Day: 8 February 2023

Single-use plastic

-Report reveals “disturbing” trajectory: World produces more single-use plastic than ever before

Despite consumers calling on companies across the globe to be more environmentally friendly, the world is producing more single-use plastic than ever before, with 139 million metric tons (MMT) going into rubbish bins last year.

According to the Plastic Waste Makers Index from Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation, this represents a 4.5 per cent increase from 2019, meaning almost one extra kilogram of plastic was generated for every person on the planet in 2021.

The report added that single-use plastics are “not only a pollution crisis, but a climate one”, generating 450 million MMT of carbon dioxide last year – almost equivalent to annual greenhouse gas emissions produced by the UK. Single-use plastic

It also found that the vast majority (98 per cent) of single-use plastics continue to be produced from fossil fuels, only a small drop from the 99 per cent recorded four years ago.

Forrest said that in order to eliminate plastic pollution within the next decade, we must abandon the idea that the petrochemical industry will transform of its own accord.

“The fossil-fuel giants aren’t tackling the problem of plastics – it’s the opposite, they’re making even more of a product that threatens our people and planet,” Forrest said in the report.

“We need a fundamentally different approach, that turns the tap off on new plastic production. We need a “polymer premium” on every kilogram of plastic polymer made from fossil fuel. We need financial incentives that encourage re-use and recycling and the build of new, critical infrastructure. Single-use plastic

“Better waste management is part of the solution – it is paramount that we halt the increase in pollution and the threat to our health from microplastics. But that effort must be combined with reducing the production of new plastics from fossil fuels.”

The report noted that it is “almost always cheaper” for petrochemical giants to continue producing new single-use plastics from fossil fuels instead of reusing or recycling them.

In wealthy nations, where waste collection is funded via taxation, plastic waste is typically incinerated, landfilled or exported. Whereas in every other nation, which includes 85 per cent of the world’s population, waste collection is chronically underfunded, widely mismanaged and plastic pollution is ubiquitous. Single-use plastic

“The global intake of raw virgin materials and single-use plastics continues to rise. Most plastic is left un-recycled and single-use plastic accounts for more than a third of our global annual plastic production,” Rockefeller Asset Management president and chief investment officer Casey Clark said in the report.

“The trajectory is disturbing and has implications for ecosystems, biodiversity, human health, and climate ambitions.”

US-based ExxonMobil, which has operated in Australia since 1895, remains the largest producer of polymers bound for single-use plastics, generating 6 million tons in 2021.

Collectively, the following 20 petrochemical companies accounted for more than 50 per cent of single-use plastic waste in the world: Single-use plastic

ExxonMobil (US)
Sinopec (China)
Dow (China)
Indorama Ventures (Thailand)
Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia)
LyondellBasell (Netherlands)
PetroChina (China)
Reliance Industries (India)
INEOS (UK)
Alpek SAB de CV (Mexico)
Braskem (Brazil)
Borealis (Austria)
TotalEnergies (France)
Lotte Chemical (South Korea)
Formosa Plastics Corp (Taiwan)
SIBUR (Russia)
Rongsheng Group (China)
Jiangsu Hailun Petrochemical (China)
China Resources Chemical (China)
China Energy Investment Group (China)

Recommendations

The report recommendations investors engage with investees or use voting rights to stop the building of new fossil fuel-based polymer facilities, as well as demand clear targets from manufacturers regarding their recycled polymer production.

It also pushes for investors to lend public support for policies that promote further investment in plastics collection and enter long-term forward contracts for recycled plastics at fixed and fair prices. Single-use plastic

The report is also calling on polymer producers to set a minimum 20 per cent target by 2030 for recycled products, reducing the need for fossil fuel feedstock in the production process.

Recommendations for policymakers include putting a levy on fossil-fuel polymer production or consumption, partnering with plastic waste collection recycling facilities, setting targets on overall plastic circularity and creating funds to support waste management systems in countries most impacted by plastic pollution.

