An Open Source Plastic-Recycling Machine, From the Inventor of Phonebloks
When a young Dutch designer named Dave Hakkens released Plonebloks, a concept for a modular phone, it set the internet on fire and helped Google along the same path. The explosion of attention was an accident. Hakkens, a recent graduate of The Design Academy in Eindhoven, actually had another thesis project in the works that he planned to pursue: Precious Plastics, a series of magpie-like machines that turn discarded plastic bottles and trash into new housewares.
S. Africa firm buys PB mills, 8 others
An Atlanta company that wants to focus on paperboard packaging is selling its Arkansas operations as part of a $105 million deal involving nine U.S. plants that produce multilayer bags, one of which is in Pine Bluff, as well as a Pine Bluff kraft paper mill.
Mondi Group, based in Johannesburg, will buy the Pine Bluff facilities, the plant's current owner, Graphic Packaging Holding Co., said in a statement.
Pienaar named vice president, education, for World Packaging Organisation
Pienaar had association with the WPO in the 1990s in his role as president of the Institute of Packaging South Africa. After becoming involved with the AIP in 2002, he began the push for Australia to become a member of the WPO, which came to fruition in 2010.
During his term as AIP president (2010-2012), Pienaar played a significant role in ensuring AIP’s membership on the WPO’s Education and Marketing Committees.
AfDB at 50 - Paving the Way to Africa's Economic and Social Transformation
The African Development Bank (AfDB) launched its golden jubilee celebrations on April 22 in Tunis in a colourful ceremony mingled with sober reflections on the Bank's development journey and how to tackle Africa's future challenges.
AfDB President Donald Kaberuka paid tribute to the Bank's founding fathers and to the pioneers who worked so hard to kick-start the institution. He also reiterated the need for the Bank to continue to be dynamic and innovative in trying to tackle Africa's development challenges.
Echoing Kaberuka, the Chairman of the Bank's Board of Governors and Rwanda's Finance Minister, Claver Gatete, noted that the institution has evolved tremendously to become Africa's premier development finance organization and knowledge broker on African development issues.
