowned

environment lover and also the person behind world’s biggest beach cleaning exercise at Versova beach in Mumbai. The fabric from this T-Shirt will be later used to create 10,000 T-Shirts and distributed free

among the children from economically weaker sections.

K K Seksaria, President, Plastindia

Foundation mentioned that “The thought

behind this initiative is to catch citizens’

attention on facts such as the dire need for

everyone among us to be more responsible

towards the environment, plastics waste

can be managed ef fec t ive ly wi th

understanding segregation at source and

making citizens more conscious towards

littering and mixing waste. If waste is

segregated and disposed correctly it will

help plastics waste to be recycled more

effectively and we can create many things

from recycled plastics waste. To change

people ’ s behav ior towards was te

management and segregation is not going

to be easy, but steps like these could go a

Additive manufacturing/3D printing has revolutionized the manufacture of more complex or rarely needed components and even enables decentral manufacture on demand. The Dressler Group is making a major contribution here: with its almost 40 years of expertise in the nishing and precise optimization of plastic powders, it gets the raw material for 3D printing to the machines in the rst place.

The Dressler Group from Meckenheim near Bonn participated in the form next trade fair which took place in Frankfurt am Main from 14 to 17 November 2017. More than 470 exhibitors from Germany and abroad took part in the event focusing on additive manufacturing/3D printing.

Expertise In Plastic PowderThe Dressler Group specializes in grinding and nishing plastic powders. With the Innovation Lab and technical centre, it has its own research facilities that create an optimum link between theory and practice. Production takes place on systems that the company largely plans and builds itself. All techniques, such as warm and cold grinding, spraying, extruding and mixing, are offered.

Latest Process DevelopmentWhen it comes to manufacturing/3D printing, the Dressler Group has already experienced a hugely positive response at numerous trade fairs and conferences with its latest innovation Spherical Powder Technology (SPT). The special feature: for instance, SPT enables degrees of neness of less than 80y for PEEK plastics, which had been impossible until now. What’s more, the process can optionally be undertaken completely without additives, i t w o r k s a t c o m p a r a t i v e l y l o w temperatures, even enables lled powders, and signicantly improves free owing properties. Overall, SPT powders open up brand new application options, such as highly complex, more resilient structures in 3D printing. “In many cases, SPT gets the raw material to the machine in the rst place,” says Jan Dressler, managing partner and CEO at the Dressler Group.

“ I t max imizes the re l iab i l i t y and productivity of the printers because the SPT powder is extremely free owing thanks to a level of roundness that has not been achievable in this dimension until now. At the same time, processing steps are cut out thus increasing cost effectiveness and

environmental efciency.” In its soon to be 40 year history, the Dressler Group has become established as a kind of extended research department and workbench for its customers.

PREFERRED HP PARTNER (ecosystem network) This original expertise has now impressed America’s HP Inc. (previously Hewlett Packard). The PC and printer manufacturer announced on 9 November 2017 that it has selected the Dressler Group to be what it calls a preferred partner, which takes care of developing and manufacturing of powders for the HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer for HP.

Innovation On OfferBesides its attendance at the form next trade fair, the Dressler Group is offering a further opportunity to get to know the company in detail: anyone interested can apply their individual ideas to the optimization of their own plastic powder in the Innovation Lab and the connected technical centre in Meckenheim and take home the nished specications wish fulllment on demand, so to speak. With minimum cost risk and maximum success. ■■■

Exhibition of the Plastic and 3D Printing Expertise of new HP Inc. ‘Preferred Partner

Turn to page 4

Building Oman’s Future, One 3D...

Army Aims to Accelerate Cyber Defense System Prototyping...

Flint Group opens new facility in Turkey for...

Winners of 2017 SPE Automo�ve ...

Second MPS Flexo Press for Abbey ...

Binning the Plas�c

Editor in Chief - Global Karl Jörg Löwer

European EditorPetra Löwer

Senior Editor Ginu Joseph

PublisherGinu Joseph

Marketing DirectorAnthony George

Creative DirectorPushpa She�y

Associate EditorsAnthony GeorgePushpa She�yRajesh VermaAmjad Ahmed

Advertising Sales Petra LöwerAnthony George

Consultancy ServicesGinu JosephPetra Löwer

Accounts ManagerBhumit Dhangada

Advertising Sales IndiaAnthony GeorgeGuruvinder Sacher

Account ExecutivesJeyabal AnthonyVikram SelvarajWalter Shekar

ProductionJayaram She�y

Administration ExecutiveGracy Lobo

Circulation ExecutiveSumit Kumar VaramaPrakash Kumar Jha

Tele-Marketing:Pank� Pathak

Designing & LayoutAnagha Salvi

Digital Media & SoftwareJob K KuruvillaPankaj Singh

Database ServiceShweta Wadwalkar

Karl Jörg LöwerEditor in Chief - Global

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Dear Readers :

Greetings from Modern Plastics India!

First let me wish you all the best wishes for 2018; May God's overflowing blessings and unfailing love abound in you and your family. Wishing You a Very Happy, Peaceful & Prosperous New Year! May God shower his abundant blessings upon you in the new year 2018. May God protect you, keep in Good health, may God give you all earthly and heavenly blessings. May God Bless you all abundantly. A Blessed Happy New Year 2018 ahead!!

PLASTINDIA 2018 has been receiving unprecedented response from the Indian Plastic Industry, and also from all parts of the world. Already space is sold out. PlastIndia expect that, around 1500 to 2000 exhibitors will be participating in this mega event from nearly 40 nations and over 200,000 business visitors will be

visiting the Fair from across the globe.

PLASTINDIA 2018 – the 10th edition of PLASTINDIA EXHIBITIONS represents the very best of this empowerment of man’s very growth through the unceasing efforts of the Plastics community.

PLASTINDIA 2018 will showcase two distinct and critical facets - The future of the Plastics Industry and the future of humankind itself. Growth segments like Automobiles, Healthcare, Packaging, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Telecom, New & Renewable Energy and the emerging segments like Plastic Composites, Sports, 3-D Printing–that shall drive us in creating better equipped human beings, whether physically or in terms of ability, to navigate hostile terrain, to nurture and support nature or to create magic by translating thought into product on a daily basis–will all be here at PLASTINDIA 2018.

PLASTINDIA 2018 will enable you to participate in the Reverse Buyer Seller Meet, an event supported by the Ministry of Commerce and PLECONCIL, whereby we will be publicizing your company name among the embassies of various countries, thus giving you an opportunity of opening up to a window of wide section of buyers. Come and join us at the event to know how plastics can actually be beneficial to the race and help us sustain living on this blue planet we call home. The revolution has already started and there is ample amount of time to be a part of it and march forward.

Greetings to all the members of plastic industries,Indeed this event is revolutionary,

New channelled technology has arised,Ushering towards a vision globalised.

Just a humble request from my side,On the mission ‘recycling of plastic’ let's abide,

Segregate and organize plastic waste,Engineer it well to achieve something great,

PLASTINDIA 2018 exhibition is nearby,Hope everyone can involve and comply.

