Month: October 2021

Polymer advancements have created a plethora of material solutions branded as environmentally friendly. However, not all materials on the market are created equal. Many people want to transition to a “greener” lifestyle, but are unaware of how to begin. The first step is understanding the difference between a true Bioplastic and what is known as “Greenwashing”. So how do you know what to look for?

Greenwashing is defined as the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. For example, the term ‘natural’ was found on products in ranging from toys and baby care items to health and beauty products. If unexplained and unsupported, the word ‘natural’ can mean different things to different consumers.

Greenwashing utilizes misdirection to lead consumers to believe issues of sustainability are being properly tackled. Greenwashing takes up valuable space in the fight against significant environmental issues like climate change, plastic pollution, air and ocean pollution. Greenwashing breeds complacency when we need further and stronger action to fight these issues.

Greenwashing has created more problems for the environment and confusion within our waste and reuse systems. For example, any product stating that it is “oxo-degradable” is not truly a biodegradable product. Oxo-biodegradable plastic is made by blending a pro-degradent additive into a plastic during the extrusion process. This additive is a catalyst which speeds up plastic degradation in the environment. Oxo-degradable plastics work by quickly fragmenting plastics into smaller and smaller pieces, called microplastics. However, they don’t break down at the molecular or polymer level like true biodegradable and compostable plastics. The resulting microplastics appear to have been degraded but are actually left in the environment for an indefinite amount of time.

After alarming reports of microplastic pollution in oceans and beaches, the global scientific community intensified its focus into this area. Researchers have since found evidence of microplastic contamination everywhere—in our lakes and rivers, beverages and food supplies.

Biodegradation is a process that occurs when materials are broken down by bacteria, fungi, or other biological means. All material will degrade eventually but Greenwashing has led to products being improperly labeled as Biodegradable. A Greenwashing tactic may label an oxo-degradable plastic as biodegradable because it appears to disappear, or will be invisible to the naked eye in a matter of months or years. However, a truly biodegradable product is composed of only natural ingredients and will fully return to the Earth in the form of natural components in a shorter period of time. A truly biodegradable product will not leave behind microplastics, toxic chemicals or harmful components.

Due to the fact that all matter could degrade, even if that requires thousands of years for the process to be complete, there is no standard regulation around utilizing the word biodegradable. The multitude of “biodegradable” options on the market is staggering, and a true biodegradable bioplastic should be certified and verified with test results to prove the biodegradable characteristics.

Certification helps to prevent Greenwashing and the continuation of incorrect disposal of non biodegradable products. A true biodegradable product will degrade down to its most biological form at the end of its life. Unlike petroleum products that disrupt the natural cycle of life, biodegradable products preserve the order of nature by wholly returning to the earth as natural components.

Beware of “biodegradable” claims, and remember to make sure when purchasing biodegradable products that they meet specified BPI-approved, ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards.

New Composite Partners provides tailored services using the knowledge of a global team to advance the interests of environmental products and technologies world-wide.

www.linkedin.com/company/new-composite-partners  

www.newcompositepartners.net

Be a Consumer Brand Standout! Anyone who’s ever shopped for personal care items, groceries or even dog food knows the value of packaging to sway our buying decisions.

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We Discuss Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandates, how we got here, and how to approach the new guidelines.

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The nation’s jobless rate fell to 5.2% in August/September and Wisconsin is at 3.9% with expectations that will continue for the balance of the 2021.  Employers are in a desperate need of skilled employees especially with technical and engineering degrees! However, employers are looking for individuals for ALL manufacturing positions.  In many cases companies have to decline and turn away orders without enough employees to produce the products and services.  We are still seeing the effects of COVID19 especially with female employees who are staying at home in record numbers.  Jobless individuals who are fearful of COVID-19 health are slower to return to the labor market until the virus abates regardless of any of the government assistance programs. We see a large percentage of employees seeking new careers or starting up their own businesses!  We will see more employers REQUIRE masks and SHOTS being mandated as a prerequisite of employment.  We will see a number of people insist to continue working from home with some slowly coming back for 2-3 days as required by companies.  The biggest issue to affect the economy is the government wanting to increase the debt limit and without approval, it will have a MAJOR impact on the economy depending on the outcome!  Finally, we are seeing a breakdown on the supply chain or long delays receiving parts, material, etc. and it is expected to get worse for the next 6 months with long lead times especially in the paper supply chain.

