MEMBER'S QUESTION:

We recently had a customer asking us to provide our processes and certification for traceability of fiber source for our packaging and what certification we have that assures them that we are in compliance.  We responded that both of the suppliers we use are SFI certified and that we are working toward certification by year end. 

That's when I realized that I know nothing about what the Lacey Act actually requires, who it applies to, or anything else.  Can you provide some information regarding this specific Act?

ASKRalph! Responds:

“The Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3371-3378, protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations.  Most notably, the Act prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. Thus, the Act underscores other federal, state, and foreign laws protecting wildlife by making it a separate offense to take, possess, transport, or sell wildlife that has been taken in violation of those laws. The Act prohibits the falsification of documents for most shipments of wildlife (a criminal penalty) and prohibits the failure to mark wildlife shipments (civil penalty). The Lacey Act is administered by the Departments of the Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture through their respective agencies. These include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.”

Source: Michigan State University

MEMBER’S QUESTION:

I am asked quite often for documents and specifications for the glue lap specifications for corrugated boxes. We typically provide a contact or non-contact system that will apply 90-100% coverage depending upon the size of the tab. I have researched and really have not found anything worthwhile. Do you have any specifications or could you lead me in the right direction? I believe the most common questions we are asked is what are the specifications for glue coverage on a typical tab 1.25” width, 1.50” width, 1.75” and 2”.

ASKRALPH RESPONDS:

I just returned from the summer 2008 TAPPI CORBOTEC meeting where my network associates from across the industry were present. Item 222 and Rule 41 as reproduced in the Fibre Box Handbook state that there must be 100 percent adhesive coverage on the glue tab.  Their response seem rather black and white to me.  Many other technical members did say that they use a glue wheel instead of an eight opening extrusion head.

MEMBER'S QUESTION;

Can you provide ten years' worth of prpicing history and when hte changes occured?

ASKRalph! Responds:

See the chart below.  These are the transaction prices published in Pulp and Paper Week and do not include and discounts as mentioned in the discussion part of the newsletter.

MEMBER'S QUESTION:

We are pursuing packaging options for a large volume of boxes that must comply to the DOT 49 CFR regulation.  In this day and age of ECT where board combinations can float as long as the performance of the corrugated box is quaranteed, why are we still required to keep the basis weight of the components with a range of plus/minus five percent of the original design?

ASK!Ralph Responds:

MEMBER: We have been looking for Hazmat training geared towards the corrugated> industry. Do you know of any sources that we can contact?

RALPH YOUNG:  Thank you for the question.  I found the following resources for you and your company.

The FBA, www.fibrebox.org, click on the store tab, has a Hazard Material Packaging Training Kit for $400 for non members. The Transport Management Group, Inc, www.tmgihazmat.com, has courses. And, the International Safe Transit Association website at www.ista.org is another resource.  Let me know if you need additional resources.