International Paper, a paper packaging firm based in Memphis, Tennessee, has been named to Fortune magazine’s 2021 World’s Most Admired Companies list for the 18th time and ranked first among its peers.

According to a news release from International Paper on the recognition, Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list serves as a report card on corporate reputations. Korn Ferry has collaborated with Fortune annually since 1997 to identify, select and rank the World’s Most Admired Companies. To compile the rankings, corporate reputation and performance are measured against nine key attributes: innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment, quality of products and services as well as global competitiveness.

“I am incredibly grateful for the International Paper team’s response to the health crises and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Achieving this award under these conditions is a testament to the team's outstanding character and efforts,” says Mark Sutton, chairman and chief executive officer at International Paper. “International Paper plays an essential role in producing products that people depend on every day. I want to thank our colleagues for keeping our operations running safely, serving our customers and achieving this recognition.”

Several other companies that work with the recycling industry—such as steelmakers, paper packaging producers and waste management firms—were also included on Fortune’s list. Steel Dynamics Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana, was ranked No. 1 within the metals industry on the list. Other firms on the list include Alcoa, Arrow Electronics, ArcelorMittal, Nucor, Nippon Steel, Packaging Corp. of America, Republic Services, Sonoco, Waste Management and WestRock. The full list is posted here.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has released its Niton XL5 Plus hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. The Niton XL5 Plus helps businesses mitigate risk through the use of XRF technology by providing lab-quality elemental analysis directly in the field.

According to a news release from Thermo Fisher, the Niton XL5 Plus is one of the smallest and lightest portable XRF analyzers on the market and weighs only 2.8 pounds. It provides users with greater accessibility in hard-to-maneuver workspaces while reducing operator fatigue. Featuring enhanced software and improved detector technology, the Niton XL5 Plus provides analytical performance and accuracy when analyzing both light elements and heavy metals.

Thermo Fisher reports that the versatility of the Niton XL5 Plus makes it an ideal tool for numerous applications where elemental analysis is needed.

“Inspection personnel tasked with material verification or contaminant detection are faced with constant pressure to provide quick and accurate analysis, a challenging task when considering the often harsh or remote environments that these professionals work in,” says Chloe Hansen-Toone, vice president and general manager with Thermo Fisher’s field and safety instruments business. “With the Niton XL5 Plus, we’ve made significant advancements to our legacy hand-held XRF analyzer that improves the accuracy and accessibility of data, empowering operators to make insightful decisions that enable a safer worksite.”

Thermo Fisher says the Niton XL5 Plus features new detector protection to mitigate the risk of damage to the detector window, which enhances the durability of the XRF analyzer, particularly in recycling and scrap metal settings where punctures from sharp objects is common. As a result, operators can avoid costly repairs and experience an extended product lifetime.

According to Colgate-Palmolive, more than 495 million adult manual toothbrushes were purchased in the U.S. in 2020 and likely will end up in landfills because they cannot be easily recycled. This statistic has prompted the company to reinvent the manual toothbrush.

Colgate Keep is designed with a snap-on replaceable brush head and a reusable aluminum handle. It contains 80 percent less plastic compared with similarly sized Colgate toothbrushes. The brush is available online and at national retailers.

Given their small size and mix of materials and the limitations in municipal recycling capabilities, toothbrushes are not accepted in residential recycling programs. While the company has been partnering with TerraCycle for 10 years to recycle more than 5 million toothbrushes and other oral care items, it says Keep provides an easier solution. 

As part of Colgate's 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy, the company says it wants to reduce the amount of toothbrush plastic waste by half. Additionally, Colgate says it will eliminate one-third of new plastics used in its packaging as part of the transition to 100 percent recyclable, reusable or compostable plastic packaging by 2025.

"The Colgate brand is in more homes than any other, so we can and we will create a healthier, more sustainable future for all,” says Dana Medema, vice president and general manager at Colgate-Palmolive. “That's why in Colgate's 2025 sustainability goals, we pledge to reduce plastic waste from toothbrushes by 50 percent. The launch of Keep is just one step towards our goal, with 80 percent less plastic versus comparable Colgate toothbrushes. We know we have many more strides to make towards a zero-waste toothbrush future and are proud to be starting here.”