Latest news with #ScottEvans
The Sun
30-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Expert reveals surprising reason wasps are swarming your garden this summer – and how to get rid of them
EVERYONE has a spring in their step when the sun comes out. But warmer weather means more bugs - including wasps. 2 2 Pest control experts say this year has been particularly bad for the stinging insects with reports of 'monster' nests in homes and gardens. Homeowners are turning to homemade deterrents to keep pests at bay. But one expert says while these can work, the real issue could be how you're storing your outdoor items. Scott Evans, a storage expert from Pink Storage, says that poor storage habits in summer could be creating the perfect environment for wasps to nest, especially in garden sheds, cushion boxes and patio storage containers. Scott said: "We often think of storage as just a way to tidy up the garden, but for wasps, it's a ready-made hideout. "If you've left food smells, sugary drinks or damp cushions in a box that isn't sealed properly, you might as well put out a welcome sign for them." Soft, undisturbed materials combined with heat create ideal nesting conditions for wasps, the experts say, so patio cushion boxes and garden benches are often the worst offenders. Scott said: "Make sure cushions are completely dry before storing and, where possible, bag them in airtight liners before placing them in boxes. "Even a slightly open lid is all a queen wasp needs to move in." Sheds and garages are another hot spot, especially when clutter builds up and corners, left untouched for weeks. How to Keep Wasps, Bees, and Flies Out of Your Home with a 5p Onion Hack The expert explains: "People often chuck things in their shed after a BBQ or garden party and forget about them. "But wasps love dark, quiet spaces, and if there's a leftover drinks can or food packaging, they'll find it." It's not just large nests that cause problems, Scott says. Even small, early-stage nests can expand rapidly if left undisturbed, leading to swarms of angry insects within days. That's why regular checks and routine tidying are essential throughout the warmer months. You should also check around bin storage areas, especially if bins are kept near outdoor storage units or fence panels. Scott said: "Sweet spills or juice leaks can attract pests instantly, and if there's a nearby storage box or shed with easy access, that's where they'll go to build." Wasps become aggressive in late summer and become more than just a nuisance, just before they die off. So if you want to keep them out of your garden, you need to act fast, according to Scott. He added: "You don't have to spend a fortune on wasp sprays. "A bit of peppermint oil in corners or a garlic-and-water mix sprayed near boxes can act as a natural repellent. "But the key is prevention, and that starts with smart storage."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside Panda Biotech's Push to Bring U.S.-Grown Hemp Into Mass Production
The denim and larger apparel industries have long flirted with hemp as a sustainable alternative fiber, but commercial-scale supply chains in the U.S. remained elusive—until now. This spring, Panda Biotech and TDMI Twin Dragon debuted the first Made in the Americas hemp denim collection at Kingpins Amsterdam—a harbinger that hemp, once an afterthought in the U.S. textile market, could become a viable material for American mass production again. Powered by mechanically cottonized, American-grown hemp fiber—produced without chemical degumming or water-intensive processing—the collaboration underscores Panda's emergence as the only U.S. player currently delivering traceable, high-performance hemp fiber at commercial scale. More from Sourcing Journal Loose Threads: Ksubi, Anthropolgie, Ciele Athletics and More Fall/ Winter 2026-2027 Preview: New Partnerships, Investments Drive Positive Change in Denim Material World: Caraa's Silver Lining, Circ Makes NYFW Debut 'Our hemp fiber today is as good as, if not better than, degummed fiber—without the chemical waste stream,' said Scott Evans, chief operating officer at Panda Biotech.'We brought it back and we made it better. That's what will make hemp take off again.' From field to fiber, now at scale It's no secret that U.S.-grown hemp has had a slow, uneven climb into the textile market. Most domestic production has skewed toward consumables, construction materials like hempcrete, or animal bedding. But creating hemp fiber that could compete with global players—chiefly China and Europe—in quality, scale and price has remained largely out of reach. This wasn't always the case. Hemp was once a primary American textile—during World War II, it was classified as a strategic material and widely used to make rope, canvas and webbing for the U.S. Navy. But the industry was dismantled twice over: first by the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, then by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. As China and Eastern Europe advanced their processing technologies and built world-leading fiber supply chains, American infrastructure never caught up. Even after cultivation was legalized again in 2018, that gap remained. Without industrial-scale processing in place, brands had little choice but to rely on overseas suppliers. Panda Biotech set out to change that equation. Its 500,000-square-foot facility in Wichita Falls, Texas—a dusty North Texas town