Be a part of one of the world's largest event by visiting "PLASTINDIA 2018"

Happy Reading !

Be a Part of World’s Largest Plastics Event Ever in India “PLASTINDIA 2018”

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PLASTICSMODERN

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long way in building empathy and belief that

there are ways to bring about environmental

change if every citizen understands and

appreciates his civic responsibility”.

Atul Kanuga, Chairman, Environment &

Plastics Image Committee spoke about various

initiatives on enhancing awareness around

plastics recycling. He said, “The T shirt project

of this scale is to draw attention to the fact that

one should look at waste from a different

angle. Six plastic bottles of one litre can clothe

one child and there is value in waste. We must

segregate waste and reuse the good part .

Upscaling from waste is the new mantra and

the plastic industry will play its part.”

Sharing the industry’s point of view, Vimal

Kedia, Managing Director, Manjushree

Technopack Limited, mentioned, “Plastics has

indeed made the world a better place.

However, the irresponsible use of plastics, if

continued unabated, has the potential to

derail the many benets of plastics. On behalf

of the industry, I would like to congratulate and

thank the Plastindia Foundation, for this

tremendous effort to raise awareness around

plastics recycling. All stake holders, including

consumers, must contribute to the effort for

more responsible use of plastics”. Manjushree

Technopack is the largest PET bottle

manufacturers in India. Also sharing stage with

the dignitaries was. Rohit Parmar, Managing

Director, Sushila Parmar International, one the

leading polymer importers and suppliers of

raw materials in India. Parmar said “World’s

largest T-shirt made from 100% recycled

plastic waste’ makes a statement in itself. It tells

the world that if plastic is used, segregated,

disposed and then further, re-cycled correctly,

then it can do more good to the world than any

harm. We at Parmar believe Plastics is a

blessing and like every blessing, we must know

how to use it carefully and appropriately.

In future, technology would play an important

role in environmental safety. Rajeev Chitalia,

Chairman, Exhibition Committee, Plastindia

Fo u n d a t i o n c o m m e n t e d , “ T h e k e y

observation while doing over 71-odd

roadshows in India and abroad to promote

Plastindia 2018 was the concern among

manufacturers to produce more environment

friendly and easily recyclable plastics. New

technologies and processes will help us win

the battle of making the world a better place to

live and environment safer for our next

generations.” The attempt to enter Guinness

World Records by making largest T-Shirt is

bound to create a new wave of awareness

among end-users of plastics. ■■■

Plastindia Foundation Promote Recycling of Plastics Waste...

Cont...1

Mr. Swapnil Dhangarikar a representative of Guinness book of world records and he was pleased and enlightened with this wonderful initiative .“The previous record which existed was made out of a much simpler material and this record is much more difcult and unique because it’s made out of such a material which is also beneting the environment and Guinness is pleased to be a part of this cause and record because in this case the cause is bigger than the record itself” were few kind words expressed by him.

Mr. Vijay Merchant claried a message that “The people of India should understand that in today’s time we do not throw the old newspapers, we segregate it aside because it is embedded in our head that it has a value, if people realise that even plastics can be recycled and has a value people will stop littering it. This is a challenge called a societal challenge, to change the thinking of the society and to make them understand plastics have a value even after their rst use”.

“It is a giant T-shirt but when it will be converted to 10,000 smaller T-shirts and when it will be distributed to the privileged or under-privileged, they will be the brand ambassadors for the collection, segregation and recycling of waste” was a very smart point made by Mr. K.K Saksaria the president of the PlastIndia Foundation.

Mr. Vimal Kedia the managing director of Manjushree Technopacks also stressed on the points of proper segregation of waste and that no plastic is a waste as it can be reused again “I should say only one thing, plastic when invented was called the eighth wonder of the world, we cannot manage ourselves without plastics in day to day life. Right from the morning, our toothbrush, tooth paste, phones, laptops and even the clothes that we are wearing are 60-70% plastic which no one realizes. The jeans are no more cotton they are polyester these days. The disposal of plastic is becoming a challenge and I can proudly say that India is one of the largest recycler of plastics, but still some wastes are dumped into landlls and the ocean and hence it should be managed further and this initiative is a big step towards it. No plastic is waste and it can be reused and recycled again and again “.

One of the rst major supporters of this dream was Mr. Rohit Parmar from Sushila Parmar International Pvt. Ltd. and he strongly quoted “Plastic is not bad and that is what PlastIndia Foundation has proved today. We cannot imagine our life without plastics, we cannot live without it and we have to believe that plastic is the need of the time and future and it’s essential that we take proper responsibility to manage, reuse and recycle it”.

The Lime light of this event was Mr. Afroz Shah who is a practicing lawyer at the Mumbai high court, a social reformist and a recipient of the highest honour in the environmental eld named as the “champions of earth’ in 2006 by the United Nations. He has single-handedly undertaken the mission of a clean India and was the pioneer of what is regarded as the biggest beach cleaning movement of the world and was actively involved in it since the past 116 weeks to clean over 9 million kg’s of plastic waste and according to him his cleaning will continue till all the waste from the ocean is vanished. He shredded light on the thought that the people of India are responsible for littering and they should join the initiatives of a cleaner India rather than blaming the government or any regulating bodies. He motivated through such a quote “I have made this mission my personal

Mr. Atul Kanuga, The chairman of environment and plastic image Committee along with Mr. Sameer Joshi are the back bone of this event and the cause itself. “Our only and only moto is segregation at source thereby we can use every waste plastic properly and we will have to work together in all India basis for achieving this vast movement” were few humble words expressed by Mr. Kanuga.

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Oman’s next generation of businessmen and engineers now have the most up-to-date skills to pursue their careers, after an intensive 3D printing course that taught them the value and importance of such cutting-edge technology.

Sponsored by BP Oman as part of its social investment programme, the course saw Seeb-based fabrication company InnoTech conduct two workshops, which saw more than 100 participants in total, thereby inspiring students and jobseekers to understand alternative methods of manufacture, and how they could benet the Sultanate in future.

These courses were held at the Nizwa Cultural Centre and the Ibri College of Technology, where participants spent four days of practical training in 3D design, 3D printing and digital fabrication skills as part of a technique known as additive manufacturing

On the rst day, participants learned how to design 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, which is used to increase designer productivity, improve design quality, and create a manufacturing database. The following day, they absorbed the use of more complicated design tools and later a competition was held where participants vied to build the highest tower using some of the tools to simulate how 3D printers work. The nal day concluded with teams assembling parts of the 3D printer and building their nal project.

“Nowadays, this technology can be seen in every major industry worldwide from automotive, aerospace, defence and consumer products to medical supplies,” said Othman Al Mandhari, the co-founder and CEO of InnoTech. “Additive Manufacturing is important in the rapid prototyping and manufacturing industry for many reasons, mainly for its ability to create simple product designs and signicantly reduce weight of parts.