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

The Wisconsin economy overall has done well in spite of COVID19! The 5P Industries and Converting Industries in Wisconsin have been very strong over the past 2 years and we expect it to continue. The Paper companies, Corrugated Box Manufacturers, the Flexible Packaging and the Converting Companies are backlogged with orders and longer and longer lead times.  It has become very difficult to get paper!  We do have weaknesses in the Commercial, Publication and the Direct Mail printing.  We saw a major decline of 19% in 2020 of ALL offset printing.  However, the balance of 2021 is coming back slowly and the first quarter of 2022 should see a good rebound for the balance of 2022 depending on the availability of paper.  The Wisconsin Printing Industry had close to 40,000 employees at its peak with expected employment estimated at 32,000 for 2022. GBIG is gathering more and more data on the number of employees in the other 5P Industries plus converting. The number of timber professionals has been in long-decline estimated 15 years ago at 120,000.  Today, including foresters, loggers and haulers the industry employs about 64,000 said Henry Schienebeck Executive Director of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association.

The good news, we are seeing substantial investments of companies in Wisconsin to meet the demands for the packaging industries with new innovative sustainable and recycled products and we will see more and more of it.  We are seeing a definite movement to use Paper Products and reduce plastic.  Obviously, the key issue is asked, can the Paper and Pulp industry handle it!   Wisconsin has very limited capacity to produce pulp and we are still experiencing issues with our Canada and International suppliers due to COVID19 and transportation issues.   Wisconsin has abundance of trees and without pulp mills; we are dependent on companies outside the United States.  Wisconsin has to re-invest in the paper and pulp industries….more good news coming!

Truly,

Marty Ochs

Executive Director

Green Bay Innovation Group

August 26, 2021 – The United Group (TUG) is pleased to share an exciting announcement among our members: Packaging Systems is acquiring Small Quantity Boxes. Both have been TUG members for several years.

Dennis Tegrootenhuis, President of Small Quantity Boxes, started the company nearly 30 years ago. Since then, the company has evolved into a leading custom and stock packaging provider in Northeast Wisconsin. Their products are manufactured using the highest quality raw materials and the latest box-making technology. According to Dennis, Small Quantity Boxes compliments larger companies by taking on quantities they don’t want to run. Additionally, while many organizations have increased their minimums, Small Quantity Boxes can meet both low and high production orders – with turnaround in as little as 24 hours.

Packaging Systems is also well-known in the industry for providing customized packaging systems across the United States. Their goal is to offer customers the lowest cost per load in an effective and environmentally friendly way. “Not one year has passed in the last 30 years where we haven’t experienced some sort of growth,” Dennis said. “We want to continue this upward trend, and I believe Packaging Systems is our way to do so.”

Dennis and his team at Small Quantity Boxes are excited to be merging with a company like Packaging Systems that has many of the same morals and values as they do. “It’s who you surround yourself with that makes you better at what you do,” he said. “They’re exactly what we were looking for in this next stage.” Together, Small Quantity Boxes and Packaging Systems will create an incredible competitive advantage, including advancements in packaging, robotics, technology, and process. 

TUG members will also benefit from this acquisition. With Small Quantity Boxes under their belt, Packaging Systems can now fulfill the box design, what goes into the box, how it is assembled, the tape, recycling, and more. They handle the entire process from beginning to end for the companies they work with.

