Hydrogen Revolution – Celanese And Under Armour Develop Innovative New NEOLAST™ Fiber For Use In Performance Stretch Fabrics 23-01-2024
Hydrogen Revolution
In the latest joint military operation, the US and UK conducted air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, hitting eight locations, including an underground storage site and Houthi missile and surveillance capabilities
The Pentagon emphasized the goal of safeguarding the free flow of commerce in the Red Sea, a crucial trade route. The strikes aim to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the region.Hydrogen Revolution
This marks the eighth US strike against Houthi targets in Yemen, with the UK participating in a second joint operation.
UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron asserted that the strikes send a clear message and aim to degrade Houthi capabilities to carry out attacks on international shipping.
The UK called for an immediate humanitarian pause and seeks a permanent, sustainable ceasefire in the region. Hydrogen Revolution
The joint statement indicated support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands.
The UK Ministry of Defence highlighted the use of precision-guided bombs to minimize civilian casualties.
Government minister Huw Merriman stated that if Houthi attacks persist, the airstrikes will not be a one-off.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps described the strikes as self-defense against the Houthis’ intolerable attacks on merchant shipping, aimed at degrading their capabilities. Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey expressed support for limited strikes but emphasized the need for parliamentary debate and a vote.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported strikes in Yemen’s provinces, indicating the Houthis’ continued defiance. Hydrogen Revolution
Despite previous strikes, the Houthis persist in targeting ships in the Red Sea.
The US and UK reiterated their commitment to freedom of navigation and international commerce, discussing the importance of humanitarian aid and civilian protections for Gaza during a phone call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The Houthis began attacking merchant vessels in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The US and UK launched previous strikes on January 11 after Houthi forces ignored an ultimatum to cease attacks.
The situation remains complex, with ongoing efforts to address the root causes and achieve a lasting resolution. Hydrogen Revolution
Crude Oil Prices Trend
Crude Oil Prices Trend by Polyestertime
Stellantis, Tavares: Lowering prices (like Tesla) will lead to a bloodbath
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, firmly asserts that the company will not adopt the price-lowering strategy employed by some competitors, most notably Tesla. Speaking after the unveiling of the new STLA Large platform on January 19th, Tavares emphasized that Stellantis currently turns a profit on every car sold, including electric vehicles, and aims to maintain this profitability in the future. He criticized the industry trend of a “race to the bottom,” warning that it will culminate in a “bloodbath,” especially for companies sacrificing profitability to boost sales, a clear reference to Tesla.
Tavares explained that maintaining healthy profit margins is essential for the industry’s sustainability. He highlighted the historical margin range of 3% to 14% for manufacturers, expressing concern about the ongoing decline in global automotive company profitability. He warned that constant destruction of value through aggressive price reductions could lead companies into financial difficulties and make them vulnerable to acquisition by financially stable groups. Hydrogen Revolution
This statement comes amid a challenging period for the European car market, marked by a 3.8% drop in December registrations compared to the previous year. Despite this, the overall performance in 2023 showed a positive balance with a 13.7% increase in registrations compared to 2022. However, the industry still faces challenges, particularly in the electric car sector, where high prices are identified as a barrier to customer adoption.
In response to market challenges, Stellantis is actively reducing operating costs, exemplified by severance payments to Italian workers, staff reductions in the U.S., and plant closures in Poland. Hydrogen Revolution
Tavares acknowledged the need to address the high price of electric cars to stimulate consumer demand and prevent market stagnation.
Celanese And Under Armour Develop Innovative New NEOLAST™ Fiber For Use In Performance Stretch Fabrics
Celanese Corporation, a leading global specialty materials and chemical company, has joined forces with Under Armour, Inc., a renowned innovator in athletic apparel and footwear, to pioneer an advanced fiber for performance stretch fabrics known as NEOLAST™. This groundbreaking material serves as a high-performance alternative to elastane, commonly referred to as spandex, providing the apparel industry with a versatile solution for stretch fabrics.
NEOLAST™ not only delivers exceptional stretch, durability, and comfort expected from elite performance fabrics but also addresses sustainability challenges associated with elastane, particularly in terms of recyclability. Hydrogen Revolution
The proprietary solvent-free melt-extrusion process used to produce NEOLAST™ fibers eliminates the need for potentially hazardous chemicals typically associated with elastane-based stretch fabrics. The fibers are manufactured using recyclable elastoester polymers, marking a significant stride in enabling the recycling of blended fabrics containing elastane. This move aligns with the industry’s pursuit of circular manufacturing for stretch fabrics.
Celanese and Under Armour are committed to exploring the potential of NEOLAST™ fibers to enhance the compatibility of stretch fabrics with future recycling systems and infrastructure. Hydrogen Revolution
Tom Kelly, Celanese Senior Vice President of Engineered Materials, emphasizes the collaboration with Under Armour as the first step in unlocking the full potential of NEOLAST™. The innovative fiber not only enhances performance but also aligns with sustainability goals, embodying a transformative approach to textile innovation.