“This technology is further supporting innovation and creativity through allowing users to try different iterations without bearing additional cost, unlike conventional manufacturing,” he added. “Supporting our ambition to instil a culture of additive manufacturing, 3D printers will be

Building Oman’s Future, One 3D Print at a Time

34 printing and nishing units for Poland and Mexico• Highly automated for comprehensive print nishing• Two Rapida 106-LTT+10+LTTL ALV3 each 34 meters long• Delivery in September

Since 2012, giant packaging manufacturer Amcor has successfully run what is by far the world's longest medium format press, a Rapida 106 with 19 printing and nishing u n i t s , a t i t s ’ t o b a c c o p a c k a g i n g manufactur ing s i te in R ickenbach, Switzerland. KBA-Sheetfed has recently delivered two almost as long units of this highly automated medium-format series, each with 17 printing, coating and drying units, to Amcor Tobacco Packaging sites in Mexico and Poland.

Complex press linesIn September two identical machines have been delivered to Amcor’s respective sites by 14 trucks and a total of 16 containers. The installation of the rst long Rapida 106 in the Amcor plant in Lodz, Poland, will commence in September.

Rapida 106 is a complex machine that consists of:• A coating tower;• Two drying units;• 10 printing units;• double-coating equipment;• triple delivery extension

Both machines are designed for a maximum production performance of 15,000 sheets per hour and are integrated in an automatic substrate logistics system. For a high level of

nishing diversity, the printing and coating units are equipped for UV / mixed operation. IR/TL/UV systems are located in the drying towers and in the delivery extension. Both presses are prepared for the subsequent retrotting of a ColdFoil Ingo SF 110 cold foil module.

For optimum performance, such complex systems require comprehensive automation. This is where the two Rapida 106 presses come into their own, with, among other things, DriveTronic SPC simultaneous plate changers (incl. DriveTronic Plate Ident), CleanTronic Synchro for parallel washing processes, QualiTronic Professional (inline ink density control and sheet inspection) and the PPS system LogoTronic Professional. Emission Extraction Systems (EES) reduce the emissions at the sheet delivery. Coated ink duct panels (EasyClean) allow fast ink changes.

More exibility and shorter runsCustomers want more exibility and shorter runs. This is why more and more orders are moving from gravure to offset presses. Amcor Tobacco Packaging is now investing in

particularly long presses as they allow for offset high-quality packaging printing with elaborate nishing to be produced in one run and therefore make the process faster and more efcient.

At the same time, the 19-unit Rapida 106 in Rickenbach, Switzerland, is receiving further automation modules so that it is on the same technical level with the 2 new presses in Poland and Mexico. ■■■

Amcor Tobacco Packaging installs two long Rapida 106 systems by KBA-Sheetfed

permanently installed in the Nizwa Cultural Center and Ibri College of Technology. Students and staff will be able to use them for free at any time.”

Shamsa Ahmed Al Rawahi, BP Oman’s social investment programme ofcer, added: “Digital fabrication processes and technologies are becoming an essential part of the modern product manufacturing and therefore we wanted to present this notion to young Omanis. Through harnessing innovation and research skills, BP’s Social Investment Programme delivers academic initiatives as well as practical and experiential components to the people.”

Four trainees will be chosen for a two-month internship in InnoTech and a possible job opportunity after the internship. InnoTech is an Omani company founded in 2013 by three young Omani engineers. They provide prototyping and manufacturing solutions in Oman and aim to help local inventors and entrepreneurs to make their ideas into prototypes and then products. InnoTech also offers virtual reality applications and educational courses in 3D printing, programming and 3D designing. ■■■

Building Oman’s Future, One 3D Print at a Time

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SGK, a d i v i s ion o f Mat thews International Corporation, and a leading global brand development, activation and deployment provider that drives brand performance, announced today that Anthem Worldwide and Equator Design, each part of its brand development group, have been honored with a Gold, Silver, and Bronze in the 2017 Pentawards Worldwide Packaging Design Competition.

The Pentawards are recognized as the m o s t p r e s t i g i o u s w o r l d w i d e competition exclusively devoted to packaging design. This eleventh edition of the Pentawards received 2,013 entries from 5 continents and 54 countries. An international jury composed of eminent packaging design professionals chaired by Co-Founder Brigitte Evrard awarded the winners based on creativity, impact branding and design excellence.

“Today consumerism is driven by emotions, packaging that connects with consumers and creates brand relevance will inspire choice,” said J an i ce J awor sk i . “ Th i s honor acknowledges packaging design excellence as an opportunity to claim greater brand advantage on the retail shelf to drive top-line growth.” In the Concept - Other Markets category,

Anthem Benelux was awarded GOLD for its package design:

The Life LaundryBrand Owner: ConceptIn the Food - Limited Editions category, Anthem Toronto was awarded SILVER for its package design:Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Special EditionBrand Owner: Kellogg’sIn the Food – Distributors/Retailers own brands category, Equator Chicago was awarded BRONZE for its package design: Sam’s Club Member’s MarkBrand Owner: Walmart

“We often get asked what private brands want in terms of pack design, and the answer is simple: a design that lengthens product shelf life and is able to compete with well-known national brands on more than price, while r ema in ing i n l i ne w i t h t he i r overarching brand position and values. We understand how building p r i va te b rand equ i t y c rea te s consumer loyalty,” said Gary Flynn, managing director, at Equator. “And then of course there’s the design. As much as we approach every brief with a strategic head, it’s incredible design that is at our heart.” J a w o r s k i conc luded : “ T h e Pen tawa rd s recognition is a testament to the power of d e s i g n t o c o n n e c t brands with consumers through packaging – to drive brand desirability, engagement and loyalty to help drive brand performance.” ■■■

SGK's Brand Development Agencies Win Prestigious

Packaging Pentawards Flint Group continues its leadership position in the Packaging Inks segment with the opening of its new facility in the cosmopolitan district of Beylikduzu, in Istanbul, Turkey. This new 3800 square

meter manufacturing and distribution facility is conveniently located only 13 kilometers from the main container terminal on the European side of Turkey and is well positioned for exports to surrounding markets in the Middle East.

Kim Melander, VP Sales EMEA & Global Strategy Paper & Board, says this, “Flint Group’s Paper & Board business has been a local supplier in Turkey and the neighbouring regions since 2008 and our team has been satisfying customers’ requirements with state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities and expert local service for nearly 10 years. This additional investment not only solidies Flint Group’s dedication to the Turkish market, but also conrms our promise to grow together with its customers in this key emerging market.”

Krzysztof Struszczak, Operations Director Packaging Inks Eastern Europe adds, “The acquisition of this new facility was initially, and strategically, planned for Flint Group’s water-based Paper & Board business segment. However, it soon became clear that we should combine with other key segments supplying all

needs of the Packaging market from this one location. Today, Flint Group’s Narrow Web, Sheetfed, and Digital Solutions (Xeikon) businesses have joined Paper & Board in this single

facility.” Mr. Melander continues, “Flint Group’s aim is, of course, to provide the best and most streamlined service and support to all customers. Many of our key customers purchase products from more than one of our segments. With this expansion in Istanbul, we now have the ability to satisfy the requirements of multiple aspects of our customers’ businesses under one roof, providing a unique ability to focus on key markets, but also share our knowledge across the full range of the package printing business.”

