Guest Column: A new virtual event on PFAS and polymers

PFAS is a topic that some say could be the asbestos of this generation. It is an umbrella term for a family of more than 10,000 chemicals that are used in countless products.

Many in the plastics and rubber industries have long thought that they didn't need to pay attention to the growing rumble of regulations and litigation surrounding PFAS, but they are quickly finding that this isn't the case. The European Union is looking at a regulatory proposal that conceivably could ban all PFAS, the U.S. EPA is stepping up its activity, and some U.S. states are considering their own PFAS regulations. In addition, we've reported on litigation resulting in multibillion-dollar awards and settlements.

Companies in the plastics and rubber industries can't afford to sit on the sideline; they need to know how bans and regulations will impact them.

That's why Plastics News, Rubber News and Sustainable Plastics are planning an editorial livestream—PFAS Live—on this important topic.

We'll look at current and likely future PFAS regulations and how they could impact companies in the plastics and rubber supply chains. Sectors include packaging, automotive, industrial, medical, recycling and more. The program will be moderated by Bruce Meyer, editor of Rubber News who has covered recent developments in depth. Confirmed speakers include Jay West, senior director, chemical products and technology at the American Chemistry Council, and Peter Schmitt, an expert on health care packaging and managing director of Montesino Associates.

The livestream is free and is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

While we care about PFAS and polymers, the big PFAS news this week isn't about plastics. It's about paper, specifically straws and cups. For a few days now, I've been seeing headlines from numerous sources like "Paper straws are actually worse that plastic ones."

Karen Laird of Sustainable Plastics covered one of the studies: Belgian scientists tested 39 brands of straws made from five materials—paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic—for the presence of PFAS.

They had hypothesized that straws made of paper were more likely to be contaminated with PFAS, as manufacturers may intentionally add them to make the paper water-repellent. As Karen reported, the theory turned out to be correct, although pinpointing the exact source is difficult.

PFAS concentrations in all the products were low and pose a limited risk to human health. But the authors did stress that paper straws do not necessarily constitute a sustainable alternative to plastic.

"Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body," said Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp, who was involved in this study. He advised consumers to use stainless steel straws, "or just avoid using straws at all."

Because of the pandemic, college students and recent grads may be lacking in some soft skills that employers expect and that will help them get ahead. Things like how to dress for a job interview and how to speak with other professionals.

Michigan State University's business school is stepping up to help, with a class that the school claims is one of the first of its kind in higher education.

"Business Major and Career Exploration" emphasizes the basics of business etiquette.

"Prior to the pandemic, it wasn't as necessary to spell out," Marla McGraw, director of career management at the business school and a teacher of the course, told Crain's Detroit Business.

"Students could pick up a lot of stuff by osmosis. On an internship they'd hear a lot more information than if it were just one person on a screen looking at another person on a screen."

But with remote and hybrid work, some young people aren't learning the skills that working professionals take for granted.

"They think [networking] means shrimp cocktail and wine and everybody really dressed up," McGraw said. "We talk through that networking is just connecting and meeting with people and it doesn't have to have an element of formality to it."

It's a great idea, but I don't think that a lack of soft skills is a problem that's exclusive to Gen Z. Take it from someone who's been interviewing and hiring folks for 30 years—there are plenty of baby boomers who can brush up on their manners!