About TUG

The United Group® (TUG) is a national, member-owned – group sales, purchasing, and marketing group for independent, B2B distributors of Jan/San, Packaging, Food Service, and Safety products and equipment. Our members recapture profits by earning rebate dollars on their purchases from United Group Preferred Suppliers. Our members are diverse in size and longevity yet united in their common desire to be more profitable and more effective in their respective endeavors.

APPLETON (October 22, 2021)– Davis | Kuelthau, s.c. is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has approved Michael J. Bendel as a shareholder of the firm.

Michael (Mike) has over 25 years of experience strategically developing intellectual property plans to protect businesses while driving business results. He does this by partnering with his clients to discover the value in their ideas and effectively identifying key innovations for patent, trademark, and copyright registrations or as trade secrets.  Sharing his experience, Mike effectively mentors corporate associates in the firm.

“Mike demonstrates all of the legal and personal skills needed to be a successful attorney,” said Joseph E. Tierney IV, President of Davis | Kuelthau, s.c. “He earned the respect of both his colleagues and clients for his quality of work and work ethic.”

Mike earned his Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School and received his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Mathematics from St. Norbert College. In addition, Mike is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.  He serves on the boards Junior Achievement and The Farmory, and is involved with NEW Alliance, The Women’s Fund Grant Committee, and the National Association of Patent Practitioners.

Davis | Kuelthau, s.c. offers an array of innovative legal solutions to business owners and corporations of all sizes, including emerging, middle-market and Fortune 500 companies, high net worth individuals and families, private and institutional investors, and lenders. The firm’s attorneys, who practice from five offices across Wisconsin, have national experience combined with strong community ties.

Contact:

Shannon Daniels

Regional Marketing Manager

920.750.7261

SDaniels@DKattorneys.com

Create beautiful metallic embellishments at a fraction of the cost of traditional metallic ink.

Use our Metallic Infusion system to create eye-catching decorative printing effects that are easily incorporated into packaging, signage, displays, and collateral material, that will provide product differentiation.

Jeff Wooster

Global Sustainability Director

Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics

Jeff Wooster is the Global Sustainability Director for Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics. In this role, he collaborates with the entire value chain to promote and improve the sustainability value of plastic packaging, drive to a more circular economy, and keep plastic waste out of the environment.  Jeff has played a key role in the formation and launch of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global cross-value chain initiative working to eliminate plastic waste from the environment. He is a past president of AMERIPEN and is on the Board of Directors for GreenBlue.  He serves on the steering team for the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance signature initiative on marine debris was a founding member of the Materials Recovery For the Future (MRFF) collaborative.  Additionally, Wooster previously served as chair for American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division Packaging Team and in various leadership roles with many other industry groups.

Wooster joined Dow in 1988, where he spent five years in Polyolefins Product Research. In this role he designed new polyethylene resins and packaging structures and worked to understand fundamental materials science and polymer processing. In 1993 he transferred to the Plastics Technical Service & Development team, where he has held technical responsibility for many of the Company’s key polyethylene customers. He has developed and implemented new technology for various application areas such as stretch film, heavy duty shipping sacks and fresh-cut produce packaging. In 2007 he moved to Marketing & Sales where he assumed responsibility for sustainability for Dow’s North American plastics business and was named to his present position in 2011.

Wooster holds 45 U.S. and foreign patents and has published more than 100 technical papers and presentations. He is a frequently invited guest speaker on the subjects of sustainability and sustainable packaging. Wooster has also been recognized for his many efforts to advance sustainability practices including the American Chemistry Council Responsible Care 2015 Employee of the Year and an inaugural person of the year Trashie Award from the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. When he isn’t staying safer at home, he enjoys traveling beyond Texas’ boundaries to enjoy his favorite hobbies, including football, snow skiing, trying new restaurants, and contributing to the economic development of the world’s top tourist destinations. Jeff especially enjoys spending as much time as possible in Park City, Utah enjoying the mountains and clear, dry air.  When not traveling he and his husband Randy live in Galveston, Texas with their dog Button.   

Wooster received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Iowa State University of Science and Technology.