I have dedicated the best part of my working life to developing and promoting bio-based plastic. I’ve watched closely as the sugarcane industry in my native Brazil has developed.
I’ve visited sugar mills across the Centre South region and spoken with lifecycle experts and customers. Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile
The more I learn about this crop, the more I believe it will be a vital tool for the plastics in the years to come.
But the same question always remains: can the use of sugarcane to produce plastics ever replace the use of petroleum derivatives?
The automotive industry has an important relationship with the chemicals sector while remaining an instrumental force on the global economy as an employment-intensive sector.Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile
In a fast-changing world, automotive manufacturing is susceptible to unique challenges. While vehicle manufacturers are impacted by material prices, trends impacting the market ripple upstream.
Globally the automotive sector continues to recover, led by a very strong performance in China. However, there are concerns about balance sheets with some producers struggling to survive in the short term.
China and northeast Asian spot acrylonitrile (ACN) prices increased recently, with regional suppliers raising offers on the back of limited spot availability.
However, buyers are either well covered by contract volumes – or could source for supply in domestic China at lower cost – and were in no rush to buy spot cargoes, thus widening a gap between offers and bids.Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile
This situation is expected to continue in negotiations for September cargoes.
In the week ended 14 August, average spot ACN prices were at $990/tonne CFR (cost & freight) China/northeast (NE) Asia, up by $15/tonne week on week, according to ICIS data.
Japan’s investments in research and development (R&D) are expected to stay resilient despite a deep economic recession induced by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is putting significant downward pressure on business investment in Japan. But despite a sharp deterioration in demand and profits, we think R&D investment by large manufacturing firms will show resilience,” Oxford Economics said in a research note on Tuesday.Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile
“We expect Japan to maintain its high levels of R&D spending,” said Shigeto Nagai, head of Japan economics at the Oxford Economics said.
-Clariant and Chemtex form biofuel partnership
Clariant’s Business Line Biofuels and Derivatives announced that a strategic partnership has been formed with Chemtex Global Corporation for the realization of second-generation biofuel projects, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile
Under the partnership, the two parties will collaborate to market and sell Clariant’s sunliquid® technology licenses, as well as services and supplies for advanced biofuel plants in China. As the largest passenger car market in the world, the environmental impact posed by transport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become a big challenge for the Chinese government. In 2017, the State Council of PRC endorsed a new strategic plan1 to further utilize bioethanol converted from agricultural residue as gasoline for motor vehicles. Under the nationwide blending mandate proposed, all gasoline used for motor vehicles will need to contain bioethanol as an additive. Clariant, with its innovative sunliquid® technology that offers an efficient process for converting agricultural residues into low-emission, carbon negative biofuel, is fully supporting the rollout of the mandate.
-Indorama Ventures acquires PET recycling facilities in Poland
Indorama Ventures Ltd. (IVL, Bangkok, Thailand) announced that it has, through its indirect subsidiary Indorama Netherlands B.V., signed a Conditional Share Purchase Agreement with O.R.V. Ovattificio Resinatura Valpadana S.P.A. and OPOKA LTD., to acquire a 100% equity stake of Industrie Maurizio Peruzzo Polowat spolka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia (IMP Polowat), a limited-liability company incorporated under the laws of Poland, according to Chemical Engineering.Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile
This transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approvals.
IMP Polowat consists of two production sites located in Bielsko-Biala and Leczyca, Poland, and processes post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate
-Braskem America launches new INSPIRE polypropylene replacement for PET
Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, today announced the launch of its new INSPIRE polypropylene (PP) grade designed to replace polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in consumer packaging applications such as ready-made meals at grocery stores and fast casual restaurants when higher temperature resistance is needed, said the company.Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile
Braskem offers the new PP thermoforming grade, as part of its INSPIRE series, which can be an excellent replacement for PET. Braskem’s INSPIRE series of value added polypropylene products offers enhanced performance attributes delivering a distinctive balance of performance and sustainability, providing Braskem clients differentiated products versus commodity grade polymers.
-Nestle Waters rPET brands and rPET bottlesNWNA
Nestlé Waters Makes a Bigger Splash in rPET
Nestlé Waters North America’s VP and chief sustainability officer discusses conversion challenges and lessons learned as the brand increases rPET use across the US portfolio.
Nestlé Waters North America took a deeper plunge into recycled PET with a mid-July announcement that three more regional brands in its national portfolio of packaged water will join Poland Spring in using rPET content.Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile
For many years 100% recyclable in PET bottles, the company’s regional brands’ packaging — Ozarka 100% Natural Spring Water, Deer Park 100% Natural Spring Water, and Zephyrhills 100% Natural Spring Water — will all be made using 100% recycled plastic and be 100% recyclable.
-Foamable PP an Affordable, Easy-Processing Solution for Automotive, Packaging
The material targets high-volume applications such as meat trays and microwaveable bowls, along with auto headliners, ducts, and floor liners.
ExxonMobil has introduced a new foamable polypropylene (PP) grade as an easily and affordably processed sustainable solution for high volume applications, including food and beverage packaging, industrial packaging, building products, and automotive parts. Achieve Advanced PP6302E1 is a high melt strength (HMS) grade that improves product stiffness by up to 30 percent, compared to standard HMS PP foam, for significant cost reduction opportunities.Petrochemicals Circular Economy Textile