better known for cattle and cotton than cutting-edge manufacturing—now operates four industrial decortication lines, giving it unmatched capacity to produce mechanically-cottonized hemp fiber. All four lines are running, though not around the clock; the company can scale output to match demand. Founded by energy executive Bob Carter and led by President Dixie Carter, Panda Biotech emerged from a family legacy in large-scale infrastructure. The Carters previously built one of the country's largest privately held natural gas power portfolios before shifting focus to hemp in 2019. That background in industrial systems and capital-intensive projects positioned them to bring scalable fiber processing to a U.S. hemp market still largely operating on mom-and-pop farms and as pet projects. Crucially, Panda understood that fiber processing couldn't be separated from farming. In earlier U.S. pilot projects, farmers were often forced to haul bulky hemp stalks hundreds of miles to reach a processor—a system that proved both uneconomical and unsustainable. Panda flipped this model, embedding itself directly in the grower network and building tight, regional supply chains. Its Pay-to-Grow program anchors this approach. The model reduces risk for farmers by providing free seed, guaranteed payments at planting and harvest, and per-pound fiber payouts—giving growers both upfront security and a clear market for their crop. It also allows Panda to directly influence cultivation practices, ensuring that harvested fiber meets its quality specs and reaches the Wichita Falls gin in optimal condition. Today, about two-thirds of Panda's acreage operates under Pay-to-Grow, with farmers clustered in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. That integrated strategy also informed a deliberate shift this year. 'We initially targeted 25,000 acres, but after a strong first year we chose to dial that back to around 17,000 acres—our growers planted 15,000 this spring, and have another 2,000 planned for the fall,' said Mark D'Sa, senior vice president of business development at Panda Biotech. 'We're prioritizing feedstock quality and fiber yields from each acre. That shift hasn't limited our ability to meet new demand—it allows us to scale more intelligently in step with what buyers want.' The proof is in buyer demand The April debut of Twin Dragon's hemp denim collection at Kingpins Amsterdam was a strategic turning point. The global factory behemoth produced the collection in its Mexico facility, using Panda fiber supplied in commercial quantities. The line includes both rigid and comfort-stretch styles, ranging from 20 to 50 percent hemp blends. Feedback from Kingpins was immediate and encouraging. 'One of the brands we've worked with selected the fiber specifically because it matches the aesthetic they've been running for years,' Evans said. 'The mills were taking orders at the show—we've already started shipping fiber to Twin Dragon to fulfill those.' Brands showing active interest include Patagonia, which has long sourced its hemp from China but is now exploring Panda-supplied yarn through Twin Dragon's Mexico operations to diversify within the Western Hemisphere. Jungmaven, an early U.S. hemp apparel brand known for its laid-back basics and commitment to hemp-forward fabrics, is also looking to shift its sourcing from imported to American-grown. 'We are creating high-performance, eco-conscious fabrics that meet the demands of today's consumers and tomorrow's planet,' said Twin Dragon CEO Dominic Poon. 'This partnership marks a pivotal step forward in redefining what sustainable fashion can be.' What makes Panda's fiber compelling in denim? According to Evans, it's a mix of durability, pliability and superior handfeel compared to typical chemically degummed hemp. 'You're getting a fiber that mills can spin efficiently, with fewer process losses and a handfeel that aligns with premium cotton denim.' For comfort-stretch applications, spinners are experimenting with lycra and spandex blends, tuning yarn construction and loom settings to optimize performance. Consumer preferences appear to be following typical patterns: men's jeans favor rigid or light-stretch styles, while women's styles lean toward greater stretch. Mechanical cottonization: the innovation driving the shift Aside from leading the charge on industrial-scale processing of hemp, Panda's biggest materials breakthrough is its proprietary mechanical cottonization process—an innovation that allows the fiber to slot seamlessly into existing cotton-based textile systems. Where most global hemp textiles rely on chemical degumming—a water- and chemical-intensive method that strips the fiber—Panda achieves comparable softness and spinnability without that step. And that difference matters: chemical degumming not only generates significant waste*, it also strips hemp of some of its most prized qualities, including its natural luster, tensile strength and inherent antimicrobial properties. 'Our goal from the outset was to deliver a textile-grade fiber that doesn't require chemical treatment,' Evans said. 'It's been gratifying to see that come to life.' Panda backs its word up about waste with serious commitments. Its facility is certified to zero discharge of hazardous chemicals (ZDHC), and holds both Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and USDA Certified Biobased product certifications. Managing effluent is one of the hardest parts of traditional hemp processing; but Panda's process sidesteps that entirely. The company is also benchmarking its fiber against the physical characteristics of upland cotton—by far the most common variety grown in the U.S., prized for its short-staple length, minimal herd content and consistency in large-scale spinning operations. 