Cautious optimism

Despite the disheartening results, the report did note two companies that have already been producing recycled polymers at scale: Taiwan-based Far Eastern New Century and Thailand-based Indorama Ventures. Single-use plastic

These two companies alone represent 20 per cent of global “PET bottle-to-bottle recycling capacity” – indicating that petrochemical companies can play a critical role in the transition towards a circular plastics economy.

In 2021, Far Eastern New Century generated 11 per cent of recycled single-use plastic polymers, with Indorama Ventures trailing behind at six per cent.

The report noted that petrochemical companies making more ambitious circulatory commitments are all active in markets where there are more progressive and exacting regulations that support the economics of recycling – specifically, in Europe, USA, and parts of Asia (India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan).

“Outside these regions, expecting companies to commit any capital to recycling projects that deliver substandard returns compared to virgin polymer production is likely at odds with their fiduciary duty to shareholders,” the report said. Single-use plastic

PET film – Sorting-technology – Battery 07-02-2023

Single-use plastic

Electric vehicle – Renewable industry 08-02-2023

Electric vehicle – Renewable industry

-SABIC, developing innovative solutions for India’s electric vehicle and renewable industry

In conversation with SABIC’s Abdullah Al-Otaibi, GM, ETP & Market Solutions, Petrochem on how SABIC continues to invest in the right capabilities and competencies for the future.

The EV and the renewable industry in India is gaining momentum and the potential for the sector is immense. Both the value chains are scouting for solutions to reduce weight, cost, and complexity and increase efficiency, durability, ease of manufacturing and safety. In conversation with SABIC’s Abdullah Al-Otaibi, GM, ETP & Market Solutions, Petrochem on how SABIC continues to invest in the right capabilities and competencies for the future.

1.What are SABIC’s plans and projects for the India market in the next 5-year time horizon?In the automotive space, SABIC’s focus is concentrated on developing and providing the right materials, solutions, and expertise to help the industry meet the most pressing needs of the hour. Key areas of focus for us include vehicle electrification, light weighting, LED lighting and sustainability. Electric vehicle – Renewable industry

SABIC continues to invest, as appropriate, in the right capabilities and competencies to support the automotive industry’s changing needs. This includes the ongoing R&D activities at the SABIC Technology Center in Bengaluru, which is part of our global R&D network. Through our work at STC-B, we seek to bring the best of the world to all regions and our team in India is a vital part of this mission. This ensures SABIC’s contribution in ensuring that the Indian automotive industry in India is not only keeping pace with global technology developments but also playing a key role in setting the innovation pace

What is the Indian market’s potential for petrochemicals in the EV segment?The potential for India in this sector is immense. The EV segment is still an emerging industry in India and other parts of the world. When considering EV battery packs and related EV components and systems, legacy materials and manufacturing approaches were dominating till recently.
As an industry, we see a shift in this trend. The EV value chain is scouting for solutions to reduce weight, cost, and complexity and to increase efficiency, ease of manufacturing and safety. Electric vehicle – Renewable industry

Engineering thermoplastics has the potential to be the answer to these pressing requirements. As we have worked with the industry to validate thermoplastic solutions for EV applications, we gained confidence in the potential of plastics to penetrate this space. Today, we already see SABIC thermoplastics on Indian roads in battery pack applications, such as battery cell carriers in EV battery packs on passenger vehicles and components within a battery pack application for two-wheelers.

What are the latest technologies that SABIC is investing in or developing for manufacturing materials for electric vehicles and renewables such as floating solar panels?For EVs, we have invested heavily in flame retardant (FR) materials for use in various battery pack components and systems. We have developed unique material technologies to support the industry’s need to comply with battery safety requirements and regulations. For example, FR versions of our STAMAX™ long-glass fiber polypropylene, meet some of the most stringent requirements in the world. Electric vehicle – Renewable industry

In addition to FR materials, our focus lies in developing solutions and expertise to support and advance large parts of manufacturing, (joining and assembly methods) and application design and verification approaches. All the above-mentioned developments fall under an initiative known as BLUEHERO™ which was officially launched last year. Under its umbrella, we have developed novel materials and ready-to-apply solutions for the industry to make the shift to vehicle electrification. This work is underway, and we are excited about our progress across the value chain along with our partners.