Flint Group is committed to providing best in industry service to customers in this important region - with local support, the company is able to reduce lead times resulting in improved and fortied service. Furthermore, customers will enjoy customised products which are suitable for the warm Turkish and Middle Eastern climates.

The facility in Beylikduzu is currently up and running – producing and shipping products to packaging printers in Turkey, and the Middle East. ■■■

Flint Group opens new facility in Turkey for its Packaging Division

Italian exible packaging converter, Corapack, has used Futamura’s renewable and compostable NatureFlex cellulose lms for compostable lidding for trays. The lidding material is a proven compostable structure that is an ideal alternative to conventional plastics that often end up in landll.

To supply the best technical solution and functionality the high barrier NatureFlex lm is laminated to an internal sealing bio-polymer so that the nal structure, certied compostable, can be heat sealed to compostable base trays made from bio-polymers or wood pulp.

NatureFlex lms are produced from sustainable wood pulp harvested from managed plantations and are certied to both

EU (EN13432) and US (ASTM D6400) composting standards. In addition to industrial composting, the product has reached the standard required for home composting. NatureFlex provides high barrier to moisture, aroma and gasses, has excellent transparency and high gloss; making it an ideal solution for a compostable lidding structure.

Giorgio Berton, Futamura’s Italian regional sales manager, said: “This application is another great example of a successful collaboration where renewable and compostable NatureFlex lms have been selected as a real alternative to conventional plastics; this means the brand owner can be happy that they are providing an environmentally responsible solution without compromising on functionality”. ■■■

NatureFlex Film Used for Compostable Barrier Lidding Structure

Guinness World Records

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Guinness World Records

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The people have spoken, and the people are pretty clear: They’d like to see less plastic in the world, from product packaging to food storage containers to components of toys. Yet, the oil industry is investing heavily in the development of new plastic production facilities, in a move that will increase global plastic production 40 percent over the next decade. What gives?

Because most plastics are produced with petroleum byproducts, the plastic business is a great way for companies like Exxon to diversify their production. Plastics manufacturing companies, meanwhile, can cut costs and continue to supply cheap plastic by owning fossil fuel companies – quite the symbiotic relationship.

And there’s another problem: Prices for raw petroleum products are falling, thanks to the explosion of the shale gas industry in the United States. Making more fossil fuels available at extremely low prices creates a pressure to use them, which is exactly what the industry wants. Over the years, these companies have replaced perfectly functional renewable products with plastics, locking in a market for a product we didn’t need in the rst place.

At the same time that many regions are working to crack down on plastic usage with efforts like plastic bag bans, requirements for biodegradable takeout containers and mandates for plastic reduction at government agencies, the industry is pumping out more and more plastic.

That’s not just bad at the end of plastic’s lifecycle, when it gets tossed in a landll or sent to a recycling facility in an attempt to get another round of use at it. It’s also bad at every step of the supply chain, where pollution ranges from the oil eld to the factory to the fossil fuels used to t r an spo r t p l a s t i c s t o t he i r end destinations.

In essence, the oil industry wants to prot from the glut of cheap fuel it’s created, so it’s attempting to generate a market for more plastics — even though we already produce more plastic every year than the

combined weight of humanity on Earth.Scientists are already warning that our p las t ic product ion and usage i s unsus ta inab le , so what k ind o f environmental crisis will result from ramping up production even more?

We already know that it can take hundreds of years for plastics to break down, so the introduction of innovative

new plastics is not exactly heartening news. When plastics do break down, that doesn’t resolve the problem. In the ocean — where a lot of plastic ends up — plastic products turn into small pieces of material that animals can ingest, and as the material degrades even further, it releases harmful chemical compounds.

The plastics industry knows this is a problem, but while they greenwash their annual reports, they ’re still pumping out plastic at a steadily increasing rate, and ghting regulatory attempts aimed at cutting down on waste generation. For them, encouraging sustainability is counter to their business model. After all, doing so would be an admission that plastics are dangerously unhealthy, and we should invest in eliminating them.

But some companies are exploring biodegradable alternatives. Numerous researchers are on the case, using a variety of products as feedstock for plastics that will break down in the right conditions. That said, it’s important to note that they won’t break down anywhere – just try composting a cup made from corn plastic at home. The growth of such products indicates that it’s possible to move away from plastic, and consumers are clearly interested in these alternatives.

So what can you do about our collective reliance on plastic? In addition to reducing plastic products you bring into your own home, you can reach out to local ofcials to ask them about ordinances to reduce or eliminate the uses of some plastics in your community. A t w o r k , y o u c a n p u s h f o r b iodeg radeab le and renewab le alternatives to plastics. You can also encourage your federal elected ofcials to implement better regulations on the oil and gas industry, as well as more environmental protections to limit the exploitation of natural resources.

In addition to preserving nature for future generations, you’ll help offset the availability of cheap oil and gas, pushing companies to rethink their business models. ■■■

Plastic Production Could Increase by 40 Percent Over the Next Decade

Spanning nine categories, the winners of the Society of Plastics Engineers Automotive Division’s 2018 Blue Ribbon Automotive Innovative Awards (which this editor helped judge) represent a number of “rsts” in metal replacement and in replacing earlier plastics solutions with better op t i on s . I n t h i s 47 th annua l competition—the oldest and largest such event in the automotive and plastics industries, all but one category entailed the use of thermoplastics.

Body Exterior: PP-LFT Structural GrilleThis PP long-ber-thermoplastic (LFT) structural active grille shutter (AGS) w i t h i n t e g r a t e d l o o s e - l a y e r construction, was also the Grand Award Winner. It appears on the 2018 Ford Expedition luxury SUV and is said to be the largest two-shot AGS in production today. It was designed with an integrated locating and attaching system for consistent t between the g r i l l e and head l amps , wh i ch eliminates the need for FEM (nite-element method) assembly, dunnage, and shipping. The material used by injection molder Magna Plastcoat is Celstran 40% long-glass PP from Celanese Engineered Materials, Irving, Texas.

The use of LFRT (long-ber-reinforced thermoplastic) to develop a structure with PP offset an estimated 3 lb of weight over alternative nylon-overmolded metal hybrid designs. An equivalent all-steel structure would weigh 18 lb more than the LFRT design, which delivers the required

durability. In addition to reducing variable and piece costs by an estimated $5 with an all-thermoplastic solution, the enhanced design saved $16 in assembly cost per vehicle and eliminated around $45 auxiliary costs. Improved parts consolidation also eliminated four separate fasteners and associated labor. Ford will be using similar parts on all of its trucks.

