Rhoda Miel

Assistant Managing Editor at Plastics News

I just pretend to be a plastics expert.

Featured in: Favicon

plasticsnews.com Favicon

autonews.com Favicon

rubbernews.com Favicon

sustainableplastics.com Favicon

plasticsnewseurope.com

Articles

Kickstart: Super shoes and sustainability

6 days ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

Super shoes and sustainability The man who helped bring carbon fiber to running shoes and converted recycled PET bottles to Olympic uniforms is getting ready to retire. John Hoke, Nike Inc.'s chief innovation officer, is set to step down from his post later this year. He's been with the sportswear giant since 1992, initially focused on creating company stores, but moving up into design and new developments for clothing and shoes.
Bridging opportunities | Weighing in on waste | Thermoforming better products | Plastics News

1 week ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

Being a good corporate citizen and neighbor sometimes means building bridges. Literally, in the case of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., where employees from CP Chem's Pasadena and Cedar Bayou, Texas, plants donated 20 hours to build a bridge at a children's play center. The Bridge Over Troubled Waters Inc. provides shelter and assistance to women and children escaping abusive relationships.
SPE honors top thermoformed parts of 2025

1 week ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

A better medical cart, electric vehicle components, packaging for power tools, shower surrounds and other items took home awards in the Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Division's 2025 parts competition. The winners were named during the division's recent annual meeting in Atlanta. Profile Plastics Inc. of Lake Bluff, Ill., took both the People Choice Award and a silver in the Cut Sheet Heavy Gauge Pressure Form division for the covers it created for a new medical cart application.
Littering for science | SPE ready to play its role in treaty talks | Paper straws face new struggles | Plastics News

1 week ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

This is a story of intentional littering involving 40 brightly colored plastic bottles in a North Carolina stream. But in this case, the waste is being done solely for research and to combat trash. Researchers at North Carolina State University, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sea Grant program, released 40 bottles into the Marsh Creek watershed in Raleigh, N.C., this spring.
Kickstart: Recycling is for children

1 week ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

Recycling is for children A 6-year-old boy in the United Kingdom may have done more to boost polypropylene recycling than most grown-ups, collecting 2,500 polypropylene food containers in just two years. Those containers are now being turned into benches, picnic tables and agility equipment for dog parks. And yes, that means that the boy started collecting tubs for recycling when he was just 4 years old.
Kickstart: Safer buildings for birds

2 weeks ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

Safer buildings for birds Decorative film is saving birds' lives — at least that's a lesson to take away from a $1.2 million project at Chicago's McCormick Place. In 2023, the convention center was the site of 2,000 bird deaths in a single night as migrating birds became confused by the reflections in a wall of glass around the building and flew into the side of McCormick.
Kickstart: Stopping spills for 40 years

2 weeks ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

Stopping spills for 40 years It's time to raise a foodservice cup or glass and toast LidWorks on 40 years of helping us all reduce the number of spills from our to-go drinks. Plant City, Fla.-based thermoformer LidWorks is a leading supplier to quick-service and fast-casual restaurant chains, turning out lids for both hot and cold beverages.
Kickstart: Saving Apollo 13 with duct tape and plastic bags

2 weeks ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

Saving Apollo 13 with duct tape and plastic bags We all know that duct tape is a versatile tool. For one example, just consider the Apollo 13 mission, when NASA astronauts failed in their attempt to land on the moon, but NASA engineers successfully brought them home safely thanks to an emergency repair involving plastic bags, a hose and, yes, duct tape, which is made with polyethylene film, fabric and adhesive.
Kickstart: The next generation of leaders

2 weeks ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

The next generation of leaders This year's Plastics News Rising Stars make me feel unaccomplished. The 30 young professionals featured in the May 19 issue of PN — and online at plasticsnews.com — are patent holders, Ph.D.s, plant managers, tax gurus and leaders in both their businesses and communities. And they've made these breakthroughs in their 20s and 30s. This inadequacy isn't a new feeling.
Kickstart: Studying — and embracing — a flat-footed Barbie

3 weeks ago | plasticsnews.com | Rhoda Miel

Studying — and embracing — a flat-footed Barbie Ever since the Barbie doll debuted in 1959, her plastic molded body has been used as a representation of American women's body image issues, career opportunities, diversity and social status. The movie Barbie used the doll and her companions as stand-ins to debate female empowerment. So, why not base a research study involving shoe choice and women's opportunities on the shape of a Barbie doll's foot?