What do you consider as India’s competitive advantage in the field of materials for EVs and renewable energy?

In one word – it is talent. India has a high level of technical knowledge and engineering expertise. At SABIC, we know this first-hand with the outstanding technologists who are part of our team at STC-B, including 500 researchers and scientists, who are a vital part of our global R&D network. Electric vehicle – Renewable industry

Our global research and development talent drives the highest standard of quality and technology for global operations from India.

PET film – Sorting-technology – Battery 07-02-2023

Electric vehicle - Renewable industry

Recycling waste to energy 08-02-2023

Recycling waste to energy

-Recycling must be favored over waste to energy

Edward Kosior says we must embrace the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive’s goal for reaching climate neutrality in packaging.

The recent announcement of the European Commission’s new EU-wide rules on packaging has divided opinions. Starting with “leaked” reports ahead of the announcement last November, we had nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) on the one hand pressing for ambitious targets to drive our carbon footprint down and industry cautioning against unachievable goals that would depress rather than drive the sector forward.

It is indeed a fine balancing act, however, the one fundamental goal we need to keep in mind is that we must not, at any cost, exceed our carbon budget. To do so would push our already precarious climate system overboard. Recycling waste to energy

According to an assessment presented at COP27, our remaining carbon budget to stay under 1.5 C temperature increase is 380 billion metric tons, or less than a decade of emissions at the present rate. This means emissions must be drastically reduced.

With that in mind, we need to take the macro view and consistently opt for systemic changes across every facet of our lives that are achievable and, vitally, keep us within a safe carbon range.

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive’s (PPWD’s) proposed measures would bring greenhouse gas emissions from packaging down to 43 million metric tons compared with 66 million metric tons if we continue with business as usual. These measures are one of the many transformational steps we need to take as we continue developing innovative technologies to move humanity back from the brink. Recycling waste to energy

PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, which is plastics’ most resounding success story so far, is well within range of these new targets set at 30 percent recycled content by 2030 moving to 50 percent by 2050.

Food-contact plastic packaging’s targets, on the other hand, reflect the belief that these are one of the more challenging materials to recycle back into food-grade resins. Now that we have the technologies to achieve this, however, the 10 percent target set for 2030, shifting to 40 percent by 2040, should be achievable and would mean we will be closing the loop on some 400,000 tons of food-grade plastic per year.

And this is just one part of the overall equation. We urgently need to reshape the way we view what we call waste as we are quite literally wasting it when it can and should be turned back into the precious resource it has the potential to be, and we need to do this with the least amount of carbon emissions. Recycling waste to energy

Which brings us to waste to energy. According to a 2022 report by Plastics Europe, more than 29 million metric tons of postconsumer plastic waste were collected in the EU27+3. Of this, more than one-third (35 percent) was sent to recycling facilities, whilst more than 23 percent was sent to landfill and more than 40 percent was sent to energy-recovery operations.

These figures show a leaning toward waste to energy (WTE), with its high carbon footprint. Yet, buried within those 12 million metric tons of plastics will be a high percentage of potentially valuable recyclable materials.

Viewing WTE as a substitute for fossil fuels takes us in the wrong direction. WTE discourages recycling, perpetuates single-use plastic production and impacts health and the environment. According to a report by the Centre for Environmental Law (CIEL), every metric ton of plastic burned releases 0.9 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the environment, dangerously affecting our carbon budget. Recycling waste to energy

The fact that landfilling is on the decline is certainly a step in the right direction, however, the 12 million metric tons of waste still going to WTE clearly indicates we are wasting precious resources.