Body Interior: LGF-PP IP CarrierThe instrument-panel (IP) carrier in the 2017 BMW Mini Countryman utilizes Stamax 60YK270E high-ow, long-glass-ber (LGF) PP copolymer

from SABIC, Houston. International Automotive Components ( IAC) injection molded the part via chemical foaming with a core-back process. Use of 60% long glass achieved a 1.9-mm wall thickness, increasing stiffness at lower weight. Use of foaming resulted in a 15% weight sav ing vs . a comparable solid part. Extensive CAE work predicting warpage of the foamed part provided valuable insights, allowing for modication of tooling in advance. Going forward, BMW and partners see this as an industry benchmark for IP carriers.

Chassis/hardware: Powertrain BracketAppearing on the 2017 GM Cadillac XT5 crossover SUV, this engine clevis mounting bracket is reportedly the rst composite mount designed for a six-cylinder engine. Injection molded by Hutchinson, the part is made from Ultramid A3WG10 CR BK00564, a 50% glass-reinforced nylon 66 from BASF Engineering Plastics, Budd Lake, N.J. It replaces the tamped, welded, and die-cast metals used previously, resulting in a 45% weight reduction, as

well as improved NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) due to the damping characteristics of the nylon. Corrosion resistance is also improved, and the part can be recycled at end of life. Seven clevis brackets were developed for different powertrain combinations and have experienced no warranty claims after 1.5 years of production.

Materials: Low-friction Nylon For Chain TensionerStanyl HGR2, a nylon 46 modied with PTFE from DSM Engineered Plastics, Troy, Mich. (dsm.com), is used for chain tensioner arms on the 2017 Ford F-150 pickup and Ford Mustang sports car. The material was a drop-in replacement for nylon 66 to provide e n h a n c e d w e a r a n d f r i c t i o n performance. The resultant fuel-economy sav ings (0 .4%) f rom rotational torque reduction in the cam shaft was equivalent to a 40-lb weight reduction, at 10% of the cost. This innovation is highly transferable to provide affordable fuel-economy improvement, and will be utilized on

Winners of 2017 SPE Automotive Awards Wow with Many ‘Firsts’

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more Ford vehicles beginning in 2018.

Powertrain: Turbocharger Outlet T-jointFeatured on the 2018 Hyundai Genesis G80 and Kia Stinger sedans, this turbocharger outlet T-joint is injection molded from Zytel XT, a new 35%-glass, heat-stabilized nylon 66 which was developed for long-term retention of properties at up to 220 C/428 F by DuPont (now, DowDupont).

Molded by Hwaseung R&A Ltd., this part achieves a 42% weight savings and a 35% cost reduction, along with improved airow, reducing the pressure drop to increase fuel economy and improve NVH performance compared with the previous die-cast aluminum part. Airow noise is also reduced and long-term durability increased via the rib pattern design. Special three-gate tool ing was designed to minimize stress in the weld-line area for strength and durability and for processing optimization.

P r o c e s s / a s s e m b l y / e n a b l i n g Technologies: Two-shot Interior BezelThe unique 3D decorative effect on this interior bezel, which appears in the 2018 Ford Fiesta subcompact, is achieved with rotary two-shot “reverse” injection molding. The rst shot is Innol LT1220 tinted PC, overmolded with a textured/grained surface in a second shot of a effect-pigmented ABS, both from South Korea’s Lotte Advanced Materials (U.S. ofce in La Palma, Calif.). The grain is lasered into the mold. Tier 1 supplier Faurecia Interior Systems molded the part, which represents the rst time this process was used to achieve the 3D visual effect (color and texture) for a part of this size and geometry.

A 30% cost savings was achieved versus in-mold decorating and high-gloss painting, and there was a 20% scrap reduction versus conventional two-layer, high-gloss, piano-black appearance.

Safety: 4-way Head RestraintThe low-cost, low-mass head restraint on the 2018 Ford F-150 p i ckup i s made f rom Hy lon N 1 0 0 0 S T H L n y l o n 6 6 f r o m Belgium’s Ravago Manufacturing (U.S. ofce in Manchester, Tenn.) and injection molded by Windsor Machine and Stamping. It provides exceptional rigidity for whiplash protection.

Its exible design allows the front surface of the head restraint to be moved closer to or farther from the occupant by 60 mm, allowing for the precise balancing of comfort and safety. Replacing steel with plastic as t h e p r i m a r y l o a d - b e a r i n g component is new to front-row head restraints. The part design eliminates manufacturing complexity. A $10.73 million savings ($2.80/vehicle) is projected by the end of 2020 as this technology is extended to new vehicle programs.

Aftermarket: Bedliner DividerDesigned for GM’s 2017 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, this “rst-time” twin-sheet thermoformed bedliner divider is integrated into the bedliner as one piece. By not having to manufacture a separate oor divider part, there was a cost savings of $275. Manufactured by Penda Durakon, the divider is made of TPP 1026EU TPO f rom A .Schu lman Inc . , Fairlawn, Ohio. It incorporates a molded-in locking feature to secure the divider to the truck wall when it is raised.

Bio Pur Foam For IpsFeatured in the 2018 Ford Fusion sedan, this IP application provides a s u s t a i n a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e t o conventional petroleum-based foams—at lower weight and cost, and greater design exibility. This next-generation castor-oil-based polyurethane (PUR) foam (Elastoex 3 4 9 6 / 1 0 2 P U R f r o m B A S F P o l y u r e t h a n e s & P l a s t i c s , Wyandotte, Mich., provides for lower molded density, foam cross sections as thin as 4 mm, and superior bond strength to mating m a t e r i a l s . " F o a m - i n - p l a c e tooling—where a cast PVC, TPE, or TPU skin is placed in the mold with a hard plastic retainer and the foam is in jec ted be tween these two components—is used for processing by In te rna t iona l Automot ive Components (IAC). Weight savings of 20-40% (depending on foam thickness) and cost savings of $2 per average IP are achieved. ■■■

Winners of 2017 SPE Automotive Awards Wow with Many ‘Firsts’

Trimax Corporation, Inc. (OTC PINK: TMXN) (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiary Saavy Naturals Inc., is pleased to announce plans to introduce its new 100% all-natural baby care product line “Saavy Baby” in the rst quarter of 2018.

The Company considers the current growth trend in the baby care market along with increased attention and demand for all-natural products for babies, to be perfect timing for the release of the Saavy Baby’s 100% all-natural, vegan, cruelty free, Non-GMO, soy free, palm free, luxurious product line in 2018. The global baby personal care market was valued at around $56 billion (USD) and is expected to grow at an annual CAGR of approximately 7% from 2017 to 2024. The increasing awareness among consumers regarding child hygiene and the growth of the organized retail sector are some of the primary factors driving the increase of the baby personal care market , according to Grandview Research.

The baby care personal products market is largely driven by increasing births in developing countries and also due to increasing awareness of consumers about child hygiene. This is further supported by increasing disposable income and the changing lifestyle of consumers in developing countries. Furthermore, couples married and parenting while in their mid-thirties to mid-forties are considered to be more nancially stable, thus resulting in higher spending capacity for baby care products. Additionally, increase in number of working mothers globally is also driving the market. This growth is attr ibuted to increased p u r c h a s i n g p o w e r a n d h e n c e , substantially higher spending on baby care products. Among all segments of the baby personal care products market, the baby skin care products and toiletries segments collectively contributed the highest share in terms of revenues. Furthermore, these two segments are expected to witness double-digit growth in terms of revenue in 2017 with a continuation of further growth through 2024. Baby personal care products comprising organic ingredients is also expected to contribute to growth of the baby personal care products market during the forecast period, according to FMI Research.

