May 23, 2016 | Uncategorized
It’s been a while since my last resin pricing update, so I wanted to send you a note about what’s been happening in the market over the last few months.
Resin suppliers were able to push through two resin price increases—5 cents in March and 4 cents in April—for a total of 9 cents.
As for May, there isn’t a clear increase on the table, so my feeling is pricing will remain flat through the end of the month. Looking ahead to summer, it’s much too early to say what’s in store, but I will update you again as soon as I have some solid news to report.
If you have any questions about this update or anything else at all, please let us know. Thank you for your continued business, and we look forward to serving you.
Mar 23, 2016 | Uncategorized
Last summer, we reported that Hawaii became the first of our fifty states to ban the use of plastic grocery bags. Since then, many other potential bag bans have made news—most at the local level—but none have achieved the profile of Hawaii’s statewide ban.
Now, in response to the many cities and states attempting to ban plastic grocery bags, several states are considering laws that ban the bans.
According to a recent Plastics News article, Arizona is leading the most aggressive effort to ban bag bans, with Gov. Douglas Ducey signing three laws into effect over the past year. The first one barred “any municipality from regulating the sale or use of single-use plastic bags as well as foam containers, boxes, cans and bottles,” but was the target of a lawsuit. After the bill was modified, the governor signed the new version into law without issue. The third law, which the governor just signed this month, “says any state legislator can ask the attorney general’s office to investigate whether a local ordinance or policy is contrary to state law. It could put Bisbee, the only municipality in Arizona to have a bag ban on the books, in the crosshairs, since Bisbee officials say the new state law banning regulation of plastic bags does not apply to its ordinance.”
Missouri recently attempted to ban bag bans as well, but the bill was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon because, according to the same Plastics News article, it also attempted “to bar cities from setting a minimum wage.” Other states with proposed bans on bag bans include Idaho, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
As we’ve mentioned before, these types of bans don’t affect our products specifically, but we find them newsworthy because they impact a closely related industry. We’ll continue to keep you updated on issues like these and more.
If you have any questions about this topic or anything else at all, please let us know. As always, thank you for your continued business, and we look forward to serving you.
Oct 29, 2015 | Uncategorized
Earlier this year I posted a note about lead times and I wanted to update you again about our current production outlook.
Right now we’re meeting 99% of due dates and have lead times of 2-3 weeks. Our lead time projections are usually built with sufficient buffer in order to address urgent customer needs. That is still the case, but our buffer zone is very tight right now.
As I mentioned in my earlier note, anything you can do to monitor your needs and give as much lead time as you can will help us serve you better and would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions about this update or anything else at all, please let us know. Thank you for your continued business, and we look forward to serving you.
Oct 7, 2015 | Uncategorized
Because we’re committed to using only the best polyethylene resin—resin that meets FDA standards for food contact, can be manufactured to tight dimensional tolerances, and meets our high standards for strength and clarity—we use only virgin polyethylene. That is, polyethylene that hasn’t yet been recycled or reprocessed and is free from any impurities.
With that said, we know it’s important to limit any impact our materials may have on the environment. That’s why 100% of any internal scrap we produce during the manufacturing process is sent off to recyclers where it can be reprocessed and made into other products.
While we try to minimize waste in the manufacturing process, some scrap is inevitable. Because we use top-of-the-line resin, our scrap is easy to recycle and reuse and therefore highly valued by recyclers. Some common products made from recycled polyethylene are trash bags and building materials.
We live in a time when environmental concern is essential. It only makes sense as far as we’re concerned—recycling and reprocessing has been part of our approach since we opened our doors nearly 30 years ago, and it will always be that way.
Aug 10, 2015 | Uncategorized
When I touched base with you in June, I mentioned the possibility of a 5-cent resin increase in July. Now that July has come and gone, I can report that the increase didn’t go through and has since been pushed to August.
The Plastics Exchange noted in a recent newsletter that “eroding export prices are challenging fresh sales,” and that “plentiful resin supplies, as well as ample inventory throughout the chain, have stymied producer efforts” to implement price increases.
Looking ahead with this information in mind, it is my guess that the August increase is up in the air as well, but I will certainly keep you informed of any developments.
If you have any questions about this update or anything else at all, please let us know. Thank you for your continued business, and we look forward to serving you.