'The closer we can get to the look, feel and performance of cotton, the easier it is for mills to integrate hemp into existing systems,' Evans said. Beyond denim, Panda is running trials with finer yarn counts and exploring applications in twills, canvas, shirting, and knits. U.S. and Central American partners are being prioritized for these next-gen developments, in keeping with Panda's effort to maintain a Western Hemisphere value chain. Supply chain readiness and commercial positioning One of Panda's key advantages is its ability to offer consistent, traceable fiber at a cost competitive with European imports—without demanding a significant premium. 'If you can buy the same quality at the same price, and know it was grown and processed here, why wouldn't you?' D'Sa said. Panda's internal traceability system currently allows it to track fiber down to the farm level, and while not yet rolled out to brands in consumer-facing formats, that capability is being developed. 'We'd love for brands to be able to say 'Texas-grown' or 'Oklahoma-grown,'' D'Sa noted. The company is also positioning its supply chain to weather potential trade shifts. 'We invested here long before the new tariff landscape emerged,' Evans said. 'That's not why we're competitive. We're competitive because of the proprietary mechanical process and the quality at scale we can now deliver to factories.' To build long-term viability, Panda is looking for volume commitments—but the fiber is already selling rapidly. Fiber yield runs between 18 and 22 percent of feedstock input; Panda is also commercializing herd and micronized dust outputs, with applications in vacuum insulation panels and advanced plastics under development. From aspiration to operational For D'Sa, the numbers tell a compelling story. 'Cotton plantings are down to around 6 million acres this year; hemp was about 54,000 acres nationally,' he said. 'There's nowhere to go but up. As we grow acreage and processing capacity in sync, the potential for this market is huge.' Evans, the pragmatist, sees it in operational terms: 'We've now produced fiber that's equal to or better than degummed, across multiple product categories. And mills are validating it. That's the real proof point.' The resilience of the crop itself is also encouraging. 'Last year we had drought; this year we had monsoons—and we still grew good hemp,' Evans said. 'It's a sturdy fiber crop with real soil health benefits. We're seeing its potential across a range of conditions.' The seed mix is evolving, too. Panda continues to trial Asian, Australian and domestic varieties, with an eye toward optimizing fiber quality for its process. Ultimately, Panda's leadership team believes U.S. hemp is ready to move from aspirational to operational—filling a real sourcing need for brands navigating the twin pressures of sustainability and supply chain resilience. 'Today, our mechanically-cottonized hemp is the best on the market,' D'Sa said. 'Hemp's return to American mass production is no longer a question of if—but how fast.' This article ran in SJ's Material Innovations Report 2025. To download the full report, click here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business News Wales
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Welsh Storage Firm Expands with Site Acquisition
Pink Storage, the self storage company founded by Cardiff entrepreneur Scott Evans, has invested £1.5 million as part of its acquisition of StoreWise, a 102-unit facility in Nottingham. Pink, which now operates 16 sites across Wales, is rapidly expanding into major cities in England as part of its mission to become the UK's fastest-growing independent self storage provider. So far in 2025, the company has grown by 22 per cent, adding new locations in Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Birmingham, and now Nottingham, with more sites already in the pipeline. The deal saw Pink Storage acquire StoreWise for £1.1 million, with an additional £370,000 being invested to upgrade the 1.3-acre site, add 150 new storage units, and bring the facility in line with Pink Storage's cutting-edge, technology-led standards. Scott Evans, Founder and CEO of Pink Storage, said: 'Acquiring StoreWise is a proud milestone for us. What began as a small Welsh brand is now setting the standard for innovation in self storage. Our forward-thinking, tech-led model is not only reaching a wider market but is actively reshaping – and shaking up – the industry across the UK.' The former StoreWise facility is undergoing a full rebrand with Pink's distinctive identity and will remain fully operational throughout the upgrade. Pink Storage is also retaining the site's long-serving manager, who brings over a decade of local industry expertise, and ensuring a smooth transition for the 100+ existing customers to its digital platform. Scott said: 'Our goal is to end 2025 with a significantly expanded network of strategically located sites across the UK. We're actively seeking further acquisition opportunities and would welcome conversations with anyone considering selling their self storage business.'
