Lead in the Sippy Cup? Environmental Group Finds Lead in Children's Juices
If you're a parent, chances are you buy a lot of juice, particularly apple juice. Chances are, you buy familiar brands that often boast a lot of marketing language like all natural, made in the USA and even organic. You probably wouldn't buy an apple juice that bears the label, Exceeds the daily safe dose of lead in every serving, but according to a new research study, that may be exactly what...
Read More »World Steel Production Surges in May
Global crude steel output increased by nearly 30 percent above the prior-year level in May, according to new data from the World Steel Association. Despite some signs of a slowdown in growth, steel production has surpassed pre-recession levels. Worldwide production of crude steel rose 29.1 percent year-over-year in May, while the capacity utilization rate among steel manufacturers declined to 82...
Read More »New Solar Hot Water Technology May Be Coming to a Home Near You
Using the sun to heat up water is not a new concept. Solar hot water heater technology has been around for 30 years but has not gained a good foothold in this country as it has in other countries. Is the problem the technology, or the salesmanship, or the cost, or all of the above? The technology has improved over the last 30 years and now may be the time to rethink the use of solar to heat up...
Read More »4 Tips for Hiring Top Talent
Hiring managers today have a larger pool of applicants from which to choose. Nonetheless, many employers are realizing how hard it is to attract and hire the best employees. Employer optimism in the global labor market is gradually improving, according to recent data. With business confidence levels on the rise, increasingly more employers are beginning to consider hiring workers, even if only to...
Read More »CPOs Navigate a Still-Troubled Economy
In today's global economy, the chief procurement officer (CPO) plays a vital role in equipping the purchasing function to play its part. Yet many continue to face both external and internal barriers to hitting savings targets. Here we look at some of the key challenges facing CPOs as the still-troubled global economy turns a corner, and the factors that most affect procurement professionals'...
Read More »Mike Keating on Mid-Year 2010 Government Budgets
In this Expert's Corner, Michael Keating, senior editor for Government Product News, explains how and why government spending continues to shore up the economy. The United States economy is showing increased strength as we head into the second half of 2010. Tax collections are up in several states, after two years of declining revenues. Through May, payrolls increased in 41 states, led by...
Read More »The Science and Public Perception of Bisphenol-A
Spend a moment on any consumer or parenting Web site, and you'll inevitably run into the topic of BPA. The compound Bisphenol-A is primarily used to make hard, clear, shatter-proof plastic and, as a result, is a common component in water bottles, baby bottles and plastic food storage containers. Additionally, it is present in the resins used to coat the interior of aluminum food cans. It's also...
Read More »Cooperative Purchasing: Buy More for Less?
Whether you call it group purchasing, consortium purchasing or collaborative buying, this procurement method isn't new. Yet recent evidence suggests that cooperative purchasing may be more important than ever. In its annual Global Sourcing Trends in 2010 report, Morrison & Foerster's Global Sourcing Group forecast a renewed emphasis on shared services, with competitors cooperating on certain...
Read More »Gauging the Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill
In addition to being one of the largest ecological disasters in U.S. history, the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf Coast will likely have a huge effect on industry regulations and the overall economy for years to come. On April 20, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 people and started an enormous oil spill from a leaking wellhead on the sea floor. Despite numerous attempts at...
Read More »The Entrepreneurial Space Race
Entrepreneurs have been backing space-related companies for years, but recent developments are pushing the private space race further into the spotlight. In April, President Obama laid out his plan for the future of the United States space agency. A key part of his vision includes providing funding to private companies to build and fly their own spacecraft. Although the latest NASA budget will do...
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