Kyle Blakely, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Under Armour, envisions NEOLAST™ as a transformative innovation for both the company and the textile industry, reinforcing their commitment to building better products with a focus on performance-driven sustainability. Beyond sustainability benefits, NEOLAST™ fibers offer increased production precision, allowing spinners to tailor power-stretch levels and engineer fibers to meet a diverse range of fabric specifications. Hydrogen Revolution
Celanese aims to extend the availability of NEOLAST™ fibers to the broader apparel industry, potentially reducing dependence on elastane. For more information on this groundbreaking fiber, visit www.neolastfibers.com. As Celanese and Under Armour continue to explore application opportunities, the collaborative effort holds promise for revolutionizing the future of performance stretch fabrics and promoting a circular economy in the textile industry.
BP’s Odyssey into Hydrogen Revolution
As a leading force in the global oil and gas industry, BP is boldly navigating towards a future powered by green hydrogen—an innovative and sustainable energy source poised to revolutionize the carbon landscape.
This strategic shift mirrors BP’s overarching vision to transition from a traditional oil company into a fully-integrated energy behemoth. Hydrogen Revolution
Green hydrogen is produced through water electrolysis, a process driven by electrolyzers fueled by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.
This environmentally conscious production method sharply contrasts with grey hydrogen, derived from natural gas, and blue hydrogen, which involves carbon capture and storage to curb emissions.
What distinguishes green hydrogen is its zero-emissions profile, presenting itself as a crucial component in the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.
BP’s commitment to green hydrogen is vividly illustrated through strategic collaborations. In partnership with Orsted, a Danish energy firm, BP is actively contributing to a substantial green hydrogen production facility in Germany. Hydrogen Revolution
This collaboration is just one facet of BP’s comprehensive approach to green hydrogen.
Going beyond collaborations, BP is directing investments through its venture capital arm to propel advancements in hydrogen technology.
Actively engaging with industry stakeholders and policymakers, BP is playing a pivotal role in shaping the infrastructure and transport networks necessary for a hydrogen-powered future.
As climate goals intensify, major players in the energy sector are racing to adopt low-carbon technologies. Hydrogen Revolution
BP’s substantial investment underscores a collective acknowledgment within the industry that green hydrogen is not merely a passing trend but a lasting solution in the pursuit of sustainable energy.
BP’s strategic pivot into green hydrogen signifies a transformative repositioning, not only for the company itself but for the entire energy sector.
This move stands as a testament to the industry’s recognition of green hydrogen as a pivotal player in the evolving low-carbon energy landscape.
BP’s commitment to this sustainable energy source is poised to contribute significantly to the global effort to combat climate change and usher in a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Hydrogen Revolution
Braskem and Shell Chemicals will work together to use more circular content in Braskem’s polypropylene production, as part of a broader improvement of the value chain, the company announced.
The circular polypropylene will be made from a feedstock that is ISCC PLUS-certified, based on a mass balance approach, and will be used by Braskem’s customers in various applications, such as packaging and automotive.
Shell plans to upgrade and process pyrolysis oil from plastic waste at its new upgrader plant at Shell’s Chemicals Park at Moerdijk, Netherlands, before sending it to Braskem’s polypropylene plant in Wesseling, Germany, for further conversion. The upgrader, which is being built, can process up to 50,000 tonnes of pyrolysis oil a year and will eliminate many of the impurities in pyrolysis oil to produce a higher quality feedstock for chemicals production. This upgraded feedstock can replace conventional virgin fossil feedstocks for the chemicals industry. Hydrogen Revolution
Danielle Ebentreich, Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer at Shell Chemicals, says “This agreement shows our commitment to tackling challenging environmental issues, such as plastic waste and hard-to-recycle plastics. By using our investments in innovative, sustainable projects at Shell’s strategically located Energy and Chemical Parks, we can play a key role, together with our partners along the value chain, in creating sustainable solutions for our customers and society.” “Implementing initiatives that involve plastic waste recovery, and mechanical and chemical recycling in our production processes is linked to our company’s purpose to offer a more circular and sustainable future, on top of the leading position Braskem has in biopolymers globally. Hydrogen Revolution
This agreement is an important step to combine Shell’s technology and infrastructure with Braskem’s polymer skills and market knowledge towards more sustainable and scalable solutions”, says Walmir Soller, VP of Olefins and Polyolefins at Braskem Europe & Asia.
Italy’s Prada’s Re-Nylon collection spotlights sustainability
INSIGHTS
- Prada’s Re-Nylon collection, launched in 2019, signifies a dual identity of innovation and responsibility. The brand’s radical commitment to sustainability involves converting all virgin nylon production to Econyl, a regenerated nylon yarn.
