Single-Use Plastics – Living in a plastic world: tackling the plastic pollution problem 25-07-2024
Single-Use Plastics
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How Moldova’s Beermaster Increased Efficiency with PET Bottle Blowing Machine
In Moldova, the brewing company Beermaster, located among vineyards and hills, sought innovative packaging solutions for their beverages. They turned to PET Technologies and their advanced APF-Max series blow molding machine.
Previously, Beermaster used two semi-automatic machines with seven blow molds, resulting in frequent production halts. Mold changes were time-consuming, and the older equipment’s inconsistent operation bottlenecked production, hindering their goal of 4,000 bottles per hour. Single-Use Plastics
This inefficiency often led to delays in meeting demand.
PET Technologies introduced the APF-Max 4L blow molder, producing PET bottles from 0.2 to 3 liters, with an output of 7,000 bottles per hour and 8,000 bottles per hour for 500 ml bottles. The APF-Max 4L ensures a seamless production flow and quick bottle format changes, taking just 20 minutes to switch molds. Beermaster now produces five bottle sizes, including a 3-liter format, thanks to the machine’s capability to handle larger volumes. Single-Use Plastics
Energy efficiency is central to the APF-Max 4L, aligning with Beermaster’s sustainable practices. The machine accommodates heavy preforms, crucial for maintaining bottle integrity, resembling traditional beer kegs after filling. PET Technologies also tailored bottle designs to incorporate Beermaster’s branding, enhancing product visual appeal and brand recognition.
The collaboration with PET Technologies has transformed Beermaster’s production capabilities. With minimal downtime and maximized energy efficiency, Beermaster significantly increased productivity, ensuring every bottle is filled with quality and consistency. Single-Use Plastics
Italian textile machinery orders still declining in Q2 2024
INSIGHTS
- In Q2 2024, Italian textile machinery orders fell by 17 per cent compared to 2023.
- Despite this, domestic orders in Italy saw a 25 per cent increase.
- The order backlog reached 4.3 months, with production capacity utilisation at 61 per cent.
- ACIMIT President Marco Salvadè attributed the decline to geopolitical uncertainties, reflected in reduced demand.
In the second quarter of 2024, the order index for Italian textile machinery, as reported by the Economics Department of ACIMIT – the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, showed a decline compared to the period 2023 April-June (-17%). In value terms, the index stood at 49.8 points (base 2021=100). Single-Use Plastics
This result is completely due to the decrease recorded in foreign markets (-22%), where orders represent 86% of the total. Conversely, in Italy, there was a 25% recovery compared to the second quarter of 2023. The absolute value of the index in foreign markets was 48.8 points, while in Italy it was 57.3 points. In the second quarter, the order backlog reached 4.3 months of assured production. Additionally, ACIMIT’s survey shows that in the first six months of 2024 the utilization rate of production capacity by Italian manufacturers was 61%. This percentage is expected to rise to 64% in the second half of the year. Single-Use Plastics
Investindustrial Acquires Majority Stake in Piovan Group
Investindustrial, through its subsidiary Automation Systems, has taken over the majority of Piovan Group, a prominent Italian supplier of automation systems for polymers, plastic, and food powders. The acquisition involves purchasing 58.35% of Piovan’s share capital from Pentafin for approximately €438 million.
Additionally, Investindustrial bought 6.78% from 7-Industries Holding for €49 million, bringing its total stake to 67.96%. Single-Use Plastics
Pentafin, previously the main shareholder, will reinvest by acquiring a 25% stake in Automation Systems. Following the completion of the acquisition, a mandatory takeover bid will be launched for the remaining Piovan shares at €14 each, aiming to delist the company from Euronext Star of Milan.
This price values Piovan at around €716 million, reflecting a 13.4% premium on the pre-announcement share price. Single-Use Plastics
Nicola Piovan will remain as Executive President, and Filippo Zuppichin as CEO.
The transaction, pending antitrust approval, is expected to conclude by mid-October.
Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Santa Maria di Sala, Italy, Piovan operates globally with 14 manufacturing plants and over 40 subsidiaries in more than 70 countries. The group, employing around 1,800 people, achieved a turnover of €570.5 million in 2023, marking a 7.4% increase from the previous year. Single-Use Plastics
Living in a plastic world: tackling the plastic pollution problem
Plastic pollution has emerged as one of our most pressing environmental issues with the increasing use of disposable plastics.
As they are non-biodegradable, plastics accumulate in the environment, altering habitats and natural processes. Millions of wildlife are also trapped by plastic waste every year.
When plastics break down, they release toxic compounds that contaminate the environment. They also disintegrate into small pieces of plastic called microplastics. Microplastics are now found all over the globe and are linked to severe health effects such as metabolic disorders and organ damage. Single-Use Plastics
Recycling plastics reduces the amount of plastic waste that would otherwise be discarded and conserves natural resources. However, only about 10 per cent of plastic is currently recycled around the world. The figure is low in part because recycling some types of plastic, such as e-waste and marine plastic litter, is difficult. Chemical reactions that break down plastics into simpler components to be reused are also energy intensive.
From using e-waste plastics to culture cells to developing a greener method that breaks down plastics, researchers at NTU Singapore are solving some of the greatest challenges that stand in the way of recycling plastics. They are also making strides in reducing plastic pollution. Single-Use Plastics
Biden Administration to Phase Out Single-Use Plastics in Federal Government
The Biden administration announced plans to phase out single-use plastics from all federal operations by 2035 as part of a broader strategy to combat plastic pollution. This initiative will commence with a goal to cease federal procurement of single-use plastics in food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027. Single-Use Plastics
The announcement precedes the final round of negotiations for a global treaty to end plastic pollution, starting on November 25 in Busan, Korea. While countries remain divided on whether the treaty should include production caps, the U.S. supports ending plastic pollution by 2040, advocating for individual country plans rather than global targets.
This phase-out is part of several domestic efforts to address plastic pollution. The White House highlighted policies targeting fossil-fuel-intensive polymer production, recycling, and ocean plastic cleanup. Notably, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued rules to limit emissions from plastic production and plans to invest $275 million in recycling infrastructure. Single-Use Plastics
Given the purchasing power of the U.S. government, environmental groups recognize the significance of this move. Christy Leavitt, Plastics Campaign Director at Oceana, emphasized the global impact of the U.S. government’s procurement decisions, as it is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services.
Key Points
- Target Year: Phase out single-use plastics by 2035; end procurement by 2027.
- Global Treaty: U.S. supports ending plastic pollution by 2040, preferring national plans over global targets.
- Domestic Efforts: New policies to limit emissions and enhance recycling infrastructure. Single-Use Plastics
- Environmental Impact: Significant due to the U.S. government’s extensive purchasing power.
The Japanese way of recycling waste
Firms seek to harness comprehensive trash-sorting system for chemical production
Garbage sorting is a well established ritual in Japan that few question, despite the time and effort involved. A typical resident of a major city has Mondays and Thursdays as options to take combustible garbage to a designated collection site. Tuesdays are for metal cans and polyester bottles, Wednesdays for newsprint and other recyclable paper, and Saturdays for other plastic containers. On Sundays, all trash stays home. Single-Use Plastics
Japanese citizens are generally accepting of these rigid trash-sorting guidelines. Their willing participation has inspired planners to think about innovative ways to mine this waste. As early as 2003, Japan was converting used plastics into ammonia. Now, despite setbacks in the US and elsewhere, more and more Japanese companies are aiming to use household waste to produce basic chemicals like hydrogen, ethanol, and ethylene.
Sekisui Chemical is leaving no stone unturned in its effort to develop the most efficient way to turn household waste into ethanol. Single-Use Plastics
“Our process uses microorganisms that exist in the stomachs of rabbits,” says Satoshi Koma, head of corporate new business development in Sekisui’s biorefinery group.
The company has formed a technical alliance with the US firm LanzaTech, which supplies the microbe, and is in the final stages of building a demonstration project. In their process, combustible garbage such as food leftovers and plastic film is gasified into carbon monoxide and hydrogen and purified using Sekisui technology. LanzaTech’s microorganisms consume the gases and excrete ethanol as waste. Single-Use Plastics
Single-Use Plastics