More VW diesel defeat devices?
FRANKFURT, Germany – German authorities have ordered the EU-wide recall of 60,000 Cayenne and Macan vehicles from Volkswagen’s Porsche sports car division after finding that the vehicles emitted excessive pollutants due to software that turned down emission controls during driving.
The Federal Motor Transport Authority said Friday that it discussed “impermissible defeat devices” that led to increased emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides.
The mandatory recall covers 6,755 4.2 liter V8 diesels in the European Union for the Cayenne from the 2015 and 2016 model years. Also included are 52,831 3.0 liter V6 diesels for the Macan model. In both cases the vehicles affected were certified under the Euro 6 standard. Porsche’s engines are made by Volkswagen’s Audi luxury division.
Shaw carpets are carbon neutral
Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has achieved carbon neutrality in its commercial carpet manufacturing operations by cutting its energy consumption, switching to cleaner and renewable fuels and purchasing renewable energy credits.
The Dalton, Ga.-based carpet giant said the achievement encompasses all commercial carpet manufacturing facilities that Shaw owns and operates globally, including those for Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial, Shaw Contract and STS.
“We understand the challenges of climate change are global in scale and require a global response,” said Tim Conway, vice president of sustainability for Shaw’s commercial division. “No one company can solve problems at this scale by itself, but we can each contribute to an effort that enables all of us to create a wave of change for the better.”
Shaw installed a 1 megawatt solar array atop its carpet tile manufacturing facility in Cartersville, Ga., in 2013 and companywide, Shaw has cut itts greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent since 2010.
Morrison resigns as Campbell CEO
Denise M. Morrison, the chief executive of Campbell Soup Co., retired abruptly Friday after nearly seven years in the job, further shrinking the thin ranks of top female executives at major U.S. companies.
Keith R. McLoughlin, a member of the Campbell board since 2016, was named to succeed Morrison on an interim basis, the company said.
In a statement released by the company, Morrison said, “I am proud of Campbell’s accomplishments and how we have transformed our portfolio amid changing consumer tastes for food and health and well-being.”
With Morrison’s departure, there are now 23 women leading Fortune 500 companies, or 4.6 percent of the total. They include Mary Barra at General Motors, Indra Nooyi at PepsiCo and Marillyn Hewson at Lockheed Martin.
Orlando attractions boost park attendance
The arms race to build new theme park attractions in Orlando is paying dividends.
A new report released this week shows theme park attendance at the largest parks in North America last year was up 2.3 percent, powered by new attractions in Orlando. The Orlando market represents about a third of theme park attendance in North America, according to the report by the Themed Entertainment Association.
Last year, Walt Disney World in Orlando opened a new land in its Animal Kingdom parked modeled after the movie, “Avatar.” Animal Kingdom saw an attendance increase of more than 15 percent, the highest of any major park in North America in 2017.
Next year, Disney World is set to open a Star Wars-themed land, Universal Orlando Resort is planning another Harry Potter ride and SeaWorld Orlando is slated to open a land based on Sesame Street. In all, an estimated $10 billion is expected to be spent on attractions, hotels and retail and dining areas in Orlando, according to the Themed Entertainment Association.
But the spending and building is not just limited to Orlando.
“We are seeing the largest capital expenditures that we have ever seen in our years of theme park development,” said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, Inc., a Cincinnati-based consulting firm. “It’s nationwide and international. We are seeing the same kind of success overseas. It’s a true global phenomenon. Everyone is hitting on all cylinders.”
Play-doh’s scent has been trademarked
Hasbro has trademarked the scent of Play-doh.
The toy company on Friday announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has recognized Play-doh’s distinctive smell with a registered trademark, something rarely issued for a scent. The toymaker describes it as a “sweet, slightly musky, vanilla fragrance, with slight overtones of cherry, combined with the smell of a salted, wheat-based dough.”
The Play-doh brand has been around since 1956. Hasbro applied for the scent trademark last year.
The company says the smell “has always been synonymous with childhood and fun” and explains that the trademark allows it to protect “an invaluable point of connection between the brand and fans.”
There are already some Play-doh-scented products available online, including cologne and soy candles.