Plastic bottles – Topsoe chosen as technology provider for Holborn’s Hamburg renewable fuels refinery 16-08-2024
Plastic bottles
Crude Oil Prices Trend
Crude Oil Prices Trend by Polyestertime
Few small plastic bottles are recycled, 90% target still far off
Consumers are still reluctant to recycle small plastic bottles and they account for just 25% of bottles handed in via supermarket and railway station recycling points, according to collection agency Verpact.
Some 74% of all plastic bottles were collected for recycling last year, Verpact said on Tuesday. This includes a small percentage of juice and dairy bottles which currently don’t carry a deposit and have been fished out of regular waste. Plastic bottles
Every year, one billion small and 700 large plastic bottles end up in circulation and by law 90% should be recycled.
Verpact says that more automated recycling points would help consumers return more small bottles but is struggling to find more outlets to accept the machinery. There are currently around 5,000 nationwide.
Campaigners also say shops should be required by law to take in empty bottles, as is the situation in Germany, but the government has already rejected this idea. Plastic bottles
There are also some 23,000 places where people can donate their plastic bottles and raise money for charity.
Deposits were introduced on cans last April but as yet Verpact has not published an annual report about progress in recycling them.
Lithium: Essential Element for Electric Vehicles
Lithium became a crucial component of batteries following the invention of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery by John B. Goodenough in 1980. Initially powering electronic devices, lithium is now vital for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. Plastic bottles
Why Lithium Is Key for Batteries Lithium is favored in battery production due to its high charge-to-weight ratio, electrochemical potential, and rapid charging capabilities. It’s also the lightest among commonly used battery metals and offers superior cycle life, making it ideal for EV batteries.
Lithium Production and Mining Lithium is primarily sourced from hard rocks and brines. Hard rock mining, which accounts for about 60% of production, involves crushing rock to extract lithium, while brine extraction involves evaporating mineral-rich water. Major lithium-producing countries include Australia, Chile, and China, with the U.S. expected to increase production significantly. Plastic bottles
Global Lithium Production Lithium production has surged from 9,500 metric tons in 1995 to 180,000 metric tons in 2023. The majority of lithium (74%) is used in batteries, with the rest used in glass, ceramics, and other applications. Despite its abundance, the complex extraction and refinement processes contribute to high costs, with prices expected to rise to $20,000 per metric ton by 2025.
Future Supply and Demand Current estimates suggest sufficient lithium resources for billions of EVs. Technological advancements and improved recycling methods are expected to enhance supply, ensuring lithium’s availability for the ongoing transition to electric vehicles. Plastic bottles
Topsoe chosen as technology provider for Holborn’s Hamburg renewable fuels refinery
- Located in Hamburg, Germany, HOLBORN’s renewable fuels complex is expected to be operational in early 2027 and aims to produce 220,000 tons of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) per year.
- Topsoe will deliver its HydroFlex™ technology, which enables the production of SAF and renewable diesel from waste and residue materials.
- The licensing agreement represents continued momentum in the global market for Topsoe’s technology to produce renewable fuels. Plastic bottles
Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, has signed an agreement with HOLBORN Europa Raffinerie GmbH (HOLBORN), to provide its HydroFlex™ technology for the production of SAF and renewable diesel at its plant in Hamburg. HOLBORN is a successful oil refinery that supplies Hamburg and northern Germany with fuels and heating oil.
The production will serve to address the rapidly growing demand for SAF. As cited by the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero Scenario, over 10% of fuel consumption in aviation needs to be SAF by 2030 to stay on course for net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
In 2022, the International Air Transport Association estimated global SAF production to make up only around 0.1% to 0.15% of total jet fuel demand. Plastic bottles
Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, said:
“We are pleased to sign this agreement with HOLBORN. To support the energy transition, we need a cleaner long-distance transportation sector. A key step in securing this is by increasing production of SAF and renewable diesel. Plastic bottles
Low density polyethylene (LDPE) prices journey southward in Asia
This week, Low density polyethylene prices dropped in Asia.
An industry source in Asia wishing to remain unidentified informed a Polymerupdate team member, “Signs of de-escalation in Middle Eastern tensions has led to a perceived lowering of oil supply disruption risks from the region. Meanwhile, global oil prices have also trended lower with the International Energy Agency (IEA) down revising its oil demand growth forecast for 2024 and 2025.” Plastic bottles
In Far East Asia, LDPE film grade prices were assessed at the USD 1100-1150/mt CFR levels, a fall of USD (-10/-20/mt) from the previous week.
In China, Middle Eastern producers have offered their LDPE film grades in the range of USD 1100-1150/mt CFR levels for shipment in August 2024.
In China, the LDPE market experienced a protracted weakness with many downstream buyers exercising caution while making import purchases as they anticipated a rise in supplies in the domestic market. Plastic bottles
In Southeast Asia, LDPE film grade prices were assessed at the USD 1190-1250/mt CFR levels, a week on week decline of USD (-20/mt).
In Vietnam, Middle eastern producers have offered their LDPE film grades in the range of USD 1190-1250/mt CFR levels for shipment in August 2024.
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Mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, bio-based plastics all needed to scale circularity
“To actually reach that scale on circular products by 2030 we do see all of the things you’ve mentioned playing a role, mechanical [recycling], chemical [recycling], and bio-based… we’ve started on mechanical recycling… we also have with Renasci [in which Borealis has a majority stake] a chemical recycling plant, and will be a key user of the ReOil plant [operated by parent company OMV],” Mayer said. Plastic bottles
ReOil is OMV’s proprietary pyrolysis-based chemical recycling technology, which uses mixed polyolefins as a feedstock. OMV has a pilot plant at Schwechat, Austria, with an installed input capacity of 16,000 tonnes/year. OMV is expected to start an industrial-scale ReOil unit with a processing capacity of up to 200,000 tonnes/year by 2027. Borealis collaborates with OMV on ReOil. OMV holds a 75% stake in Borealis (ADNOC owns the remaining 25%). Plastic bottles
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) prices fall in Asia
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) prices in Asia have experienced a noticeable decline as of August 2024, driven primarily by several key factors. A significant reason for this downward trend is the reduction in demand, particularly in China and Southeast Asia, where economic activities have slowed, leading to lower consumption of PET, especially in the packaging and textile sectors. Plastic bottles
Additionally, the oversupply of PET in the region has exacerbated the situation, as production levels remained high despite weakening demand. This imbalance between supply and demand has forced manufacturers to lower prices to remain competitive.
Furthermore, fluctuating feedstock costs, particularly for purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG), have also contributed to the decline in PET prices. These raw materials’ prices have softened recently, reflecting reduced production costs and subsequently lowering PET prices. The global market uncertainty, driven by economic challenges and shifts in trade policies, continues to add pressure on PET producers, leading to further price adjustments. Plastic bottles
Overall, the PET market in Asia is currently characterized by weak demand, ample supply, and fluctuating feedstock prices, all contributing to the ongoing decline in PET prices
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