Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
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-Further success for Q-Cycle by Fulgar
More and more players interested in the revolutionary yarn as new certification is obtained.
Q-Cycle by Fulgar is proving to be a resounding success in an increasingly sustainable, circular and 100% European supply chain, according to Italian producer Fulgar. The result of an innovative chemical recycling technology where the raw material required for the production of yarn has been replaced by pyrolisis oil from waste end-of-life tyres, Q-Cycle is said to offer the same functional and aesthetic benefits as a virgin polyamide – light weight, endurance and resistance – but with a green plus.
The revolutionary yarn has taken its place at the forefront of developments in this field, attracting intense from across the market, including international brands that are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of eco-design, Fulgar says. Now, the Castelgoffredo based business adds, Q-Cycle is even more reliable, a quality recognised by most recent certification it has been awarded – ISCC PLUS – which guarantees sustainability, traceability and mass balance standards for the entire production system. This label is complemented by the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) supply chain environmental impact study that indicates a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional synthetic yarns.
The yarn also conforms to Oeko-Tex Std Class Il Std 100 Appendix 6 certification, a unique certification and monitoring standard in textile raw materials, semi-finished and end product sectors, identifying products that present no risks to consumer health.
“We’re very happy with this innovative product, which is enjoying great market success. We’re also pleased to have obtained ISCC Plus certification. All these internationally certificates validate what we are doing and declaring in terms of transparency and traceability. In this way brands approach us with greater ease and confidence, and we, at the same time, can use our skills and expertise to support them more effectively”, says Daniela Antunes, Marketing Manager of Fulgar.
Q-Cycle will be taking centre stage from 31 January to 2 February at Milano Unica, appearing in collections from some of the most important players in the textile supply chain, including Borgini, Brugnoli, Gipitex, Lemar, Luxury Jersey, Olmetex and Serates.
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www.fulgar.com
-Fabrics Made Out of Recycled Plastic
Freudenberg Performance Materials’ Evolon® has just taken another significant step forward in the reduction of its carbon footprint. Already designed to be durable, reusable, and versatile, the fabric, which is used in packaging, cleaning and home furnishings is now being made from used consumer PET bottles.
Freudenberg Performance Materials has recently substituted virgin PET with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is produced internally from plastic bottles.
In an interview with DirectIndustry, Achraf Khedimi, Head of Global Sales Evolon®, explains: Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
“This conserves resources and decreases the company’s environmental footprint. As a consequence, the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of Evolon® packaging textile materials has decreased by 35%.”
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-Demand for PET remains low in the US
Demand for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the United States at the beginning of the year is low due to high inventories in the market, according to ICIS.
However, demand is expected to increase after the Lunar New Year celebrations in preparation for the peak summer season, which is likely to put upward pressure on prices.
The Asian PET market is already seeing an increase in spot prices for different types of PET as a result of higher costs for raw materials, including monoethylene glycol (MEG), the cost of which increased by more than USD20 per ton compared to last week.
In the domestic market, there has been a rise in commodity prices, and MEG producers continue to try to restart their factories after the winter storm Elliot.
One manufacturer has announced force majeure and it is expected that it will not work for several weeks. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
Earlier it was reported that domestic spot prices of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for the production of bottles in Thailand increased due to rising prices for purified terephthalic acid (TPA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG). Thus, domestic spot offers for Thai bottled PET increased by an average of 1 Thai baht (THB) per kg and were at the level of 36.5 THB per kg, DEL (with delivery) for the week ended January 20. For comparison, in the week ended January 13, price offers were at the level of 35-36 baht per kg, DEL.
According to the ScanPlast review, in January-November 2022, the estimated consumption of PET in Russia amounted to 758.69 thousand tons, which corresponds to consumption for the same period a year earlier. Compared with November 2021, total estimated consumption increased by 4% and amounted to 78.77 thousand tons against 75.44 thousand tons last year. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
DAK Americas, Indorama, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation and Far Eastern New Century (FENC) are PET manufacturers in the United States.
-Electric cars, range increases by 15 percent with heated seat belts
Let’s start with a fact: during the winter electric cars can lose up to 30% of their range, and this for two reasons. On the one hand because the batteries work optimally between 20 and 40 degrees, and as soon as the first sub-zero temperatures arrive they need to be recharged at shorter intervals. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
On the other hand, the heat in the passenger compartment is entrusted to the air conditioning system, which in turn “sucks” energy from the batteries themselves. Indeed, in electric cars the heating system cannot draw on the residual heat of the internal combustion engine, as is the case in petrol or diesel cars.