South Wales Argus
04-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Welsh storage company Pink Storage acquires Nottingham site
Pink Storage, founded by Scott Evans, bought the 102-unit StoreWise facility as they aim to become the UK's fastest-growing independent storage provider. The deal was made for £1.1 million, with an additional £370,000 invested to upgrade the 1.3-acre site. Founder and CEO Scott Evans said: "Acquiring StoreWise is a proud milestone for us. "What began as a small Welsh brand is now setting the standard for innovation in self-storage." The site will remain fully operational during its rebranding, which includes new surfacing and site improvements, which include ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) for secure vehicle access, 24/7 CCTV, and fully digital access with secure PIN code entry via online sign-up. The site's long-serving manager, who has over a decade of industry experience, will remain, ensuring a smooth transition for existing customers to its digital platform.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
The 10 dumbest cars of all time
The 10 dumbest cars of all time There are many kinds of dumb, especially when talking about cars. Automakers are prone to questionable design and engineering decisions and can occasionally push the envelope in places they shouldn't. Buyers can take what would be excellent vehicles in one arena and use them almost exclusively in another where their talents are completely wasted. There are times when technologies aren't invested in enough or are pushed too hard, to comical extremes. And then there are vehicles built for such a specific niche that they're doomed to commercial failure no matter how charming they are. These are our editors' picks for the dumbest automobiles. Tesla Cybertruck - Kristen Lee, Scott Evans Designed to offend and made in a way that maims, the Cybertruck has succeeded in gathering more haters than fans, empirically so considering the dueling subreddits dedicated to the truck. One look at the vehicle, even from a distance, is enough to catalyze an unbreakable perspective on whether or not the pickup is worthy of existence. Its impressive performance numbers and fresh technology are only important to those who can get past its looks. Those body lines include enough near-razor-sharp edges to rip clothing or tear open skin if you're unfortunate enough to encounter the end of almost any exterior panel (including the doors, which don't have handles). A general lack of reliability and high cost provide further ammo for the Cyberbeast's numerous haters, but as our Scott Evans noted, 'Cybertruck is up there, but it's gotten slightly less dumb as Tesla has activated the rest of the feature set.' Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet - Tom Rosquin, Aaron Gold Many automotive genre benders are celebrated, but the Murano convertible is not one of them. While far from the first vehicle with SUV proportions to feature an open top , this Murano variant stands out for a crossover cabrio with a hubris-huffing lack of self-awareness. The styling of the CrossCabriolet has been derided by MotorTrend staff for over a decade , but worse than that, very little was done to ensure the newly minted convertible was structurally sound. Even driving down a mildly bumpy road reveals a shocking lack of rigidity, hurting both ride and handling. Any utility the variant had was also tossed out, as the rear doors and effectively all the cargo space of the vehicle were left on the cutting room floor. After all that, the most shocking thing about the Murano is that something so badly thought out could be greenlit at all. As Aaron Gold noted, 'You could feel the cowl shake just by getting into the car.' Mazda MX-30 - Billy Rehbock As the first wave of electric SUVs swept through the automotive landscape, bringing practical EV motoring into the mainstream, the MX-30 ... didn't. With barely 100 miles of EPA-rated range (and thus less on the freeway and much less in the cold), the MX-30 was never taken seriously as a practical electric vehicle. Even as just about every other electric crossover blew past the 200-mile mark in the real world, the MX-30 couldn't reach half that on the optimistic EPA rating cycle. Priced and marketed like an equal to far superior rivals, the MX-30's agile handling and fun interior couldn't save it from an early grave . Toyota Mirai - Christian Seabaugh, Aaron Gold, Scott Evans Hydrogen used to be the fuel of the future, but as battery electric vehicles came onto the scene and cut out the middleman, that future became the past. With much of the already tenuous filling station network shutting down , we've come to the apparent end of using H2 to fuel cars. That