The European Commission is proposing a ban on single-use plastic items like straws and utensils according to draft rules released this week. The legislation, which needs the approval of all member states and the European Parliament, would also require plastic producers pay for cleanup and waste management, CNN Money reported.

The European Union's new data privacy regimen, the bloc's first major overhaul of rules governing people's data since 2005, took effect last week after months of sometimes frantic preparations by virtually any company that operates a website accessible there.

U.S. retailers plan to increase spending on supply chain management against a background of online retail expansion, according to a report.

Global demand for polyethylene, the world’s most used plastic, has nearly doubled since 1999, but this growth in demand is being met with significant new market pressures, such as a rise in consumer expectations around sustainability, along with tightening environmental regulations in key growth markets such as China.

Many distributors struggle with private-label branding and view it as an either-or proposition. They see private label as too complex or a conflict to their core supplier partners.

Customer relationship management technology can often pose a challenge for organizations, no matter their size. Many companies are encouraged to sign up for CRMs with stars in their eyes and great expectations of its capabilities.

Supply chains are suddenly under threat. Following years of low inflation and stable trade relations, executive teams in boardrooms across the globe are now grappling with rising inflation, a rapidly changing trade environment and the dire threat of an all-out trade war. Already, pressure is up sharply on earnings, and many leaders fear that traditional cost-saving measures may no longer be enough to avoid a heavy hit.

To enhance competitiveness and meet customer expectations of new technologies, utilities and retail suppliers should invest in customer-centric demand side management products, a report from Navigant Research says.

The high-growth economies of China, India and Indonesia are anticipated to play a key role in attracting higher foreign direct investments to the developing Asian region between 2017 and 2020, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.