It Was Never About The Straws BY RACHEL KAGAN
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
OHIO BLOW PIPE/ADVANCED AIRSYSTEMS www.obpairsystems.com For 85 years the Ohio Blow Pipe company and its whol- ly owned subsidiary, Advanced Airsystems, have provided the corrugated and folding carton industries with systems and products to process scrap. We engineer, fabricate, in- stall, service, provide system audits, and offer a wide range of scrap systems, dust collection systems and products to include cyclones, under roof AIR-SCREEN™ systems, pit belt systems, CLEANAIR dust collectors, Mist-Clone™ dust control systems for vacuum feeds, material handling fans, ductwork, switch valves, airveyors, balers, and shredders. OMP www.omp.com OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow and thrive by offering the best digitized sup- ply chain planning solution on the market. Its Unison Plan- ning concept has a unique approach. It handles all supply chain planning challenges in a unified way, synchronizing all planning stages, horizons, functions and roles. Hundreds of customers run OMP’s cloud-based solution to generate more value by making informed decisions. OMP invests one out of every three dollars earned into innovation.
Every so often, a new packaging item ends up with a bull’s- eye on its back. One year it’s plastic bags. The next year, it’s paper bags. Ironically, it’s rarely the reusable bag that gets the same attention — despite the average Canadian owning 23 of them, which might even seem low when you open your closet or trunk and see the ever-growing stock- pile of reusable bags (often made of plastic, typically not recyclable, and slow to decompose). Most recently, straws – paper or plastic – have taken centre stage. Whether it’s the U.S. Administration’s Nation- al Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws, or promises to bring back plastic straws made during Canada’s recent federal election by the now Official Opposition, straws are making headlines. As Canadian Packaging's George Guidoni recently wrote, “getting bogged down in the pros and cons of pa- per straws hardly seems like the right place to start.” And he’s right. This is not about the straws. PPEC’s latest blog explores what the straw symbolizes in broader conversations about packaging and consump- tion — adding context to help shift the conversation toward more thoughtful, systems-based thinking about packaging sustainability. The straw is a symbol — of our consumption habits, of packaging in general, and of the need for shared re- sponsibility among consumers, businesses, policymakers, and everyone along the recycling and waste management value chain. It represents the broader challenge of find- ing effective, scalable solutions to reduce waste, promote sustainability, and design packaging that can be recycled. But none of that is simple. Because packaging is complicated. While it's easier to target a single item, like a straw or a bag, we need to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Any conversation about packaging must include context — this isn't just about one item or one material. Today’s packaging is far more complex than it was de- cades ago. Modern lifestyles that prioritize convenience — from takeout and delivery services to pre-packaged pro- duce and meal kits — have created a culture of on-the-go consumption that demands more packaging. But with that convenience comes trade-offs: packaging is now made from a wider variety of materials, including multi-material combinations that can be harder to recycle. And those changes have domino effects across the re- cycling and recovery system. Can it be recycled? And are consumers actually recy- cling it? Is the infrastructure there to collect, sort, and pro- cess it? Are there viable end markets available so those materials can be sold and reused? CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
PAPER AND DUST PROS, INC. www.paperanddustpros.com
We custom design, install and service air conveyed scrap and dust collection systems. Our unique APS® is smaller, lighter, and more reliable than current cyclones. Contact us to learn how the APS® System can enhance your operation.
PROFERO SYSTEMS, INC. www.ProferoSystems.com
Profero Systems the leader in double facer heating and traction section conversions and performance enhancing products. Featuring products from Contact Bars and Com- pensating Rolls to New Glue Machines and Double Facers. GF PUHL www.gfpuhl.com GF PUHL designs, manufactures and installs air conveyed scrap & dust collection systems for the packaging and cor- rugated industries. With 42 years of experience, USA and In- ternational. We offer below or above roof systems featuring cyclones OR screen separators with real time pressure bal- ancing for optimal dust control. High efficiency cyclones for sheet transfer exhaust systems eliminate water consump- tion and deliver dust directly to compactor or briquetter for low maintenance, long term sustainability and reliability.
QUEST7, INC. www.Quest7.us
Quest7, Inc. is focused on being a leading manufacturer and distributor of critical parts and materials required in the cor- rugated box industry. Our commitment of “Bringing the Best to You,” reflects the level of quality and customer response in what we do every day.
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June 2, 2025
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