once-rosy outlook also ends the now ironically named Mirai. Named for 'future' in Japanese, the Mirai went from ugly duckling to beautiful sedan in its two generations , dutifully supported by a Toyota initially skeptical of BEVs. But all the cool factor and styling in the world couldn't keep hydrogen from falling under the pressure of more practical and less expensive methods of locomotion. As Aaron Gold said, 'Mirai is awesome if you don't have anywhere to go.' Honda CR-V FCEV - Christian Seabaugh Similar negatives apply to the CR-V FCEV, though at least this everyday crossover turned hydropunk showcase can run as a battery electric vehicle for an EPA-rated 29 miles . That enhances its practicality a little bit, but just a little. (All-up range with a full battery charge and a full tank of hydrogen is 270 miles.) The high cost of producing it means it is only available for lease, just as GM's EV1 was before BEV technology advanced to the point of practicality. Besides the rather annoying noises made by the hydrogen system, the CR-V FCEV tries its best to seem like a normal CR-V, but it's unlikely you'll ever be able to go outside Southern California (or, perhaps, very far within Southern California) in one. Aston Martin Cygnet - Scott Evans 'Talk about brand dilution,' Scott Evans remarked on this so-called Aston Martin. As one of the worst examples of badge engineering in recent memory, the Cygnet claims many firsts and superlatives for the famed British brand. But are they worth bragging about? Under the not-that-different bodywork, this Aston was a Toyota/Scion iQ , a tiny city car that was admirable for its price but not known for luxury, refinement, or … well, anything but its miniscule size, really. Built to bring up Aston Martin's average fuel economy ratings for the sake of government regulations, the Cygnet received a dramatic interior and the same 97-hp economy-focused engine as the Scion. For $37,000 in 2010 dollars, it may have served its purpose for the brand, but it didn't exactly serve up a real Aston Martin experience for owners. 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class - Alex Leanse The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a controversial choice for the list among the MotorTrend staff, but consider this: What other vehicle commands so much money while being so compromised for the daily-driver duty it is universally pressed into? Ubiquitous on posh main streets and reality TV shows while being utterly absent from ORV parks and trails, the G-Wagen's formidable off-road capabilities are a complete mismatch for its use case, and swaddling a military-inspired 4x4 in luxury trappings seems dumb indeed. All that said, in response to these charges, all Christian Seabaugh had to say to our on-staff G-Wagen haters was, 'Booo, go home.' Chevrolet SSR - Erik Johnson Dumb doesn't mean bad. Did anyone ask for a convertible truck that couldn't actually tow or haul like Americans expect a pickup to? No. Is the SSR still awesome? Yes. But this real-life Hot Wheels car's cool factor and very unique combination of features didn't result in anything but the most tepid of sales figures. To be fair, the SSR now has a cult following, decades after it ended production. And yes, it was watered down from the concept and lacked the dynamics to match its looks , but none of that keeps it from being very, very cool. Nor does it keep it from being dumb. Reliant Robin - Erik Johnson While dumb doesn't have to mean bad, it certainly can mean bad. The Robin is undeniably bad, in every sense of the word, and that makes it undeniably dumb. For one, its three-legged layout leads to terminal instability, making the Robin infamous for rolling over (even though much of that fame is down to somewhat disingenuous Top Gear stunts). A car with a single narrow wheel up front is a dumb car, full stop. Nor was the Robin anything but a rolling (forward, or over) indictment of the quality control and reliability struggles of the British auto industry at the time, which struggled mightily for most of the Robin's remarkable (and horrifying) three-decade production run. Chrysler TC by Maserati - Erik Johnson Chrysler executives were convinced that a second-gen K-car sold as a Maserati was a good idea, but hindsight clearly proves otherwise. In what universe is building a late 1980s Chrysler on a Maserati production line in Italy anything but a dumb idea? Astronomical costs and the blindingly obvious and undeniable truth that the TC was a kind of lousy American car built by a kind of lousy Italian automaker made it an exceedingly stupid move. That the TC has a cult-classic appeal to modern car enthusiast weirdos is beside the point. The TC was dumb. Photos by Manufacturer, Ryan Lugo