So how to do? Here is the idea of ZF, the German multinational manufacturer of components for the transport industry: very normal seat belts that give off heat using the same principle as the thermal blanket. A gimmick capable of drastically reducing the use of the air conditioning system, especially if used in combination with the heated seats. Not only. The electricity saved would, according to ZF, make the car gain 15% more autonomy.
The “heated belts” – baptized by the parent company “Heat Belt” – work thanks to very small conductors woven directly into the structure of the belt. The contact elements for the electric heating circuits are positioned in such a way as not to interfere with the rewinder. ” For the occupants there is no difference compared to a normal belt”, explains Martina Rausch, project manager. “And of course the Heat Belts guarantee the same level of safety as the normal belts we know”. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
ZF let it be known that mass production is practically ready, because the very thin structure of the conductors has in no way modified the thickness of the tape, which can therefore take the place of all the old generation belts. Only one question would remain, if we wanted to be picky: and during the summer? Even if the batteries work optimally in the heat, it is nevertheless impossible not to use the air conditioning system, to the detriment of the car’s autonomy. Or maybe they are already thinking about cooling belts?
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-EU’s economic growth to slow down to 0.2% in 2023: UN
Economic output in the European Union (EU) is expected to grow by only 0.2 per cent in 2023 as the region battles an energy and cost-of-living crisis that was aggravated by the war in Ukraine, as per a recent UN report. This year’s sharp slowdown comes after a surprisingly strong expansion of 3.3 per cent in 2022, when further relaxation of COVID-19 mobility restrictions and pent-up demand boosted spending on contact-intensive services even as inflation soared. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
In 2024, growth in the EU is forecast to accelerate to 1.6 per cent on the back of stronger internal demand and a more benign global environment. The current crisis is derailing growth at a time when several European economies are yet to recover their pre-COVID-19 output level. In the third quarter of 2022, GDP was 2.6 per cent above the pre-COVID-19 level in the European Union, but 0.4 per cent below in the United Kingdom, and 2 per cent below in Spain, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2023 report.
The tepid global economic prospects also threaten the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), when the 2023 SDG Summit in September marks the mid-point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
“This is not the time for short-term thinking or knee-jerk fiscal austerity that exacerbates inequality, increases suffering, and could put the SDGs farther out of reach. These unprecedented times demand unprecedented action,” said António Guterres, United Nations secretary-general. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
“This action includes a transformative SDG stimulus package, generated through the collective and concerted efforts of all stakeholders.”
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-Don’t Overestimate Bioplastics’ Benefits
Bioplastics may avoid some of the issues associated with non-biodegradable fossil fuel–derived plastics, but they’re no panacea.
Plastics produced from plants are often considered less environmentally damaging than plastics made from petrochemicals. But scientists are warning that we should be careful making such assumptions.
A new literature review examining the results of around 20 scientific papers has found that bio-based plastics, most of which are made from cornstarch, can be just as toxic as their conventional cousins when dumped in coastal environments.
The review also shows that plastics marked as biodegradable often fail to break down in these environments. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
The paper highlights the lack of research into the environmental toxicity of bioplastics. The authors write that, for now at least, regulations on bioplastics need to be as tight as those for petroleum-based polymers.
-Commencement of Commercial Production at new BOPET plant in Telangana
Ester Industries Limited, India’s leading manufacturer of Polyester Films and Specialty Polymers announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Ester Filmtech Limited has commenced commercial production at new Polyester (BOPET) film manufacturing plant in the State of Telangana.
Spread over 50 acres, the 48,000 MTPA unit has been set up at an approximate cost of Rs. 650 crore (including margin money for working capital and GST accumulation). The plant is expected to generate revenues worth approximately Rs.600 crore upon achieving optimal utilization. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
Commenting on the development, Mr. Arvind Singhania, Chairman, Ester Industries said “The commissioning of the new unit takes us one step closer in our journey towards transforming Ester into a leading local and global BOPET film manufacturer by offering best-in-class innovative and sustainable products. The new unit provides us the requisite scale and capabilities to help meet the growing BOPET market both in India and overseas offering a range of standard and value added products”
Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric
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Recyclable-Compostable-Plastic 31-01-2023