- The 2024 collection showcases timeless pieces framed by the ocean, reflecting Prada’s active preservation efforts.
Prada’s Re-Nylon collection embodies responsibility in action, placing circularity and sustainability at its core. Launched in 2019, Prada Re-Nylon – comprising accessories and ready-to-wear for men and women – epitomises a fundamental duality of Prada’s identity; innovation in spirit, responsibility in action. Hydrogen Revolution
Placing sustainability at the heart of a fashion collection, Prada Re-Nylon has instigated a shift across the brand as a whole. Today, production of all Prada virgin nylon has been converted to regenerated nylon, a radical commitment to sustainability by a major luxury house.
In the twenty-first century, notions of luxury have again shifted, embracing ideologies and environmental concerns – thinking luxury. Prada Re-Nylon is an evolution of this iconic fabric to Econyl, a regenerated nylon yarn that can be ceaselessly recycled to produce material of the same high quality, the brand said in a press release.
This journey, in turn, inspires the 2024 Prada Re-Nylon collection campaign which presents an offering of timeless and eternal pieces, worn by Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch. This new collection is literally framed by the environment it is actively preserving: the ocean. Hydrogen Revolution
LG Chem partners with Italian state energy company to establish hydrotreated vegetable oil joint venture
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is made through either hydrocracking or hydrogenation of vegetable oil. Hydrocracking dismantles large molecules into smaller ones, while hydrogeneration is the process of adding hydrogen to the molecules of vegetable oil. These methods are often utilized to create alternative sources for chemical feedstocks. Diesel fuel created by hydrotreating is called renewable diesel.
LG Chem said the company agreed with Enilive to set up a joint venture for HVO business. The joint venture will construct a plant by 2026 in Daesan, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Seoul.
HVO can also be used to produce of superabsorbent polymer (SAP), a raw material for diapers and many other hygiene products, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a common thermoplastic polymer for manufacturing household and consumer goods as well as medical and industrial products.
Europe R-PE continues to face tough trading conditions, although some optimism remains
The majority of players expect recycled polyethylene’s (R-PE) tough trading conditions to continue into 2024 due to ongoing bearish macroeconomic conditions, although many expect this to improve compared with 2023. Hydrogen Revolution
Many are predicting that weak demand will continue across at least H1, and it will potentially not be until 2025 before the market sees a full-scale recovery, depending on the evolution of the cost of living crisis and the substitution pressure to virgin.
Some players in the recycled high density polyethylene (R-HDPE) market are hopeful of a slight bounce in Q1 – particularly players in packaging grades – as a result of restocking after the year-end, and due to the resumption of several previously suspended packaging projects. Hydrogen Revolution
Nevertheless, the packaging sector remains more cost sensitive than it has been for various years, while the end-use market in sectors such as construction, home improvement and outdoor furniture – which continue to comprise the lion’s share of consumption – remain heavily negatively impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
The European Parliament’s Autumn 2023 ‘Eurobarometer’ showed that 47% of Europeans have seen their standard of living reduced in 2023, with 37% having difficulties paying bills, and 73% expecting their standard of living to further decrease in the next 12 months. Hydrogen Revolution
Aquapak research highlights fashion industry commitment to circular economy
Reducing plastic in packaging is important part of sustainability strategies
A new study with board directors and senior executives who work for fashion brands and retailers in the UK, US and Australia by Aquapak Polymers reveals 12% expect their business to be fully circular within one to two years, 34% within two to three years and 31% within three to four years. One fifth expect to reach this goal in four to five years.
Aquapak Polymers specialises in polymer-based material technologies that can deliver both performance and environmental responsibility at scale. Hydrogen Revolution
Almost one third (32%) rated their strategy for making their business fully circular as excellent, over half (54%) said it was good and 14% described it as average, suggesting there is room for improvement.
When it comes to sustainability leadership, over half (54%) described their business as a market leader and innovator, 39% said that their business was average and ‘following the leaders’ and 7% described their business as a laggard and ‘playing catchup’.
The findings also show that while 49% said sustainability is regarded as highly important to the success of their business, just 21% described the quality of effectiveness of their sustainability strategy and programme as excellent. Hydrogen Revolution
Over one third (37%) said that reducing the use of polyethylene plastic in packaging is a highly important part of their sustainability strategy, and a further 63% said it was quite important.
To help reduce plastic packaging pollution Aquapak has developed Hydropol, a new polymer which is soluble and non-toxic to marine life. Hydropol can be used as an alternative to conventional plastic in a wide variety of applications as it provides the same functionality and performance but without the associated environmental problems. It is currently used to make products such as garment bags, offering all the necessary features of traditional polybags– strength and puncture resistance, clarity of film, and protection from leakages and dirt. Hydrogen Revolution
Hydrogen Revolution