WTE’s role should be viewed as the very last step after we have stripped out the vast amounts of precious resources that could be retrieved from commingled waste.

The pressure mounting on energy companies to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels is creating a growing need for raw materials, which brings us to an obvious conclusion, energy companies are going to have to unscramble the waste stream, and this means focusing on “dirty” MRFs.

The new PPWD states that, from a consumer perspective, reusable packaging options will be optimized whilst limiting overpackaging and providing clear labels to support correct recycling. Recycling waste to energy

It will still take some time, however, before this changes consumers’ tendency to place a significant amount of potentially valuable recyclable material into the rubbish.

Rather than allowing WTE to gain momentum, we should be stripping all fossil-derived materials out of the waste stream, relying only on WTE as a last resort once the waste stream has been thoroughly filtered.

Dirty MRFs can recover anything from 5 percent to 45 percent of the incoming material as recyclables. Now that we have the technology to more efficiently identify and sort plastics into different fractions, we have the potential to increase this percentage.

We all need to ensure that nothing produced slips out of its own loop. The British Plastics Federation estimated that if all plastic were recycled globally, this could result in mean annual savings of 30 million to 150 million metric tons of CO2, equivalent to shutting between eight and 40 coal-fired power plants globally. Recycling waste to energy

Certainly, we need to embrace the PPWD’s goal to put the packaging sector on track for climate neutrality by 2050. This is not a lofty vision—it is an urgent warning to keep the planet’s climate within livable limits and avoid life-changing scenarios.

PET film – Sorting-technology – Battery 07-02-2023

Recycling waste to energy

European textile – Sorting technology 08-02-2023

European textile – Sorting technology

Crude Oil Prices Trend

Crude Oil Prices Trend Polyestertime

-First automated materials recovery facility in UAE

Tomra Recycling Sorting’s sensor-based sorting technology is helping to recover high-quality, high-purity value recyclates at Farz, the first automated MRF in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 1,200 tons per day plant has two separate lines – one for municipal solid waste (MSW) and the other for commercial and industrial (C&I) waste. Six Tomra Autosort units are spread across the lines and used to identify and separate plastic materials from the infeed waste streams, and to sort HDPE and PET from mixed 3D plastics.

Farz is owned and operated by Imdaad, a leading integrated facility management company in the Middle East.

The plant is built on a 45,322 m2 plot in Dubai’s National Industries Park, a 21 km2 area of specially designated land in the heart of Dubai’s new industrial district. Imdaad is responsible for the collection of C&I waste from the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), a free economic zone located in the Jebel Ali area at the far western end of Dubai in the UAE. Imdaad’s mission for the Farz plant is closely aligned with Dubai’s target to hit zero waste to landfill by 2030. European textile – Sorting technology

The process

Infeed waste arrives by truck to Farz’s reception area where, following a pre-sorting stage, the MSW and C&I waste are separated into two lines; one for MSW and the other for C&I waste.

First automated materials recovery facility in UAE

-Recycling must be favored over waste to energy

Edward Kosior says we must embrace the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive’s goal for reaching climate neutrality in packaging.

With that in mind, we need to take the macro view and consistently opt for systemic changes across every facet of our lives that are achievable and, vitally, keep us within a safe carbon range.

Recycling must be favored over waste to energy

-SABIC, developing innovative solutions for India’s electric vehicle and renewable industry

In conversation with SABIC’s Abdullah Al-Otaibi, GM, ETP & Market Solutions, Petrochem on how SABIC continues to invest in the right capabilities and competencies for the future.

SABIC, developing innovative solutions for India’s electric vehicle and renewable industry

-Cotton and Synthetic Microfibers Impact Aquatic Microorganisms Too

While microplastics have received significant attention in recent years for their negative environmental impacts, a new study from Oregon State University scientists found microfibers from synthetic materials as well as cotton impacted the behavior and growth of water organisms.

