9 March 2010

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that it intends to finalise an action plan on BPA in the very near future. Agency administrator Lisa Jackson reportedly made the remarks on Monday (8 March) at a National Press Club luncheon.

During her speech, she commented on a number of issues, including that of BPA. "Consumers want to know that their products don’t have hidden health and environmental costs. Companies must respond to parents who refuse to buy bottles with BPA in them, or that leach dangerous chemicals into drinking water."

Malcolm Harrison has been named Group Director Plastic Packaging of Rexam, charged with focusing the company's global plastic packaging resources on creating value-added product and service solutions that help customers build their brands and businesses.

Harrison has previously held positions with Mars, Britvic Soft Drinks, Bass Brewers, InBev and Nestle.

Bemis Co has completed its US$1.2 billion acquisition of the Food Americas business of Alcan Packaging. The sale included 23 flexible packaging facilities mainly producing products for the food and beverage industries. All of the plants are located in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and US.

2009 consolidated net sales for the unit were $1.4bn.

Chief executive Henry Theisen said, "During the next two years, we expect to generate strong cash flow which we will use to invest in growth opportunities, pay down debt and deliver attractive total returns to our shareholders. This acquisition complements our manufacturing capabilities and technological expertise around the world. We are looking forward to an exciting and successful 2010."

In a pioneering approach to recycling, M&S aims to increase the amount of dry recyclables collected at the kerbside by 60,000 tonnes per year by 2015, which would be equivalent to the amount of packaging the company produces annually.

The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) is the first waste authority to agree to the deal and will receive £1.25 million ($1.9m) from M&S over the next five years.

M&S’ head of packaging, Dr Helene Roberts, said: “This is a pioneering project that we believe will change the face of recycling in the UK. We are providing funding directly to the people that can make a difference – local authorities.”

The funds should allow SWP to purchase new vehicles and allow it to collect plastics bottles and cardboard in its kerbside for the first time.

Turnover in the industry was €12.5 billion ($17bn) while production volume shrunk by around 8 per cent to 3.8 million tonnes.

However, despite these slumps, IK claims that most companies managed to maintain jobs, and the association is encouraged by the €300m ($410m) of funding that Deutsche Bank will be supplying to medium sized companies.

“This is a sensible way to support company equity and therefore is a good way forward in this situation,” says IK managing director Ulf Kelterborn.

The last two months have shown an increase in turnover, which gives reason for optimism in 2010.

Sales were CHF 6.614 billion (US$6.2bn) in 2009 compared with CHF 8.071bn ($7.5bn) the previous year, as they were impacted by lower demand levels, which resulted in significant capacity underutilisation and a depressed gross margin in the first quarter.

As the year progressed, capacity utilisations rose as sales volumes improved quarter-by-quarter, therefore reducing capacity utilisation costs. In addition, the company took decisive measures to address production overcapacity such as temporary shutdowns, short time work or involuntary vacation. Clariant was able to maintain sales prices at 2008 levels, while on the other hand raw material prices were lower.

Although operating income decreased, Clariant reported a reduction in its net debt to CHF 545 million ($510.7m) from CHF 1.209bn ($1.1bn) the previous year.