Oxo-degradable products – Corsair Bangkok Company Ltd (CORSAIR), a plastic waste recycling firm, has inked a significant agreement with Shell Singapore Pte Ltd (SSPL) to supply pyrolysis oil, a mixed plastic waste feedstock 13-02-2024

Oxo-degradable products

Crude Oil Prices Trend 

Crude Oil Prices Trend by Polyestertime

Crude Oil Prices Trend by Polyestertime

Corsair Bangkok Company Ltd (CORSAIR), a plastic waste recycling firm, has inked a significant agreement with Shell Singapore Pte Ltd (SSPL) to supply pyrolysis oil, a mixed plastic waste feedstock

This partnership entails Corsair, known for its conversion of daily household plastic waste into pyrolysis advanced bio oil, delivering the oil from its plastic waste chemical recycling facility in Thailand to the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park in Singapore. Once delivered, the pyrolysis oil will undergo processing to manufacture sustainable circular chemicals, crucial components utilized in various everyday products such as cleaning agents, textiles, and food packaging.

Expressing enthusiasm about the collaboration, Corsair’s CEO, Mr. Jussi Veikko Saloranta, highlighted the pressing issue of global plastic waste and stressed the importance of developing efficient recycling methods.  Oxo-degradable products

He emphasized the need to transform discarded plastic into new products rather than resorting to incineration or landfill disposal.

Corsair, originally based in Thailand but recently expanding into Europe, aims to extend its international reach to maximize its positive environmental impact.

Phil Turley, General Manager of Global Plastic Circular Economy at Shell, echoed Corsair’s commitment to sustainability. He emphasized the significance of chemical recycling as a complement to mechanical recycling efforts, essential for achieving higher recycling rates and reducing plastic waste in the environment. Turley emphasized that the partnership represents not just an innovative collaboration but a shared dedication to a sustainable and circular future.        Oxo-degradable products

Oxo-degradable products

Symphony confident despite court ruling on oxo-degradable plastics

Symphony Environmental Technologies provided an update on the recent ruling by the General Court of the European Union, which was delivered on January 31st, regarding the prohibition of oxo-degradable products that fail to biodegrade properly. Despite the court’s decision not to award compensation, Symphony remains resolute.

The court’s judgment focused solely on the discretion limits of the defendants and did not assess the efficacy of Symphony’s d2w technologies or consider subsequent studies supporting its effectiveness, nor did it examine expert evidence on microplastics formation. Symphony, supported by legal counsel, maintains that d2w should not be subject to the EU prohibition.  Oxo-degradable products

Although legal proceedings ensued, the impact on Symphony’s operations has been minimal, given the limited recent use of d2w technology in the EU. This limited adoption is attributed to confusion stemming from the wording of the EU directive, which fails to differentiate between oxo-degradable plastic and the oxo-biodegradable technology utilized by d2w.

Symphony’s attempts to amend the directive were unsuccessful, leading to the pursuit of compensation. The court’s reference to the CEN definition TR15351, which distinguishes between oxo-degradable and oxo-biodegradable plastics, supports Symphony’s position.

Michael Laurier, CEO of Symphony, expressed confidence in challenging the directive amendment and stressed the importance of communicating the value of d2w biodegradable technology globally.  Oxo-degradable products

Despite the ruling making it more challenging to sell d2w in the EU, Symphony remains optimistic about its global prospects and is committed to updating stakeholders on progress in the coming months.

Shares in Symphony Environmental Technologies were up 5.08% at 3.42p as of 1146 GMT.

Oxo-degradable products

In December 2023, the production of major plastic resins in the United States surged by 5%, reaching a total of 8.5 billion pounds

This marks a substantial uptick of 24.6% compared to December 2022. Year-to-date, the production soared to 96.7 billion pounds, indicating a notable 5% rise from the corresponding period in 2022.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) disclosed these figures, further revealing that sales and captive (internal) usage of major plastic resins also experienced a significant boost. In December 2023 alone, sales and captive use amounted to 8.2 billion pounds, showing a 4.4% increase from the previous month and a notable 10.6% surge compared to December 2022. Yearly sales and captive use tallied up to 95.4 billion pounds, reflecting a 3.1% rise compared to the same period in 2022. Oxo-degradable products

These statistics underscore a robust performance in the U.S. plastic resin industry, with both production and consumption experiencing steady growth. The surge in production and usage highlights the continued importance and demand for plastic resins across various sectors of the economy.

Oxo-degradable products

Rumpke Waste & Recycling (Rumpke) and molecular recycling innovator Eastman have forged a pioneering alliance aimed at tackling the pressing global plastic waste crisis

In a groundbreaking move, Rumpke will soon commence the collection and sorting of challenging-to-recycle and colored PET packaging waste, materials that have long been neglected in the recycling landscape. This waste stream, totaling 100 percent, will serve as the primary feedstock for Eastman’s cutting-edge molecular recycling process.

Through Eastman’s technology, this waste will be transformed into high-quality polyesters, effectively breathing new life into materials that were previously considered non-recyclable. Oxo-degradable products

These recycled polyesters will find application across various packaging sectors, significantly bolstering the circular economy for these materials.

Jeff Snyder, Rumpke’s Director of Recycling, highlighted the urgency of the plastic waste dilemma, stressing the need for innovative solutions.

This partnership not only creates a new avenue for recycling previously unmanageable waste but also underscores the vital role of collaboration in achieving genuine circularity.

Brad Lich, Eastman’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between molecular and mechanical recycling in preserving valuable resources within the circular economy.

