On a recent holiday to Prince Edward Island, I was served a drink with a paper straw … the first paper straw I have seen in a long time! I could hardly contain my excitement and began talking to the waitress about my “paper” life. She responded by saying “yes, there is a paper movement underway” … Wow! Interesting that someone outside the paper industry is saying this. Recent stories about the impact of materials in our waste streams - like plastic in our oceans, or the increasing amounts of electronic waste - have changed how companies think about the materials used in their manufacturing process. There is a movement to get away from the "one-and-done" model of the linear economy, toward a more “circular economy,” where the reuse, refurbishment, recycling and end-of-life disposal of a product factors into the manufacturing design. In a circular economy, manufacturing is done in a way that builds the overall health of the process - financially, environmentally and socially. Click Read More below for additional information.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement in opposition to the Maryland General Assembly's efforts to alter the state's definition of qualifying biomass in the renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS): "The forest products industry in Maryland produces almost $1.8 billion in products annually, employing approximately 6,000 people who work in facilities that produce essential products. The bioenergy from forest products manufacturing residuals is a carbon neutral, renewable energy that provides enormous greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits - roughly the equivalent to removing 35 million cars from the road.

Mactac® announces its role as a leading member in the newly founded CELAB (Circular Economy for Labels) global consortium, which promotes recycling in the self-adhesive label industry. CELAB is an industry initiative, comprised of more than 30 companies in the self-adhesive label industry, to create greater circularity for industry products by enhancing and promoting matrix and release liner recycling around the world. “This coalition is designed to create a powerful, positive impact on environmental sustainability in the self-adhesive label industry on a global level,” says Clunie. “Reaching across the entire value chain, we will provide education, encourage adoption of best practices and work to develop cost-effective solutions that collectively advance label recycling for all, including label printers and end-users.”