Archive for the ‘Sustainability’ Category
California columnists: ACC lobbyists won the bag war
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Yesterday I blogged about how California residents feel about their legislature failing to pass a ban on plastic bags. Today, we'll let columnists from several California newspapers weigh in. One common theme: The American Chemistry Council won this battle with...
How do Californians feel about the bag ban failure?
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
It's not a scientific poll, obviously, but if you're interested in how California residents feel about the state Legislature's failure to pass a ban on single-use plastic bags, check the Los Angeles Times' "LA Now" blog. Reader comments in blogs...
Helping PLA take more heat
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Working together, can plastics and agricultural researchers help create a polylactic acid resin that's capable of handling hot-filled liquids? That's the aim of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, which is reporting that USDA chemist William J. Orts...
Plastic wall of shame?
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
There's a group of consumers who aren't in love with plastic packaging and gadgets, and social networking web sites are helping them share information and ideas. The latest? Perhaps it's the Plastic Crap Wall of Shame Facebook page, created by...
Status of two voluntary bag reduction efforts
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Instead of resorting to bag taxes and bans, some communities and retailers have tried voluntary efforts to reduce bag consumption. Let's check on the status of two -- one small-scale effort, and one on a very large scale. On the...
UK firm making plastic from chewed gum?
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
A designer in the United Kingdom is developing a plan to collect and recycle chewed gum and turn it into a plastic that can be molded into new products. Gross, I know, but interesting. The designer is Anna Bullus, who,...
ACC’s bag ban advertisement
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
For Plastics Blog readers outside California, here's the advertisement that the American Chemistry Council prepared to fight AB 1998, the bill that would ban plastic bags. The ad is tough on the state Legislature, accusing it of focusing on a...
Bag ban is about politicians ‘micromanaging our lives’
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
The North County Times in Escondido, Calif., recently editorialized against the proposed California plastic bag ban with a column that blasted the legislative "nanny state" trend. "... if plastic grocery bags can be banned, what other popular consumer items will...
‘Majestic Plastic Bag’ aimed at Calif. legislature
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
A video that mimics a nature channel documentary is getting attention in California, where the state Senate is preparing to vote on AB 1998, which would ban plastic bags at some retailers. The "mockumentary" is narrated by actor Jeremy Irons,...
Why ban plastics?
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Al Evans noticed some calls to ban or tax plastics products, so he wrote a letter to Stuart, Fla.'s TCPalm.com asking "Why, when plastics yield so many benefits?" "Having worked for the plastics industry for 17 years, I feel compelled...