This milestone collaboration comes at a pivotal moment as Eastman prepares to launch the world’s largest material-to-material molecular recycling facility in Kingsport, Tennessee. With an annual capacity to recycle 110,000 metric tons of hard-to-recycle plastic waste, this facility represents a significant stride towards a more sustainable future.

Rumpke Waste & Recycling (Rumpke) and molecular recycling innovator Eastman have forged a pioneering alliance aimed at tackling the pressing global plastic waste crisis

New Catalyst Discovery Cuts Costs and Boosts Green Chemistry

Osaka University researchers have developed a more sustainable and cost-effective catalyst for chemical synthesis, significantly reducing the need for rare and expensive metals. Oxo-degradable products

Their nickel carbide nanoparticle catalyst efficiently converts nitriles to primary amines under mild conditions, offering a promising solution for the environmentally friendly production of pharmaceuticals and everyday products.

A team from Osaka University, along with their collaborators, has created a cost-effective catalyst for a key chemical process, potentially paving the way for further initiatives to reduce expenses within the chemical sector.

The chemical industry often relies on scarce and costly metals to manufacture pharmaceuticals and other crucial materials.

Substituting these metals with more readily available and affordable alternatives could enhance environmental sustainability, reduce expenses, and decrease the likelihood of supply chain interruptions. Oxo-degradable products

Now, in a study recently published in Chemistry – A European Journal, researchers from Osaka University and collaborating partners have met this need in their work on an industrially useful chemical transformation. The simple, gentle reaction conditions reported here might inspire researchers who are working to reduce use of expensive metals for as many chemical reactions as possible.

The Role of Noble Metals and Alternatives

So-called noble metals are especially versatile materials. For example, palladium is a metal of choice for catalyzing a chemical transformation – converting nitriles into primary amines – that is a common step in nylon and plastics production. However, such metals are rare and costly. Substitutes based on common metals such as nickel could be cheaper catalysts. Oxo-degradable products

New Catalyst Discovery Cuts Costs and Boosts Green Chemistry

Avantium announces the successful completion of its €70 million capital raise

  • Avantium secures funding for the completion, commissioning and start-up of the FDCA Flagship Plant and the acceleration of its commercial deployment
  • The gross proceeds from the rights offering is €50.5 million, resulting in the issue of 27,018,772 new ordinary shares
    • 24,467,905 new ordinary shares were subscribed through exercise of rights, representing a 90.6% take-up in the rights offering
    • The rump offering was fully subscribed  Oxo-degradable products
  • Additional upsize offering of €19.5 million, resulting in the issue of 9,376,981 new ordinary shares
    • The cornerstone investors and pre-committed shareholders were allocated €9.1 million at the issue price
    • New investors were allocated €10.4 million at a price of €2.30, representing a 3.2% discount to the closing price on 8 February 2024

Avantium N.V. announces it has raised a total of €70 million through the successful completion of its capital increase by means of a fully underwritten rights offering, for an amount of €50.5 million, and the completion of a €19.5 million institutional upsize offering.

Tom van Aken, Chief Executive Officer of Avantium, comments: “We are very pleased with this successful €70 million capital raise, exceeding the €50 million equity capital that Avantium was initially targeting. Oxo-degradable products

This transaction allows us to remain well capitalised until our FDCA Flagship Plant is commercially operational. It also enables us to strengthen our balance sheet and to accelerate our technology licensing strategy. The increased issue size of €70 million, the high exercise percentage of the rights, the commitment of our larger existing shareholders and the entry of new strategic investors reflect an increasing and broadening interest in Avantium. I would like to thank our shareholders for putting their trust in us through their contributions to this capital increase.

With their support, we help realising a renewable and circular plastics economy, and create long-term, sustainable value for all our stakeholders.”  Oxo-degradable products

More…

Avantium announces the successful completion of its €70 million capital raise

The relentless race towards the “perfect” battery for electric cars raises crucial questions about the price accessible to all

According to Goldman Sachs forecasts, the cost of batteries should fall from around $160 per kWh in 2023 to $120 in 2024, and then reach around $75 in 2030. This reduction could be made possible by solid-state battery technologies, which offer greater energy density, faster charging and greater safety. However, the arrival of these technologies on the market remains uncertain.
Gian Carlo Tronzano, Head of Battery Cell Global Competence Center at Comau, points out that although some companies plan solid-state battery factories by 2028-2030, large-scale production is still at an early stage. Even experts such as the former CTO of CATL have scaled back expectations, moving the arrival of solid-state batteries to no earlier than 2030.  Oxo-degradable products
Currently, the battery market sees a predominance of Eastern technologies, but there are active companies in Europe, as demonstrated by the partnership between Comau and LiNa for the production of sodium batteries. However, these alternatives will still require several years to reach large-scale production.
NMC and LFP batteries will continue to dominate the electric car market in the near term, with costs trending downwards. Mercedes and Toyota have expressed confidence in current technologies, suggesting that solid state may not be necessary in the near future. Evidently, the retirement of lithium-ion batteries is not imminent, with Toyota predicting ranges of up to 1000 km by 2027, indicating that solid state may only be a reality after 2028.  Oxo-degradable products
Toyota solid state battery

Toyota solid state battery

rPET Packaging – Avient Corporation unveils ColorMatrix AAnchor, an innovative acetaldehyde control technology for PET packaging, aimed at addressing challenges associated with increased recycled PET content 12-02-2024

Oxo-degradable products