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The dog days of summer are living up to their name in the commodity resin trading market, at least for sellers. Resin prices continued their downward trek the week of August 15, after taking a short-lived sabbatical just a week earlier. Additional industry data released this week reminded the market that long-supply/weak-demand fundamentals continue to weigh on the polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) markets, as do continued global economic concerns,…

In another sustainable polycarbonate (PC) initiative in Asia Pacific, Covestro has started on a journey to establish 60,000 tonnes/year of recycled PC capacity in the region by 2026. A groundbreaking ceremony for the first dedicated mechanical recycling production line in Shanghai took place on Aug. 19, 2022. Covestro will also repurpose an existing production line in Thailand to turn out recycled PC. Earlier, Mitsui Chemicals Inc. and Teijin Ltd. announced…

The second most abundant biopolymer on Earth, lignin has understandably captured the interest of researchers over the years as a potential renewable component of polymers. The most recent innovation comes from Washington University in St. Louis, where lignin-related research may lead to even stronger, lighter carbon fiber as well as plastics with a smaller environmental footprint. Lignin provides rigidity and structure to plant tissues, but until recently it was largely…

A novel thermal energy storage system powered by renewable energy is substantially cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the rotational molding of polyethylene water tanks. Fortlev, which makes water storage solutions including tanks, pipes, and connectors, is using a Brenmiller Energy bGen Thermal Energy Storage (TES) unit at its production facility in Anápolis, Brazil. The 1-MWh bGen unit uses renewable biomass instead of natural gas to heat the air for Fortlev’s…