Business all over the world is in a tailspin. Not only are there core economic issues, low consumer confidence and so forth; now world oil prices are going down. But is cheap oil a good thing? If you are on a budget it is; if you are investing in drilling platforms, maybe not. But drilling isn’t today’s topic.
The integrity of American small business is once again going to be tested in 2009 as a result of falling oil prices.
Asian plastic converters in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc. have been purchasing North American plastic resin since 2007. Because our resin is natural gas based, it has been cheaper for them to use American resins since foreign oil was high. But as oil prices drop Asian refineries are tooling up again looking to produce their own plastic resins. We also think this will continue since the forecasts for crude oil on world markets are expected to continue dropping well into 2009.
As the supply of American plastic resins increases because we are not exporting it to Asia, the cost of American-made plastic resin will go down as well. What I am saying is good news for a change… plastic products including retail bags are likely to go down in 2009 on all fronts foreign and domestic.
But keep in mind that American produced plastic resin for retail bags and other items is made from a byproduct of natural gas (see our blog category on recycled plastic bags). Asian plastics are made directly from oil which is sourced from places like Iran, Venezuela, and Russia as well as other nations.
We think it’s important that you know Nashville Wrap’s domestic plastic bags are not made from foreign oil (or any oil for that matter), do not contain heavy metals, and are still made from recycled materials which are collected in the US. Regardless of where you buy your supplies, we hope that you will continue to buy American made plastic bags. Together we can choose to support our own economy, with affordable products and using our own eco-friendly resources rather than more foreign oil based imports.
Robby Meadows
Nashville Wraps
Thank God for lower prices, but thanks to the Free trade cap bill, Energy prices are going to drive it through the roof! I appreciate Nashville Wraps for buying American, and for other American businesses, like my own, but we will all feel the bite of 90%+ increase in the energy tax – especially the poor. So much for the Liberal agenda. Everyone will be liberally messed up. Sorry, guys.
Great to know where your bags come from. Now that I am in the habit of looking when I visit stores I see items every trip that are MADE IN THE USA. People who say not much is made in this country anymore are really misinformed.
Thank you for recycled materials.
Buy American made whenever and wherever possible! Good for Nashville Wraps for their great recycling and American made policies.
Falling gas prices is GREAT news!!
Kim Vilhauer
http://www.dakotascents.com
Yea good news for a change! I love the falling gas prices it puts more money in the consumer pocket that we can use to purchase other items. But how long will it continue?
Many Blessings,
Donna
http://www.livingondreams.net