Recycled Nylon – The UK chemical industry faces a sharp decline, driven by soaring energy prices and high carbon taxes. INEOS has announced the closure of its Grangemouth ethanol plant, one of only two in Europe, ending over 40 years of production and resulting in significant job losse 14-01-2025 - Archive
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Avient Expands Nymax™ REC Recycled Nylon Production to Istanbul
Avient Corporation has extended production of its Nymax™ REC Recycled Nylon Formulations to Istanbul, Turkey. These formulations, containing up to 100% recycled materials such as nylon carpets, cater to applications like automotive under-the-hood parts.
Nymax™ REC products, based on PA6, include 20–100% recycled content from EU-registered sources under REACH regulations, like recycled textiles. They deliver performance comparable to virgin nylon, including durability, impact resistance, and weather resilience. These materials can incorporate reinforcements, fillers, and modifiers to meet diverse requirements, such as flame retardancy and chemical resistance. Recycled Nylon
By producing in Istanbul with locally sourced recycled content, Avient aims to reduce transportation-related environmental impacts and enhance accessibility to REACH-compliant solutions in Turkey and the Middle East. “This expansion underscores our commitment to sustainability and supports customers in achieving their environmental goals,” said Matt Mitchell, Avient’s Director of Global Marketing, Specialty Engineered Materials.
Nymax™ REC formulations offer lower Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) values compared to virgin nylon, with certified PCF values calculated using Avient’s TÜV Rheinland-certified PCF Calculator. Recycled Nylon
These sustainable materials serve industries including automotive, industrial, electrical, and electronics, providing an eco-friendly alternative without compromising performance.
For more details, visit avient.com.
UK Chemicals Industry in Decline: INEOS Closes Last Synthetic Ethanol Plant
The UK chemical industry faces a sharp decline, driven by soaring energy prices and high carbon taxes. INEOS has announced the closure of its Grangemouth ethanol plant, one of only two in Europe, ending over 40 years of production and resulting in significant job losses.
The UK, once a global leader in chemicals with a skilled workforce, has lost 10 major chemical plants in the past five years. Unlike the USA, which has seen significant industrial growth, the UK has not built a new chemical plant in decades. Energy costs in the UK have doubled within five years and are now five times higher than in the USA, making domestic production uncompetitive. Recycled Nylon
Synthetic ethanol, crucial for pharmaceuticals and essential in manufacturing new blockbuster drugs, will now be imported. Since its inception, the Grangemouth plant has produced enough ethanol to fill 25 billion bottles of whisky.
INEOS Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe criticized the policies leading to de-industrialization, stating, “Shifting production and emissions overseas does nothing for the environment. The UK, particularly the North, needs high-quality manufacturing and jobs. We are witnessing the extinction of one of our vital industries as chemical manufacturing collapses under these pressures.”
The closure underscores the urgent need for a coherent energy strategy to protect the UK’s industrial base and safeguard its economic future. Without intervention, the chemical industry’s decline may signal broader industrial challenges for the nation. Recycled Nylon
EU Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties on PVC Imports from USA and Egypt
The European Commission has introduced definitive anti-dumping duties on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) imports from Egypt and the USA. An investigation revealed that these imports were undercutting EU producers, leading to significant market share losses and potential long-term harm to the Union industry. Without these measures, the situation could worsen, possibly resulting in factory closures within the EU.
The affected EU PVC industry currently employs 4,000 workers across seven Member States. The imposed duties range from 74.2% to 100.1% on Egyptian imports and 58% to 77% on those from the USA. Recycled Nylon
PVC, a versatile thermoplastic polymer, is widely used in manufacturing pipes, films, foils, and moulded products, especially in construction. The EU market for PVC is valued at €3.5 billion.
