Plastics News in August: Hot and Balanced

If variety is the spice of life, PlasticsToday’s list of the top 10 articles of August is flavored with ghost pepper.

For readers who crave excitement, suspense, or plot twists, we have an explosion, a major industry shift, and a Supreme Court decision that creates uncertainty.

For those drawn to innovation, there’s technology that may revolutionize film decoration, a surprising debut in reusable packaging, and a world’s first that simplifies PET recycling.

If name-dropping gets your attention, we reported developments from BASF, Dow, and Formosa, among others.

The three most popular posts of the month are featured in the slideshow, while the other seven appear in reverse order below.

10. Formosa Plastics to Expand PVC Production in Louisiana

Investment reportedly will allow Formosa to handle larger production volumes and manage peak demand periods at the Baton Rouge plant more efficiently.

9. Cosmetics Bottle is a Beautiful Breakthrough in Sustainability

Alpla and zerooo create the first reusable PET bottle for cosmetic, beauty, and personal care products that launches in September in Germany.

8. Dow’s Pack Studios Adds Advanced Film Technology

The innovation center’s new equipment will help packagers develop more sustainable blown and cast films.

7. Overturning of ‘Chevron Deference’ Creates Troubling New Legal Landscape

The plastics industry will be affected by this Supreme Court decision; how is the big question.

6. New Printing Technology Claims to Bring Unprecedented Decorative Capabilities to Flexible Plastics

The seven-station rotogravure press can print on PET, acrylic, BOPP, polyester, and PVC films ranging in thickness from 0.92 to 30 mil.

5. Hoffmann Family Buys Viking Plastics

The acquisition brings the family-owned private equity firm a custom injection molder groomed for expansion.

4. Major US Policy Shift on Global Plastics Treaty

The United States now supports a reduction in the production of new plastics, according to Reuters.