The move toward natural and organic personal care might seem like just another element of this, but the numbers show that these products are not so much a trend as a fundamental industry shift. Year-over-year growth of natural and organic personal care reached 9.3 percent outpacing the conventional beauty category. Natural and organic personal care is luring consumers,

inspiring young brands and attracting a c q u i s i t i o n - h u n g r y C P G companies—and i t ’ s popping up everywhere, from mom-and-pop retailers to big-box stores. “Globally, the natural and organic personal care industry has graduated from a niche industry to a force to be reckoned with,” says Jasper van Brakel, CEO of Weleda North America.The Company plans to offer 100% all-natural, vegan, cruelty free, Non-GMO, soy free, palm free, luxurious baby care product lines which will include:

• A handcrafted baby Soap with Shea Butter Chamomile & Lavender to enhance the baby’s soft skin with the calming addition of essentials oils of Chamomile, lavender, Calendula and enhanced by the the rapeut i c properties of Moringa and Kukui oil.• Baby body wash and shampoo• Diaper cream• Calming mist spray• Baby powder• Baby skin and body lotion

Saavy Baby wants to give new and expecting mothers the safety and comfort of quality all-natural products that are completely different to what is currently available in the organic industry and a stark alternative to what can be found in the baby care section of retail outlets today.

Hugo Saavedra , CEO o f Tr imax Corporation and Saavy Naturals Inc., stated, “We are extremely proud to announce the introduction of our latest all-natural baby care product line “Saavy Baby” due out in the rst quarter of 2018. T h i s l a t e s t l i n e r e p r e s e n t s o u r commitment to bring the very best luxurious body care products to adults and now babies alike. A tremendous amount of time and research has gone into this new line and we look forward to establishing our presence in this niche market by making Saavy Baby the premier choice for mothers who want and expect the very best for their infants.”

In other news, the Company continues to report record online sales for its HEMP body care products. The Company is currently conducting feasibility research in order to expand its market share into additional products in the hemp and CBD body care space and expects further announcements shortly. Hugo and Debra Saavedra, Saavy Naturals Inc.’s, CEO and President, gained instant popularity for their all-natural body care product line after being spotlighted and appearing on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank. The Sharks took an instant liking to Hugo and Debra, their love story, their previous success in the body care industry, and the superior quality of their all-natural product. ■■■

Trimax Corporation and Saavy Naturals Inc. Announce Plans to Introduce Its New 100% All-

Natural Baby Care Product of 2018

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Companies that make packaging from plants instead of fossil fuels are starting to challenge the oil industry's ambition to increase the supply of raw materials for plastics.

Use of bioplastics made from sugar cane, wood and corn will grow at least 50 per cent in the next ve years, according to the European Bioplastics Association in Berlin, whose members include Cargill Inc and Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. German chemical giant BASF SE and the Finnish paper maker Stora Enso Oyj have stepped into the business to meet demand from the likes of Coca-Cola Co to Lego A/S.

"Biochemicals and bioplastics could erode a portion of oil demand, much like recycling can erode overall virgin plastics demand," said Pieterjan Van Uytvanck, a senior consultant at Wood Mackenzie, a research group focused on the oil industry. "It will become a larger portion of the supply.”

Moviegoers famously learned in the 1967 lm "The Graduate" that "there's a great future in plastics". Oil companies make ethylene and other basic building blocks for plastic. They've been eyeing that market for growth as electric cars threaten to trim demand for petrol.

Plastic material's ubiquity in packaging has left the world literally swimming in disused bottles, bags and wraps. That's starting to worry both environmentalists and the companies that use it the most. There'll be more plastic than sh in the

world's oceans by 2050, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and those materials are nding their way into the food chain. SEE ALSO: Bioplastics a hurdle to oil sector's plans to expand into plastics Bioplastics make up about one per cent of the plastics market, according the industry's organisation in Europe. Top producers include Sao Paulo-based Braskem SA, NatureWorks LLC in the US and Novamont SpA of Italy.

“Attitudes are evolving," said David Eyton, the head of technology at BP plc. " T h e q u e s t i o n t h a t f a c e s t h e petrochemicals industry that has yet to really be answered is, 'How are people going to deal with some of the e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s o f petrochemicals? Particularly plastics, which are a growing concern.'”

The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that growth in the plastics market should boost petroleum

demand. It takes about 8.5 barrels of oil-derived naphtha to produce a tonne of ethylene needed to manufacture 160,000 plastic bags, according to Bloomberg Intelligence calculations.

"Petrochemicals will take centre stage in driving oil demand," said IEA analyst Tae-Yoon Kim. "This is why oil majors are very much focusing on petrochemicals."

Saudi Arabian Oil Co, Exxon Mobil

Corp, Royal Dutch Shell plc and Total SA are expanding thei r p las t ic footprints, according to the IEA. “We're expecting petrochemicals to grow 4 per cent per year, " sa id Ahmad Al Khowaiter, chief technology ofcer at Saudi Aramco. "That's an opportunity we're really trying to leverage.”

BASF set up a joint venture with Avantium Holding BV last year and is making bottles from cornstarch at a pilot plant. The partners are planning a plant

with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year in Belgium. Coca-Cola is focusing on sustainability of plastic in packaging. It has sold more than 50 billion so-called PlantBottles; packaging contains 30 per cent bioplastic. Stora Enso wants to reinvent itself as a renewable materials company. It sold close to 10 billion euros (S$16 billion) of paper products last year and has a research centre in southern Sweden where it's testing plastic that's 50 per cent wood bre. A mill in eastern Finland makes yarn from wood pulp.

Lego allocated one billion kroner (S$162.8 million) to research more sustainable materials for its building blocks.

The new technology will have to compete against massive reneries that convert hundreds of thousands of b a r r e l s o f e v e r y d a y i n t o plastics."Alternative raw materials must be competitive," Stora Enso's chief nancial ofcer Seppo Parvi said in London, anticipating eventual price parity with crude plastics. "I'm condent we'll be able to do it.”

Demand for bioplastics also needs to grow among retailers and consumers, according to Coke.

“It won't ever work if there's just one big consumer company like a Coca-Cola trying to drive suppliers," said Ben Jordan, head of environmental policy at Coca-Cola. "You need more demand out there in industry.” ■■■

• The new Ecofriendly line and t h e c o l l a r s f o r c o s m e t i c packag ing are some of the novelties that the rm will to know in the trade• Rafesa wil l go to Packaging Innovations for 9th consecutive year

Rafesa, a specialist company in the d i s t r ibu t ion o f packag ing fo r perfumery and cosmetics, will be present for the ninth consecutive year at Packaging Innovations of Madrid (Stand D48). In the reference event of packaging at national level will present the latest products added to the catalogue of 2017. In IFEMA – Feria de Madrid (Pavilion 9), the Badalona rm will present, in other products, the new Ecofriendly line, 100% recyclable and for cosmetic market. Another of the novelties that will stand out is Alex line, developed in recycled PET and targeted to the market of cosmeceutic.

