Yo, Mr. Trump! (Dare I call him President?). Another EO!  What now, what else are you going to try to undo? What mindless, untoward thought, egotistical move are you going to try to make now? I don’t hate you, because hate isn’t in my vocabulary. But I dislike you intensely. And, because I’m not part of an organization, or the editor of a newspaper or magazine, I can speak my mind.

I am so, so disappointed. I don’t think the Paris Accord was entirely fair to America, but it was a start. Unlike the Kyoto Treaty, which America never signed, the Paris Agreement gave us a chance to participate, to change and lead.  We would have, and legally still can, make changes to make the agreement more equitable for the US. But no, Trump has to attempt to circumvent “the deal.” Thank goodness for the Jerry Browns of America, who will keep us in the game.  He is the antithesis of Donald Trump. He is driving the State of California to reduce solid waste and greenhouse gas. He is leading environmental change throughout the world. Maybe the US will secede from the Paris Accord. Not California. And, trust me, this means something:  California is the fifth or sixth largest power in the world, depending on your method of calculation. His actions make his state a committed environmental citizen of the world. Go Jerry!

Okay, I feel better having unloaded all my anger and frustration. This column was originally intended to be the first of a two part series on bio-chemistry, and how it is beginning and can bring change to our industry. Sadly, because of Mr. Trump’s Executive Order to withdraw America from the Paris Accord, I need to deviate, not so much to bash his decision, as to celebrate the progress we’ve made, the changes and movements that are occurring in America and the world, both governmentally and privately. I wrote several columns ago that the groundswell of change is too strong for the current administration to ignore. Environmental improvement is occurring. Change is happening, albeit very slowly. However, the world is waking up to the importance of change, regardless of Mr. Trump and his view of global warming. We are reducing packaging waste. We are using more renewable energy. We are focused on carbon dioxide reduction, retention and redeployment. State governments, not just California, are committed to improving and supporting environmental programs that reduce and eliminate waste.  And, best of all, the private sector has discovered that sustainability builds a better bottom line, not only better, but a more robust bottom line. Further, it’s not just the supply chain, it’s all employees in every aspect of the supply chain, who recognize the importance of environmental improvement. Mr. Trump’s decision to exit the Paris Agreement will probably backfire: the rank and file here in America, in my view, are committed to continued focus and improvement of sustainability goals that align with the general objectives of both the Kyoto and Paris Accords. This is very exciting. Mr. Trump’s EO action is nothing more than adding stimulus, creating a sense of urgency to “get going.”

In the next issue I’ll review green chemistry, bio-chemicals, and bio-based polyols. Here, in this column, let me throw a few darts at Mr. Trump’s position on the Paris Accord. First, I believe withdrawal from the agreement is a signal to the rest of the world that America “doesn’t care” about the environment. That can’t be further from the truth and I’ll give you a few examples:

• • Flexible packaging manufacturers that make multi-layered substrates are getting closer and closer to solving the problem of recyclability.  This industry has historically focused on reduced production costs, better shipping and transportation efficiencies and higher sales of end products because of shelf appeal. Now the industry is beginning to focus on end of life and circle economy. Kudos to this packaging segment for waking up!
• •  The chemical industry continues to focus on using more and more natural polymers. For example, CNSL, the acronym for cashew nutshell lignin. Historically, CNSL, as a by-product of the cashew industry, was discarded, landfilled. Today the industry makes “cardanol,” which is a natural phenolic compound. Cardanol has interesting chemical structural features, which makes it similar to petro-based epoxy chemistry.
• • The demand for “green” coatings is forecast to grow at 5% per year from 2015 to 2020 by market research firm, Lucintel. The drivers, according to Lucintel, are demand by end use markets, stronger environmental regulations (sorry Mr. Pruitt), and a growing awareness of the damage caused by end use markets. (Read my column on the use of neonicotinoids, or neonics for short.)
• • Energy usage is obviously a critical part of improvement in sustainability. All sectors of manufacturing, here and throughout the world, are increasingly focused on not just energy reduction because of efficiency programs, but the use of green energy. Green energy obviously includes wind, solar and geothermal. It also includes the diversion of non-recyclables into energy applications. I have written about pellets and cubes made from these streams. Now there is something else, fluff. Fluff is made from the same non-recyclable feedstocks used to make pellets.  The difference is that it is not compressed into a pellet or cube. The feedstocks are shredded and conveyed directly into boilers as a replacement for both coal and gas. This growing application could change the landscape for non-recyclables. And, fluff fits into the messages from Avery Dennison and Amcor. Ron Delia, CEO of Amcor, says, “Packaging waste includes the loss of resources when packaging is not recovered or recycled.”

Everything has become so intertwined. Avery Dennison has listened to the messages from Mr. Delia and the CEO of Unilever, Paul Polman. Their objective is zero landfill by 2025. Fluff is a part of the solution, no question. Buying green energy from the grid is also part of the solution. Yes, we are seeing progress. Yes, slowly, change is occurring.

I wanted very much to introduce you to the non-profit, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Some of you may know them. For those who don’t, they are the most preeminent organization in the world focused on renewable energy. Jules Kortenhorst, CEO, wrote a brilliant response to the Trump decision to exit the Paris Accord. You can find it online under the RMI website. Jules is less emotional, less angry, and more practical in his response than this writer. In a very nice but strong response, he says Trump is making a mistake in removing us from the process of change. Please take the time to read his full response.

One aspect Jules fails to mention is the fact that America won’t be leaving the Paris Accord any time too soon. Ha ha. Trump has been trumped by the terms of the agreement. You see it takes more than a speech and an EO to make change. Under the terms of the agreement (the deal, right?), the earliest any country can leave is November 4, 2020.  That’s 3 ½ years from now. (Coincidentally, this is one day after our next presidential election. Hmm, I wonder . . . ) So, the next several years will be busy ones. While Trump and his gang try to dismantle the Clean Air Act, the active participants in the Paris Accord will try to make a more equitable agreement. Readers, trust me, we’re better to be part of a process than to say “impossible.” The Clean Air Act isn’t perfect. But it has started a process of improvement, fewer emissions, less CO2. The Kyoto and Paris Accords aren’t perfect, but they have started a process of focus that we must change if we are going to create a more balanced environment. The CEO’s of many large international companies like UPM, Avery Dennison, Unilever and Amcor get it.

I trust you do, too.

Another Letter from the Earth.



Calvin Frost is chairman of Channeled Resources Group, headquartered in Chicago, the parent company of Maratech International and GMC Coating. His email address is
[email protected].