Thomas, the leader in product sourcing, supplier selection, and marketing solutions for industry manufacturing, released its '2020 Q4 Top Manufacturing Trends,' identifying the top products and services sourced by North American manufacturers, as well as sharing predictions for 2021 industrial sourcing trends. 

Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork processor, announced that it is actively preparing for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to employees and has medical capabilities at its U.S. plants. Meatpacking workers were among the groups hit hardest by the new coronavirus last year.

Metsä Board partnered with packaging design agency, Futupack, and corrugated board converter, Capertum, to manufacture a corrugated mask bin for the disposal of face masks. The design focuses on the materials, usability and disposability of the bin.

After its best year since 1998, according to Bloomberg, Clorox Company is planning on rolling out more pocket-sized packs of disinfecting wipes. With the plastic tubs of 35 to 75 wet wipes being a coveted item during the Covid-19 pandemic, more flat packets of are being added for on-the-go travel.

Has sustainability taken a backseat as concerns about COVID-19 continue to dominate? News cycles have shifted. Coverage of and concerns about the negative impacts that plastic and other non-sustainable items have on the environment seems to have declined a bit. People have turned to single use items in droves—disinfecting wipes, paper masks, plastic grocery bags—things that don’t have more than one “touch point” to avoid possible virus transfer. 

Personally, I now understand why take-your-child-to-work day only happens once a year instead of Every. Single. Day. I also don’t think I ever want to work in an office where you can bring your pets — and I’m only having to deal with my own. 

Vericool, the inventors of the world’s first recyclable/biodegradable cooler, has developed a worldwide sustainable thermal solution for shipping COVID-19 vaccines that is both recyclable and compostable.  

Tekni-Plex Sniff Seal technology enables scent permeation through the induction-sealed closure liner and is compatible with mask wearing.