Also will be protagonist the packaging for perfumery and its complements, among which stand out the collars developed in aluminum in bright black color and sustainable wooden caps, two complements for packaging that incorporated this year. Rafesa, that celebrates its 35 th anniversary this year, has been betting since its beginning for the incorporation of innovative packaging, for perfumery, cosmetic and pharmacy, in that noted for materials and designs that followed the market tendence.

The las t edi t ion of Packaging Innovations in 2016 was visited for more than 11.500 professionals of sector that will know of rst-hand the latest novelties of packaging. Each edition of the event becomes an opportunity to get visibility of the product s both na t iona l ly and internationally. ■■■

Oil's Dream to Expand in Plastics Dims as Businesses Turn to Bioplastics

Rafesa will Present the Latest Novelties in Packaging Innovations Madrid

BOBST announced the launch of SPEEDPACK, an innovative automatic packer for corrugated packaging that will allow users to realize the full potential of their BOBST folding-gluing lines. With the highest possible number of batches per hour and very short set-up times, it drastically increases productivity.

“SPEEDPACK i s a r evo lu t iona ry corrugated-box packer that gently picks up boxes as they exit the folder-gluer and batches them up in exactly the right way – quickly and reliably, while preserving the quality of your boxes,” said Jacques Reymond, Head of Product Marketing of Business Unit Sheet-fed. “We have listened to what our clients say they most need to optimize their folding-gluing machines and SPEEDPACK delivers exactly that. We believe it sets a new benchmark

in this space.” Thanks to its exceptionally uid operation, its minimal footprint and optimal ergonomics and accessibility — which render set up times for repeat orders negligible — this robust packer can process literally any type of box, while maintaining irreproachable levels of quality. What’s more, the machine is completely modular, making it a future-proof investment that can grow with your business.

“The machine will help to reduce costs and optimize quality and line efciencies, enabling a rapid return on investment,” said Emilio Corti, Head of Sales of Business Unit Sheet-fed. “As the most

productive packer on the m a r k e t , w e b e l i e v e SPEEDPACK will become the natural extension of your corrugated folder-gluer.” ■■■

BOBST launches SPEEDPACK -

The ultimate packer

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With the rst EF 340 MPS installed a little over two years ago, UK-based Abbey Labels Ltd. has added a second EF 340, eight colour MPS press to its eet. This latest press is the third of ve planned investments made by Abbey Labels during 2017.

“The demand for the type of work the rst MPS press could produce is constantly increasing, so we felt the need to quickly increase our capacity” says Abbey Labels

Managing Director Barry Pettit. “Already having an MPS press helps with the continuity of print quality, tooling and availability of t r a i n e d o p e r a t o r s . T h e installation and commissioning

has gone very smoothly and the second press will help us to offer more capacity to our customers for multi-page peel & reveal labels along with mid to longer run reel and sheeting work”.

The new MPS EF 340 is the rst of its type in Europe to be installed with the latest GEW ArcLED UV system. “When specifying the press, we looked at what other benets it could offer besides the normal options” says Pettit. “Upon hearing this, MPS offered Abbey the opportunity to be the rst company in Europe to incorporate the GEW ArcLED LED UV curing system onto the EF 340 press. This was an opportunity that we simply couldn’t overlook”.

The system installed offers Abbey Labels the opportunity to change seamlessly from traditional arc UV curing to LED curing in a matter of minutes. “The GEW ArcLED system has given us the option to change to LED when we, the ink manufacturers and our customers are ready. LED inks have been available for some time but we feel that we would be compromising our colour gamut offering at the present time if we converted 100% to LED at this point. This situation we feel could change very quickly as the exographic market plus our own customers demand more of the benets and availability of LED ink. The new system from GEW will therefore allow us a much easier switch of technology thus reducing our time to market.”

The advantages of having this type of GEW LED curing system gives Abbey Labels an ability to react to the near and longer term demands of the label / packaging market and gives the potential and condence to lead their customers in ways at looking to improve the environmental impact . The LED system will use up to 50% less power than the conventional UV method of curing ink and also has the added advantage of radiating

little or no heat onto the substrate.

The LED lamps are currently more expensive than their UV counterpart but they have the distinct and very practical advantage of lasting up to 20 times longer. This will assist in reducing downtime and maintenance during the lifetime of the press which will further reduce the carbon footprint of Abbey Labels’ new investment.

“We would seek to ensure that our clients would not notice any difference in ink colour or image quality when compared to a previous print supplied or existing jobs that come through the business . They will however be safe in the knowledge that their labels are being produced in the most energy efcient and environmentally friendly manner possible” remarks Barry Pettit. ■■■

Second MPS Flexo Press for Abbey Labels Ltd.

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RPC M&H Plastics and Bulldog Skincare for Men have joined forces once again for Bulldog’s new line of skincare packaging, with a sustainable twist.

The rst men’s skincare brand in the world to use Sugarcane as a raw material, Bulldog have chosen to go green with their updated exible tube line up, which features Moisturisers, Face Washes and Face Scrubs, with multiple variations of each product focusing on different skin types which includes sensitive skin, mature skin and oily skin.

The ‘Green’ polyethylene is created by farming Sugarcane on sustainable land in Brazil, thousands of kilometres from the Amazon rainforest.

Whilst being cultivated, the Sugarcane captures CO2 from the air as it grows. In fact, Sugarcane is so efcient at capturing CO2 that with every kilogram of Green Plastic produced 3,09 kilograms of CO2 is removed from the air! Once grown, the Sugarcane is transformed into “ethanol”, a type of alcohol, which is in turn used by Bulldog’s partner Braskem to create

Green Plastic.

The Green Plastic is then used by RPC M&H Plastics instead of fossil fuel sourced material to create Bulldog’s Flexible Tubes while maintaining the performance characteristics of traditional Polyethylene.However, the environmental positives do not stop there, the Sugarcane is often planted on degraded pasture land which in turn helps to recover the soil for future use as general farmland or to simply plant another crop of Sugarcane!

RPC M&H Plastics is continually seeking alternative environmentally-responsive products as we believe that a small change can make a big dif ference while continually striving towards a business that has minimal impact on the environment.

Simon Duffy, founder of Bulldog Skincare For Men says:Bulldog is proud to be the rst men’s skincare brand in the world to use plastic from sugarcane in our packaging. We have always tried to make the most ethical and sustainable decisions we can, from never testing on animals, to never using microbeads to making all our products suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Plastic from Sugar Cane is the latest step in this approach and we are delighted to have worked with M&H Plastics to turn Green PE into something we can use in the tubes and caps of our packaging.

