Ahead of the Curve Archive

Vision Quest, Part 3: Serial Vision

01 Jun 2018 The problem with Vision is spelled out in my previous article, Vision Quest, Part 1: What You Get is Rarely What You Need. I wrote, "Most Visions (are) nothing more than a meaningless poster on the wall!" Until the problem is recognized, identified, and owned, nothing ever changes.

Canadian Newsprint Tariffs Taking a Toll

23 May 2018 This article also appeared in TAPPI's Over the Wire newsletter on May 14, 2018, and is offered here for Ahead of the Curve readers who may have missed it.

Spotlight on Young Professionals

16 May 2018 Workforce development issues are always top-of-mind for pulp and papermakers. In the face of the "silver tsunami" of retiring workers—especially in the manufacturing sector—attracting and hiring the best and brightest will be critical to our industry's future.

Paper and Packaging: A Mothers' Day Essential

09 May 2018 Here at Ahead of the Curve we're great believers in the power of paper and packaging to improve our everyday lives. After all, our readers are the women and men who make paper possible! With Mother's Day approaching (Sunday, May 13), we have rounded up some of the ways that this heartfelt holiday simply wouldn't be the same without paper and packaging.

Ford goes further with renewable nanomaterials

02 May 2018 The following article will appear in the May/June issue of Paper360°, and is offered as a special "sneak peek" for AoTC readers. To hear Dr. Kiziltas' keynote presentation, attend the TAPPI Nano Conference.

In Defense of Flushable Wipes

25 Apr 2018 Wastewater operators in North America are facing an increased amount of solid waste being inappropriately flushed down toilets, causing pipe and pump clogs in wastewater systems. In concert, they have provided talking points to local media everywhere that the major culprit is the toileting wipe marketed as a "Flushable Wipe." I'd like to correct the record and help the communities understand the real causes of wastewater system clogs.

Meet Some of Our Industry's Best

18 Apr 2018 Right now at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC, hundreds of papermaking professionals are gathering at PaperCon 2018. Designed by industry professionals, PaperCon draws CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers, and suppliers from more than 32 different countries for a comprehensive conference that includes a peer-reviewed technical program, multiple networking opportunities, special events, and exhibits.

Vision Quest, Pt.2: How to Get What You Really Need

11 Apr 2018 My previous column, Vision Quest: What You Get is Rarely What You Need, includes the following thoughts: "The core problem is relatively simple and probably obvious… Every organization puts these things together, but too often no one outside of the 'must-know' crowd can remember what the heck the words are, let alone what they mean. They are just another meaningless poster on the wall…

Prize funds research into cellulose-based aerogels

04 Apr 2018 As reported by RISE Bioeconomy (innventia.com), Fernando Alvarado, a researcher at RISE Bioeconomy, has been awarded this year's Skills Prize from the Gunnar Sundblad Research Foundation. The award of SEK 500,000 (about US$59,600) will be used to initiate a Swedish research platform for cellulose-based aerogel particles that can, among other things, replace traditional absorbents, thickeners and microplastics. The prize will be awarded by HMK Carl XVI Gustaf on April 17, 2018, during the Forestry Week in Stockholm.

Our Carbon Footprint: How do paper products fit in?

21 Mar 2018 A household carbon footprint refers to the overall amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by all the energy and materials consumed by those who live in a home as they go about their daily lives. It is a common measure of the contribution of a single household to climate change.