“We’re trying to shift the narrative a little bit because so much of the focus has been just on the plastics, but really we need to focus more generally on microfibers of all types,” said Susanne Brander, an associate professor and ecotoxicologist at Oregon State.

“What we are seeing is that even the cotton, while it has less of an impact than the synthetic materials, still has an impact on the growth and behavior of the organisms we studied.” European textile – Sorting technology

The study, published this week in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, is being released at a time of increased attention on regulating microfibers. Like microplastics, microfibers are of concern because scientists are increasingly identifying them in water samples and finding they are causing adverse impacts in organisms and ecosystems.

A bill was recently introduced in Oregon that would require new clothes washers sold in the state be equipped with a microfiber filtration system. France recently approved a similar measure and several other countries, states and provinces are considering bills. Related, a study from Canada in 2021 found that washing machine filters reduce microfiber emissions. European textile – Sorting technology

Brander, who studies the responses of aquatic organisms to environmental stressors, believes other measures could be taken to reduce the release of microfibers, including increasing the sustainability of clothing so that it sheds less and passing laws that would require filters on both clothes washers and dryers. Previous studies have found dryers are an underestimated source of microfibers being released into the environment.

European textile - Sorting technology

-Report reveals “disturbing” trajectory: World produces more single-use plastic than ever before

It also found that the vast majority (98 per cent) of single-use plastics continue to be produced from fossil fuels, only a small drop from the 99 per cent recorded four years ago.

European textile - Sorting technology

-Reusing textiles has 70x less environmental impact: European study

Reuse of textiles has 70 times lower impact on environment as compared to producing new clothing, a new life-cycle assessment (LCA) commissioned by the European textile reuse and recycling industry has confirmed. The study revealed that a substantial 3 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) is saved for each high or medium-quality clothing that is reused.

Only a mere 0.01 per cent of the water used to produce new clothing is required for reuse, the study further stated. European textile – Sorting technology

These results come on the back of the European Union (EU) launching its strategy for sustainable textiles just a few months ago and requirements for member states to start collecting textiles separately by 2025, European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) said in a press release.

Reusing textiles has 70x less environmental impact: European study

-MEG supply glut to continue in February

China’s MEG market will still be oversupplied in February with inventory build-up (oversupply in total MEG supply) estimated at about 200kt.

MEG inventory in East China main ports stood at 1.1 million tons at the end of January. Cargo arrivals will be intensive in the first half of February according to the shipping schedule, and MEG shore tank inventory is expected to reach 1.2 million tons.

At present, the remaining tank capacity in Ningbo and Taicang is tight. As a result, MEG floating inventory will increase.European textile – Sorting technology

In terms of China domestic supply, Fund Energy has a 10-day maintenance plan for its 500kt/year MEG unit in the second half of February. Satellite Petrochemical closed a 900kt/year MEG plant at the end of January for about 15 days of maintenance. Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical also plans to reduce the operating rate of its MEG plant to about 60% in mid-February due to the turnaround of one of its crackers.

The start-up of Shenghong Petrochemical’s 1 million mt/year #2 MEG line has been delayed without clear timing.

However, the recovery in demand was slower than previously expected on slow resumption of work after the Chinese New Year holiday.

At present, market participants mainly choose to observe. The MEG market is likely to remain weak in the short term. Eyes could rest on the recovery of polyester polymerization rate. Effective inventory reductions would occur in the second quarter of 2023.