■■■

What Could Be Sweeter Than Bulldog’s New Sustainable Packaging?

The U.S. Army plans to launch a process that seeks to facilitate the prototyping and acquisition of cyber defense

platforms within 30 days through a consortium of vendors, Federal News Radio reported Thursday.

The Army wil l select in May an independent group that will work to recruit member companies into the Cyberspace Real-time Acquisition Prototyping Innovation Development

consortium.

The service branch expects member rms o f the proposed C -RAPID consort ium to annual ly generate between six to 24 cyber defense system prototypes for evaluation by the Army Cyber Command and for incorporation into programs of record.

Under the new process, the Army’s program executive ofce for enterprise information systems will ask vendors to submit white papers on capability requirements within a week and then narrow down the number of candidates that will proceed to demonstrate their platforms at an Army cyber range.

The Army will award “other transaction” agreements to selected vendors within a month to help them transition their prototypes into the full-scale production phase, the report added.

■■■

Army Aims to Accelerate Cyber Defense System Prototyping, Acquisition Via Vendor Consortium

As you sift through the mountains of Christmas packaging destined for the bin, you may be wondering what can and can not actually be recycled in the Rochdale borough. After all, paper and card goes in the paper bin, and plastic is plastic, right?

Turns out, things are never that straight forward, as far as plastic goes, only plastic bottles without lids can be recycled in the borough of Rochdale.

In neighbouring Whitworth, where the bins are collected by Rossendale Council, various other forms of plastic are collected that would be discarded into general waste just miles away. Despite the issue that bottles are the only plastic can be recycled locally, the overall kerbside recycling rate in October 2017 was up by 1% on last year at 52.9%. Although this is higher than last year, this does mean that just over half of items that can be recycled are.

Our reporter, Michelle Kight, has been so frustrated with this situation that for several years she saves all her plastic items that cannot be recycled in Rochdale and takes them to her family in Rossendale where it can be recycled.

In fact, like Michelle, you may wonder why so many manufacturers and supermarkets package their goods in so much plastic, especially when the public is being urged to do more to recycle and save the planet. How often have you picked up fruit in a plastic punnet, containers consisting of ‘mixed materials’ or pasta in a plastic bag – all difcult to recycle? Surely cutting out the plastic would make more sense?

Some preventative measures are taking place nationally – the 5p bag levy and the UK ban on microplastic b e a d s i n c o s m e t i c s , a n d polyethylene bag recycling at larger stores, like the Tesco at Sudden, for example. Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall even took to the screen last year with his ‘war on waste’ revolution, campaigning for reduction in take-away coffee cups,

and needless food and textile waste.Is it enough?

Accord ing to Def ra , the UK generated 202.8 million tonnes of total waste in 2014. We can only recycle what our councils allow us, and the problem would be arguably easier to tackle if items came in recyclable packing in the rst place.Since the 1950s, approximately 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic has been produced. Of this, just 9% is

recycled, with an eye-opening 79% having been thrown away. The rest is incinerated – and, it is estimated by 2050, there will be more plastic than sh on our planet. Aside from the nite landll space, plastic is a blight on the very environment it pollutes. It is estimated to take anywhere up to 1,000 years for plastic to decompose in landll.

Some forms of plastic are toxic and can disrupt hormones or that microplastic particles have entered the food chain after they are often mistaken by sh for their usual food sources. At local level, some measures are being taken to improve our recycling rates, public recycling bins in the town centre, recycling facilities at Freehold and Lower Falinge plus a bulky waste amnesty agreed for Middleton, Milnrow and Newhey after a successful initiative in Kingsway, and Balderstone and Kirkholt.

The local Recycling Week campaign saw recycling ofcers speaking residents at supermarket locations across the borough. Locally, we also have the brown bin food waste recycling scheme and the large Tesco s tore at Sudden has proudly displayed 331 meals have been donated this week through the FareShare scheme, a scheme to tackle food waste as featured on ‘Hugh’s War On Waste’: small steps in the right direction.

Rochdale Online asked Rochdale B o r o u g h C o u n c i l a n d t h e supermarkets with the largest local branches – Tesco, Asda, Morrisons – what they could do to address the packaging waste problem and reduce the amount of plastic used.A spokesperson for the council said: “We are in contract with GMWDA, as are all authorities across Greater Manchester, please see below a statement from the GMWDA on this, as always we are totally committed to recycling in our borough as are residents.

Binning the Plastic

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"We only accept plastic bottles for recycling across Greater Manchester. A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. "Our technology (MRF) cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can not be recycled together.

"There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester.• Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High grade equals plastic bottles.• Plastics like yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and plastic trays (pots tubs and trays) are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just do not want these.• Our sorting machines cannot sort between plastic pots, tubs and trays and plastics bottles. This means that the low grade plastic pots, tubs and trays contaminate the high grade plastic bottles.• During the recycling process the plastic is melted. A plastic pot, tub, tray and a plastic bottle melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and the batch cannot be used to make new products.• Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and rays but currently very little are being recycled with most of it being turned into green energy.

"Plastics pots, tubs and trays do not go to waste. Residents are asked to put them in their general rubbish bin and they are turned into green electricity.” A Morrisons spokesman said: "We know that the reduction of plastic is important - we are already working to address how we use plastic in our packaging. It is a complicated process as it is an important part of keeping the food fresh and avoiding food waste.”

Tesco said: “We wish to assure you that we take sustainability of our products and packaging extremely seriously and always consider the environmental impact of our business on the environment.

"Firstly, we would assure you that we employ the most experienced and qualied people within our business to guide us on the right thing to do on packaging for our products and customers. Our technical manager for packaging is a chartered environmentalist and Tesco is one of two retailers who employ such a person.

"In terms of our packaging, we would like to make the following points:• The rst priority of packaging is to protect the product. We have carried out carbon impact studies and know that on average packaging represents 5% of the carbon impact of product and packaging. This means that for a small environmental impact, the packaging is protecting the largest impact which is of course the product itself. Food waste is a key priority for Tesco and we know that packaging reduces the amount of food waste generated.• In developing countries that have far less packaging, food waste can be as high as 40%,

whilst in the UK where packaging protects product it is less than 5%. Tesco have signed up to the United Nations goal to reduce food waste and we believe packaging will have a part to play.• Although food waste has to be our priority, we also know that we can reduce packaging without increasing waste or impacting on product quality. We will always look for opportunities to do this and over the last 10 years we have reduced our packaging by 28% for packaged goods and 38% for all products including loose. However, this can continue for only so long before we believe product quality, shelf life, or waste is incurred – so only so much can be done. That said, where we

see opportunity we will reduce.• On the subject of food waste, we have active projects not only to reduce waste in stores, but also to help customers reduce waste in the home. One example of this is portion control on chicken. Our customer research told us that customers really wanted a way to divide chicken breasts and use one immediately and store the other (without breaking the seal) in the fridge or freezer for use on another day. The waste in the home gures from WRAP demonstrated that a signicant tonnage of chicken was being thrown away every year because of this. ■■■

Binning the Plastic

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