Sustainability Webinar SCHEDULE

Full details of the series of webinars on the topic of Sustainability that are being run  by AIMCAL.  These events are free but with limited numbers of attendees places available. For details of registering go to www.aimcal.org     Sustainability Webinar SCHEDULE January 8, 2009, 2:00 Eastern Packaging and the Environment: Debunking the Myths Kenneth Marsh,  Kenneth S. Marsh & Associates, Ltd. Abstract: Packaging is often perceived as the filler of landfills, cause for litter, and an item that retailers love to force onto consumers in volume far beyond requirements. None of these statements is true, but a typical consumer does not notice packaging materials until they are discarded. “Packaging and the Environment: Debunking the Myths” will demonstrate how packaging is a key to economic development, necessity for health, and even reduces municipal solid waste. You will leave this session with a clearer perspective on the impact of packaging in the US and around the world.

January 13, 2009, 2:00 Eastern Sustainability - Unraveling the Mystery Jeff Wooster, Dow Chemical Company Abstract: Sustainability has grown tremendously in importance both to the packaging industry and society in general. This paper will present an overview and help the audience understand the big picture view of sustainability including limitations of current approaches and the importance of balancing trade-offs for maximum environmental, social, and economic benefit.

January 22, 2009, 2:00 Eastern Meeting Sustainability Initiatives Without Compromising Performance or Increasing Cost Click HERE to register for this free webinar! Dante Ferrari , Celplast Metallized Products Abstract: This presentation provides a review of how the sustainable packaging initiative has steered the efforts of many companies in the flexible packaging industry. We will also review how the sustainability initiative has directed us to develop products that are made from renewable resources, but do not compromise the functionality required in flexible packaging. Layer elimination and down-gauging have typically been associated with cost savings programs. During this discussion we will also show how sustainability has stimulated these initiatives and the performance products that have come as a result. Click here for the bio

January 29, 2009, 2:00 Eastern Increasing Energy Efficiency in the Web Coating Process Dan Bemi,  MEGTEC Systems Dr. Ed Cohen, Edward D Cohen Consulting Abstract: The Web Coating & Laminating process is very dependent on fossil fuels, petroleum, coal and gas as a source of energy for the numerous process functions, coating, drying, web transport, slitting chopping, lamination, heating buildings etc. Historically, there has been virtually unlimited availability of fossil fuels at reasonable price. As a result, energy costs were minimal and there was little concern about adequate supply. However, in recent years, the costs for fossil fuels have significantly escalated as shown in Table 1 and current prices are $110-120 /barrel for crude oil. Table 1 Year Nominal $/Barrell Inflation Adjusted 2007 2002 $22.81 $26.61 2003 $27.69 $31.62 2004 $37.66 $41.84 2005 $50.04 $53.77 2006 $58.30 $60.73 2007 $64.20 $64.92 In addition, rapid growth in China and India has increased demand and the rate of development of new oil is not matching current consumption. In other words, fossil fuel based energy costs will continue to escalate. In order to remain competitive in this climate of rising energy costs, converters must start focusing on reducing energy consumption, modifying processes to be more efficient, and utilizing renewable resources in production plants. This paper will attempt to identify the major energy users in the coating and laminating processes along with some of the methods used to reduce process energy consumption without sacrificing product quality, process safety or environmental stewardship.   Some of the technical topics to be discussed are as follows: • Basic comparison of energy usage in various coating processes, water-based, solvent-based, solventless, extrusion and hot melt coating etc. • Proven methods for optimizing the energy efficiency of existing and new drying systems. • Modifying coating formulations to reduce energy consumption. • Plant and process energy recovery and recycling opportunities. • Alternate energy sources

February 5, 2009, 2:00 Eastern Dwindling Resources - A Molehill out of a Mountain Charles Bishop, CA Bishop Consutling Abstract: There has been plenty of publicity about the rapid increase in the price of Indium. This price rise was as a result of a number of factors such as it only being mined as a by-product of zinc and their being only limited stockpiles. This was exacerbated by a large increase in its use for transparent conducting coatings for the display industry as well as the newer faster increase in the photovoltaic industry. The net result of this was that companies suddenly found that recycling did make sense and so the supply was enhanced, at least for a time, by the input of recovered indium. Since that time if you have observed the metals trading markets you will have seen all kinds of price increases in materials that heretofore we have thought of as abundant. In reality with the increased world population and increasing affluence, the demand for goods is increasing and the amount of materials being tied up in these goods is increasing. This requires mining more materials and, for some, this is becoming more difficult and expensive as these materials are found to be increasingly scarce. In this paper I will highlight some of the other materials that may be under threat and hence likely to continue to rise in price.