Hong Kong waste-to-energy plant won’t harm recycling push: minister
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan pushes back against ‘misunderstandings’ over facility opening this year
Hong Kong has not given up on promoting recycling and reducing rubbish, the environment minister has said, while touting the benefits of an inaugural waste-to-energy plant set to launch this year. Recycled Nylon
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Sunday the facility located on an island off Lantau would help ease the burden on strained resources and advance sustainability goals.
“The commissioning of I·PARK1 marks a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s journey towards sustainable waste management,” Tse said.
“This state-of-the-art facility will not only reduce our reliance on landfills but also contribute to our renewable energy goals.”
Tse said the plant would incinerate rubbish and convert the heat into electricity, with the use of the technology able to help reduce the space taken up by landfill sites.
He called the move “an absolute necessity in Hong Kong where land resources are expensive”. Recycled Nylon
Greenhouse gas emissions would be lower than those from landfills, he said. The plant also provided a sustainable source of energy to decrease the reliance on fossil fuels.
The minister said the by-product of the incinerated waste could be used to create building materials, and metal residues could be further recycled.
The site is the first of its kind in the city and is set to open within the year.
Covestro Partners with China’s Govy Technology to Develop Materials for Urban Air Mobility
The strategic collaboration agreement focuses on lightweight polycarbonates, smart applications, and lower-carbon-footprint solutions.
Materials manufacturer Covestro has formed a partnership with Govy Technology Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC), to jointly drive innovation in materials for flying cars, more specifically for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Recycled Nylon
This collaboration aims to accelerate the commercialization of cutting-edge material solutions that enable more efficient and sustainable urban air mobility.
Covestro is one of eight companies, including partners from the fields of AI, information technology for low-altitude aviation, and carbon-fiber composites, to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Govy, a newly established subsidiary of GAC dedicated to the development of eVTOL aircraft. As a partner in this ambitious project, Covestro brings its expertise in high-performance materials and sustainable solutions for the advancement of next-generation flying cars.
Transforming urban air mobility
“Our collaboration with GAC represents a significant step forward in transforming urban air mobility. By leveraging Covestro’s expertise in sustainable and innovative materials, and GAC’s leadership in flying car development, we are poised to create solutions that redefine the possibilities of urban transport,” said Lily Wang, president of the Engineering Plastics business entity at Covestro. Recycled Nylon
“We are committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and bringing the future of mobility closer to reality,” said Su Qingpeng, general manager of Govy. “Partnering with Covestro and other industry leaders allows us to accelerate the development of our flying cars, creating safe, more sustainable, and groundbreaking transportation solutions for urban environments.”
Tesla vs China: The Electric Future is Unstoppable
European carmakers are forming two alliances to delay CO2 emission limits to 2027, revealing both a geopolitical trade war and the automotive industry’s inevitable shift to electric. The first alliance, involving Stellantis, Toyota, Ford, and others, seeks green credits, while the opposing group includes Mercedes, Volvo, and Chinese-backed companies. This highlights the USA-China rivalry, with Tesla and Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) leading the charge.
China, with a 40.7% surge in EV registrations, now dominates global E-car leadership. Meanwhile, Tesla, controversial in Europe, symbolizes a broader ecological transition that Europe struggles to manage. The push to decarbonize has spurred deindustrialization, allowing overseas players to gain ground.
Despite differing strategies, the industry acknowledges that electrification is the future. Market data confirms this trend, even as economic challenges persist. Italy saw a modest decline, while Germany faced a deeper automotive crisis, with the Ifo Business Climate Index dropping to minus 34.7 points in December 2024. Recycled Nylon
The shift towards electrification is evident upstream and downstream. Oil giants like Aramco are investing in solar energy, indicating a transformation in the Oil & Gas sector. Trump’s plans to increase US oil production aim to influence global prices, potentially undermining OPEC+.
Italy’s Plenitude plans to install EV charging stations every 50 kilometers, signaling the decline of internal combustion engines. This transformation mirrors a locomotive on a fixed track, pushing the industry towards a sustainable future.
