Extrusion International 2-2023-USA

32 Extrusion International 2/2023 32 INDUSTRY NEWS Gold Rating, Higher Sustainability Score Achieved Orion announced it has received a Gold medal rating from EcoVadis, an independent organization that as- sesses the performance of companies in a wide range of sustainability areas. Orion improved its score from the previous year, mov- ing up from 72 to 77 points – just one point away from receiving a Platinum medal rating. The company is now in the 99th percentile of companies assessed by EcoVadis. “The way Orion was able to jump five points in one year and reach the top 1% of companies shows how the many improvements we have made can add up to a big change,”OrionCEOCorning Painter said. “We are so close to Platinumnowandwill continue to strive for that goal as we deliver sustainable solutions to our customers.” EcoVadis reviews companies’ performance in the ar- eas of environment, ethics, sustainable procurement, overall sustainability governance, labor and human rights. The organization says it assesses more than 100,000 companies in over 200 industries in more than 175 countries. Orion’s most recent sustainability initiatives have in - cluded installing control equipment at its U.S. plants that is substantially reducing emissions. The company is producing innovative products with pyrolysis oils from end-of-life tires and bio-circular feedstocks. Ori- on also plans to expand production of acetylene-based conducive additives for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. Elimination of Bottlenecks in the Post-Treatment Unit for High-Jetness Carbon Blacks Orion Engineered Carbons, said it has debottle- necked a post-treatment unit at its Cologne, Germa- ny, plant that produces high-jetness specialty carbon blacks. The debottlenecking enables Orion to increase pro- duction capacity and also produce beads in addition to powder. High-jetness carbon blacks deliver a deep black masstone with a bluish undertone and are popu - lar in automotive coatings. “It’s challenging to push jetness above certain levels, and Orion is one of only a few carbon black producers that can do it,” said Markus Mahn, director of Global Marketing for Coatings. “Demand was high last year and continues to be strong this year.” Orion has plans to install a second post-treatment unit at its Cologne facility due to the rapidly growing demand for the company’s premium grades. Orion Engineered Carbons orioncarbons.com PLASTICS President & CEO Matt Seaholm’s Op-ed in The Washington Times The Washington Times has fea- tured an op-ed written by Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) President and CEO, Matt Seaholm, on how Congress and the plastics in- dustry can work together to reduce plastic waste. Matt Seaholm: “In a recent public hearing of the U.S. Senate Environ- ment and Public Works Subcommit - tee on “plastics use and reducing plastic waste,” I delivered a mes- sage on behalf of our industry that may have surprised the other wit - nesses: we love plastic; we hate plastic waste - And we are open to well-crafted legislation that helps us reduce that plastic waste. I shared this not only to offer clarity regard- ing our commitment to reduce plas- tic waste for Chairman Jeff Merkley (OR-D), who likely expected some- thing different, but to verbally ex- tend our earnest hope for legisla- tive and policy collaboration as we begin the 118th Congress.” The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is the only organization that supports the entire plastics sup - ply chain, including Equipment Sup- pliers, Material Suppliers, Processors and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $468 bil- lion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advanc- es the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabili- ties and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essen- tial products that allow for the pro - tection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the sixth largest U.S. manufacturing indus- try, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through edu- cational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening op- portunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE2024: The Plastics Show. www.plasticsindustry.org Matt Seaholm