Polymers Petrochemicals Circular Economy 13-02-2019 - Arhive
An interdepartmental working group to prepare proposals for the gradual replacement of plastic containers for bottling drinking water and beverages for glass containers created in the Republic of Belarus, Belta reports.
The corresponding decision is enshrined in the order of the Prime Minister of the country Sergey Rumas. PET bottles glass packaging Belarus
Until February 15, the government should submit relevant proposals and a draft set of measures for the regulatory and organizational and technical support for the phased replacement of plastic containers for glass with an indication of specific deadlines for the implementation of measures, volumes, and sources of funding.
Crude Oil Prices Trend
- ProLiFeX’ Joint Industry Project begins
- Chain partners start research into closing the film packaging chain
No less than 30 to 40 percent of household plastic packaging waste is made up of plastic film.
From a technical and organizational point of view, recycling plastic film is very complicated. New film packaging is also almost always manufactured from virgin plastics.
Attero, TUSTI, the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Dow Benelux, Oerlemans Packaging, and Pokon Naturado have, therefore, joined forces.
They have formed a consortium to do technological research into a closed plastic film chain.
This closed chain should, eventually, reduce the demand for virgin plastics.
A new report has called for a ‘bold’ national policy framework to improve flagging recycling rates in the UK and reduce the amount of plastic that is sent overseas.
Think tank Policy Connect produced the report which comes on the heels of the government’s Resources and Waste Strategy published in December.
The major policy announcement in the strategy was that businesses and manufacturers of packaging will be expected to pay the full cost of recycling or disposing of their waste, through a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, which the Government estimates will raise up to a £1bn a year for recycling and disposal.
Germany-based nova-Institute (Hürth) has published Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2018-2023, which shows capacities and, for the first time, production data for all bio-based polymers.
In 2018, the total production volume reached 7.5 million tonnes, representing 2% of the production volume of petrochemical-based polymers.
The potential for these materials is currently hampered by low oil prices and a lack of political support, according to nova-Institute.
The production of bio-based polymers has become much more professional and differentiated in recent years, said the report’s summary. “By now, there is a bio-based alternative for practically every application.
The capacities and production of bio-based polymers will continue to grow with an expected CAGR of about 4% until 2023, almost at about the same rate as petrochemical polymers and plastics. T
herefore, the market share of bio-based polymers in the total polymer and plastics market will remain constant at around 2%.
It takes good looks and unblemished surfaces on packaging and containers to make brands appear flawlessly upscale, but what can be done to avoid particles and occasional stains that can occur post-production? And is it possible to maintain a like-new pristine appearance through the distribution supply chain and beyond for cosmetics and other premium markets?
The launch of a new product from MetaShield LLC (New York City), which specializes in advanced materials, offers an intriguing new option to protect packaging and products start to finish including through at-home use. MetashieldCLEAN makeup example
The product, MetaShieldCLEAN, is a fully transparent, nanotechnology-based coating that repels a significant amount of the stains, dust and dirt that typically accumulate on consumer packaging during ordinary use.
EIPET Indorama has made a string of purchases aimed at improving its polyester-related portfolio in Europe and Africa.
Thai chemicals company Indorama Ventures Ltd. (IVL) has taken over the Nigerian packaging company Bevpak (Nigeria) Ltd, continuing the series of recent acquisitions by IVL in recent years.
IVL says Bevpak, based in Ibadan, is “one of the largest” manufacturers of PET preforms in West Africa, with a production capacity of 18 kilotonnes per year (ktpa).
Loop Industries, Inc., a leading technology innovator in sustainable plastic for packaging, today announced that it has completed a multi-year supply agreement with Danone SA, one of the world’s leading global food and beverage companies.
Danone will purchase 100% sustainable and upcycled Loop branded PET from Loop’s joint venture facility with Indorama Ventures Limited in the United States for use in brands across its portfolio including evian, Danone’s iconic natural spring water.
“On behalf of our team, I’d like to thank Danone for their continued support and commitment to Loop, sustainability and the circular economy,” said Daniel Solomita, Founder and CEO of Loop Industries. “We are pleased to see our relationship extend to now include the supply of Loop branded PET resin to more of Danone’s exciting brands.”
The U.S. Energy Information Administration lifted its forecasts for U.S. crude production for this year and next and cut its 2020 forecasts for U.S. and global benchmark oil prices, according to its Short-term Energy Outlook report released Tuesday.
The EIA forecasts 2019 U.S. crude production of 12.41 million barrels a day, up 2.8% from the January forecast.
It also raised its 2020 output view by 2.6% to 13.2 million barrels a day.
The government agency lifted its 2019 West Texas Intermediate crude price outlook by 1.1% to $54.79 a barrel, but reduced its 2020 view by 4.5% to $58.
Tronox (TROX +18.9%) surges to its highest level in more than two months on news it filed a joint motion with the Federal Trade Commission requesting a delay of remaining appeals deadlines in the review of the company’s proposed acquisition of Cristal’s titanium dioxide business.
TORX says the filing reflects “significant progress in advancing settlement discussions regarding a remedy transaction intended to resolve the Commission’s competitive concerns with Tronox’s pending acquisition.”
Mara Hoffman has received the Repreve Champions of Sustainability Leading the Change Award at an exclusive New York Fashion Week (NYFW) reception yesterday, hosted by global textile solutions provider Unifi. The Leading the Change Award recognises Mara Hoffman’s long-time commitment to reducing environmental impact through conscious fashion.
The brand will be recognised as a sustainability advocate and for its part in helping Unifi recycle 14 billion bottles, by using Repreve. Many of Mara Hoffman’s bestselling swimwear pieces are made with Repreve, which helps divert bottles from ending up on our land or in our oceans. The brand hopes to make consumers more mindful and to evolve the relationship society has with clothing.
Energy markets are closely watching trade negotiations between the United States and China.
The latest monthly report on Chinese trade data contained yet another reminder of the serious impact that the U.S.-China trade dispute has had on U.S. crude oil exports.
China did not import a single barrel of U.S. crude oil in December. In fact, the world’s second largest consumer has barely imported any U.S. crude since July 2018.
In the year before the trade dispute emerged, China had accounted for, on average, around 20 percent of all U.S. exports, equivalent to over 11 million barrels per month.
