Meyer: What makes a year memorable?

From a journalist's perspective, I tend to judge a year by the stories we've covered in the rubber and tire industry.

What led the headlines. Who are new sources I met, or others I reconnected with.

And looking at 2023, it's also how this year naturally is flowing into 2024, with many of the top stories reading like a cliffhanger, with the ending "TBD"—to be determined.

Personally, covering the saga of PFAS dominated a lot of my time this year. It was a topic that first crossed our radar in 2022, and it became clear early in 2023 that it was something that those selling or using fluoroelastomers or fluoropolymers would have to pay attention to.

During the year, the European Union proposed its restriction regulation; a number of big-dollar lawsuit settlements involving FKM suppliers came down; the U.S. EPA stepped up its activity; and a number of states proposed or enacted their own legislation.

And users of 3M Co.'s Dyneon-brand FKMs and fluoropolymers will have to find alternate suppliers going forward, as the industry giant is exiting everything to do with the "forever chemicals."

Another story that made plenty of headlines in 2023 and will continue to do so is 6ppd and its impact on the coho salmon. Andrew Schunk has become our resident expert on that story and will be keeping his eye on the efforts to come up with potential alternatives to this long-relied upon material.

Goodyear and its plans to remake itself through its Goodyear Forward initiative was brought on by a letter from a large shareholder group. And putting that plan into action will go forward in 2024 in tandem with the search for a new chairman and CEO to replace the retiring Richard Kramer.

I also had the privilege of sharing the stories of a number of people new to our publication. Exciting leaders such as Magen Buterbaugh, the first female CEO in Greene Tweed's 150-year history.

Top scientific minds like Anke Blume, the first woman to be honored with the ACS Rubber Division's Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award.

And Wayne Embry Jr., president and CEO of North Shore Rubber L.L.C., who is trying to take its relationship with Canada's Tyromer Inc. and build a successful business focusing on the recycling of non-tire rubber goods.

I reconnected with some other sources as I was able to attend in-person meetings of NAHAD and the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers for the first time since before the pandemic. And the Rubber Division's International Elastomer Conference returned to more traditional attendance levels.

Rubber News also presented its initial class of Women Breaking the Mold. It was inspiring to hear what attracted the honorees—both newcomers and veterans alike—to careers in the rubber industry. It's clear, however, that the rubber, tire and other industrial sectors have much work to do to bridge the gap both in terms of numbers and, more importantly, in wages.

You can learn more about these and other stories—along with a wide range of industry data—in this fourth annual edition of The Book.

And then we can all start thinking about what stories and people will make 2024 memorable.

Meyer is editor of Rubber News. Reach him at [email protected].