PET film – Sorting-technology – Battery 07-02-2023

MEG supply glut to continue in February

European textile – Sorting technology

Tomra Recycling Sorting sensor 08-02-2023

Tomra Recycling Sorting sensor

-First automated materials recovery facility in UAE

Farz is owned and operated by Imdaad, a leading integrated facility management company in the Middle East. The plant is built on a 45,322 m2 plot in Dubai’s National Industries Park, a 21 km2 area of specially designated land in the heart of Dubai’s new industrial district. Imdaad is responsible for the collection of C&I waste from the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), a free economic zone located in the Jebel Ali area at the far western end of Dubai in the UAE. Imdaad’s mission for the Farz plant is closely aligned with Dubai’s target to hit zero waste to landfill by 2030. Tomra Recycling Sorting sensor

The process

Infeed waste arrives by truck to Farz’s reception area where, following a pre-sorting stage, the MSW and C&I waste are separated into two lines; one for MSW and the other for C&I waste.

Shredders on both lines break down the material and trommels separate the infeed material into different fractions based on size. On both lines, the valuable fractions (80 – 300mm) are passed onto the next stage of magnetic separation and the <80mm organic waste and inert fractions smaller are diverted directly to the landfill. Any >300mm material is returned to the feeding area to go through the shredder process again. Magnets and eddy current separators sort the metals into ferrous and non-ferrous metals, removing them in preparation for the next sorting stage. Tomra Recycling Sorting sensor

Once the metals have been recovered from both the MSW and C&I lines, the first Tomra Autosort units in each line separate a mixed plastics fraction for further processing into three target fractions: 3D (bottles and plastic containers), 2D (film, cardboard, foil and textiles) and fines. The remaining material passes through a second Autosort unit on each line to separate a mixed paper/cardboard fraction. The residual waste is transferred to a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) bunker prior to being sold for use in energy from waste (EFW) plants. The final two Autosort units – one on each line – separate out HDPE and PET from the 3D fraction before the material undergoes a final manual quality control check.

This phased process enables Farz to produce high-quality end fractions of HDPE, PET, aluminum, ferrous metals, OCC, wood, PE bags and RDF. These fractions are baled and sold on to recyclers within the UAE and exported worldwide.

With up to 320,000 scan points per second, Tomra’s Autosort high-resolution sensors are claimed to collect data on multiple characteristics at high speed to ensure accurate identification of a wide range of materials. Thanks to Flying Beam technology, homogeneous light distribution is guaranteed for better detection and monitoring across the entire belt width, distinguishing even the finest molecular differences of materials flowing along the line, says Tomra. Tomra Recycling Sorting sensor

The latest generation of Autosort also incorporates Sharp eye technology as standard, which is intended to ensure improved light efficiency and sorting clarity, facilitating the separation of difficult-to-sort fractions such as PET from bottles and trays.

Visit Tomra

PET film – Sorting-technology – Battery 07-02-2023

Tomra Recycling Sorting sensor

Reusing textiles – environmental impact 08-02-2023

Reusing textiles – environmental impact

-Reusing textiles has 70x less environmental impact: European study

Only a mere 0.01 per cent of the water used to produce new clothing is required for reuse, the study further stated.

While the study confirms waste hierarchy assumptions on the environmental benefits of reuse over recycling, in the case of low-quality clothing, typically entirely composed of polyester, recycling also has comparative environmental benefits when consumers are less likely to purchase second-hand clothing.

The study also emphasised recommendations to policymakers, calling for initiatives that accelerate investments in state-of-the-art textile recycling facilities globally. In particular, innovation in fibre-to-fibre recycling will be key to keep textile fibres in the loop as volumes of non-reusable clothing are set to dramatically increase. The study also notes the importance of eco-design criteria that enhance the lifespan of clothing before there is a need for recycling as well as rules that mandate detailed sorting of high or medium-quality and low-quality textiles. Reusing textiles – environmental impact

“Regrettably, around 62 per cent of used clothing and textiles end up in household waste meaning valuable textiles are likely to be incinerated or landfilled. The European textile reuse and recycling industry envisages a circular textile value chain where every piece of clothing is reused in an optimal way and/or recycled,” said Mariska Boer, president of EuRIC Textiles. “This study endorses the environmental benefits of a global market for textile reuse and recycling’s potential to tackle the rising amounts of low-quality and non-reusable clothing.”