Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
Dec 20, 2017 - “The Brexit and the European Plastics Converting Industry” has been published jointly by the British Plastics Federation and the European Plastics Converters Association.Brexit
A year and a half have passed since the Brexit referendum, and following months of negotiations, Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker announced that “sufficient progress” has been made to allow the beginning of the next phase: the talks about the future relationship between the EU and the UK.
In the light of these developments, the European Plastics Converters Association (EuPC) and the British Plastics Federation (BPF) have drafted a joint position paper, emphasising the need to develop a deep and comprehensive agreement that eliminates customs and minimises possible non-tariff barriers.
In a joint statement, Alexandre Dangis, EuPC managing director and Philip Law, BPF director-general, said: “In the interest of the European plastics converting industry, we ask the European Commission and the British Government to avoid any disturbances of the current trade with plastics and plastic products between the UK and the EU, especially in the second phase of the negotiations on possible sector trade issues.”
The BPF and EuPC stressed that plastics is an international business and the UK is the most important trade partner of the EU27 for manufactured plastic articles. In 2016, the EU27 exported goods with a trade value above €6.6bn to the UK. The same applies the other way around, in 2016, the intra EU exports of the UK amounted to over €4.5bn, which is 68% of the UK’s total plastic products exports. Additionally, there is considerable ownership of UK plastics businesses by EU companies from other member states and vice versa.
They added that restrictions to the free movement of labour could worsen the already existing shortage of qualified personnel that the European plastics converting industry is facing, and legal differences in the highly regulated plastics industry could become major barriers to international trade and investments.
The EUs flagship programme to create a circular economy can only be addressed in conjunction with the UK as a partner with the EU.
The major risks of a hard Brexit include the imposition of customs duties and other non-tariff barriers such as regulatory barriers or custom checks. Any of those barriers would have negative impacts on the highly integrated plastics converting industry. Therefore, the BPF and EuPC strongly believe that a temporary or permanent agreement should include:
The confirmation of duty-free trade between the EU27 and the UK. Mutual recognition of regulatory procedures and standards, especially REACH regulation. Customs procedures that are as efficient, simple and fast as possible.
More detailed information is available in the full joint position paper that can be found on the EuPC Website
| Source: packagingnews.co.uk || December 20, 2017 |||
Dec 20, 2017 - Virgin Hyperloop One has set a new speed record at its DevLoop test center outside of Las Vegas. During its third test phase, which was completed on December 15, an unmanned test pod reached a speed of nearly 387 km/h (240 mph) while running through an evacuated cylinder depressurized to 0.0002 atmospheres (0.003 lb/in²), or the equivalent air pressure of an altitude of 200,000 feet (37 mi, 61 km) above sea level.
According to Virgin Hyperloop One, the December tests not only saw a record speed run that broke the company's previous best of 310 km/hr (193 mph), but included trials of a new airlock system to allow the pods to move between the 500 m (1,600 ft) evacuated tube and normal air pressure, as well as the electric motor, controls and power electronics, magnetic levitation and guidance, and pod suspension systems. The end goal is to develop a transportation system capable of carrying passengers and freight through a system of tubes at airline speeds across continental distances.The prototype travel pod being loaded into the test cylinder
In addition to the speed record, the company confirmed the rumors that Sir Richard Branson had been named non-executive Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop One. The founder of Virgin Group, Sir Richard's Chairmanship comes on the heels of the Group's investment in the company and his joining Hyperloop One's board of directors in October 2017. Since then, the company has rebranded itself as Virgin Hyperloop One.
In further revelations, Virgin Hyperloop One announced that Caspian Venture Capital and DP World have invested an additional US$50 million in the enterprise.
"I am excited by the latest developments at Virgin Hyperloop One and delighted to be its new Chairman" says Sir Richard. "The recent investment by our partners Caspian Venture Capital and DP World sets up the company to pursue opportunities in key markets in the Middle East, Europe, and Russia as it develops game changing and innovative passenger and cargo ground transport systems."
Check out video of the record-breaking run via the source link below.
Source: Virgin Hyperloop One || December 20, 2017 |||
Dec 20, 2017 - SBN’s work on New Zealand’s transition to a circular economy has received a vital boost. Fuji Xerox, 3R Group and Auckland Council have become Foundation Partners of the newly launched Circular Economy Accelerator. The announcement represents a significant investment in scaling and accelerating New Zealand’s transition to a circular economy.
SBN has been working in this area for the last few years. A circular economy is where the lifecycle of materials is maximised, usage optimised and end of life materials reutilised to create a continuous flow.
The new Circular Economy Accelerator launches today. It brings together all SBN’s work on this initiative on a new platform. It will inspire, influence and enable New Zealand organisations to benefit from this globally emergent way of thinking and working.
The new Going Circular Award at this year’s NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards was sponsored by Auckland Council. It received the most entries of any award in SBN’s 15-year history. Project lead James Griffin is delighted by the early-stage investment, which has enabled the launch of the Circular Economy Accelerator.
“This marks a significant step-change in our efforts to scale and speed up this transition,” he says. “It’s also a tribute to the foresight of the companies involved. The Circular Economy is the economy of the future, but it is emerging right now. The companies that get to grips with it early will form the next wave of global success stories.”
Projects such as the Circular Economy Model Office and the Circular Economy Opportunity for Auckland initiative will now be driven on by the Accelerator. The new resource will also provide knowledge, support, connections, events and inspiration.
Peter Thomas is Managing Director of Fuji Xerox New Zealand. He says:
“Fuji Xerox is committed to supporting a circular economy both in New Zealand and across the Asia Pacific region. At Fuji Xerox New Zealand, we believe that our Ministry for the Environment-accredited Product Stewardship Scheme is the first step to a circular economy. We take back our equipment and refurbish it to extend its life. At end of life, we recycle over 99.5% of the equipment and toner cartridges we get back.
“We believe in innovation and working in partnership with our customers and our suppliers. That's why we are delighted to be the first Foundation Partners of the Circular Economy Accelerator. It will be a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and inspiration to make NZ a circular economy.”
Adele Rose is Chief Executive of 3R Group. She says “We’re proud to take a leadership position along with Fuji Xerox, Auckland Council and SBN. Moving from a ‘take, make, waste’ model to a circular economy opens up an exciting new way of doing business. It brings with it a wealth of opportunities for New Zealand companies. It will take a collaborative approach, which we fully embrace as we work with small and large businesses alike on reimagining our resource use.”
Parul Sood is Auckland Council’s General Manager, Waste Solutions. She says industry-led product stewardship is a vital component in efforts to reduce the volume of commercial waste going to landfill.
“Auckland Council is committed to promoting the principles of Circular Economy. We are delighted to be partnering with SBN, Government and industry leaders in this work.”
James adds: “The circular economy represents a viable and low carbon economic solution for the world. New Zealand has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the inevitable transition to the circular economy from the outdated linear model.
“There are some exciting plans for 2018, including a major event and new systems innovation projects. We look forward to working with all our partners and SBN members on this.”
Go to circulareconomy.org.nz now to find out more.
| A sustainable.org release || December 20, 2017 |||
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
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