Congressional Democrats push EPA on chemical recycling
A group of 35 Democrats in the Senate and House are urging the EPA to regulate chemical recycling as waste processes, rather than as manufacturing operations as the industry advocates.
Berry sees divestitures as part of overall financial strategy
Berry Global Group Inc. is taking a look at divestitures as the company sees an opportunity to use potential proceeds to help fund growth in other portions of the business.
Automotive Plastics Market Growth Fueled by CO2 Emission Reduction Requirements
Every kilogram stripped from a car’s weight reduces its CO2 emissions by approximately 20 kg during its operating life cycle. As OEMs strive to meet sustainability targets, lightweighting will play a key role, and that will drive growth in the automotive plastics sector, according to recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan. This market is likely to reach $45.07 billion by 2028 from $31.29 billion in 2021, an uptick of 5.3%…
Sustainable Plastics Live – September 2022
Join us September 7th at 10am (edt) for a Sustainable Plastics Livestream! “Decarbonization” is the hottest topic in sustainable plastics. Greenhouse gas reporting and terms like scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions are gaining importance. In the September Sustainable Plastics Live, Karen Laird will explain what’s happening and why we’re hearing more talk about “low-carbon” plastics. Sign up for the live program with Sustainable Plastics Editor Karen Laird and…
Fish Waste to Nano-Onions: New Milestone in Recycling ‘Garbage’
Don’t laugh. Nano-onions are real and really useful. Now they can be made simply and easily from an abundant supply of food waste. It’s the latest sign of a key trend in sustainable manufacturing. (Photo: Takashi Shirai/NITech) I’ll start by confessing that this is not really about plastics, though it might be in the future. But it is a striking example of efforts underway to convert hitherto unusable organic refuse…
The Plant Manager Behind the Modern Plastics Industry
This story is about the president of a plastic toy company, Charles Marcak. The tale springs from my discovery of what I initially thought was the first production set of plastic army men, his creation. (They are technically test pieces, as I will explain below.) The two specimens are captivatingly jaunty and, in their gas masks, almost quizzical when posed together and their gazes slightly offset. In life-size, they would…
Sales up, profits mixed for materials firms in second quarter
Materials makers Chemours Co., Celanese Corp. and Eastman Chemical Co. each posted sales gains in the second quarter of 2022. Chemours and Eastman each also saw quarterly profits grow, while those at Celanese declined.
M. Holland Obtains REACH Compliance for Mtegrity Resin
Thermoplastic resin distributor M. Holland Co. has obtained Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) compliance for its proprietary Mtegrity line of materials. The certification granted by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) ensures that M. Holland’s European customers can be confident that their materials are compliant with EU regulation. This level of certification positions the company as a strategic business partner for European OEMs and plastics manufacturers, said M.…
Mercedes Immendingen Proving Grounds: Where the Technological Magic Happens
“It really is a perfect place for engineers,” obverved Mercedes-Benz electric drive special projects engineer Julien Pillas as we toured the Immendingen Testing and Technology Center. It lies in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, about 80 miles south of the company’s Stuttgart headquarters, almost at the Swiss border. The 1,300-acre plot of land was the home of the German Army’s 292nd Panzer Grenadier Battalion during the Cold War. But…
Is There Another Factory Hiding Within Your Factory?
The supply chain crisis has reinforced the importance of onshoring. Yet it takes years for new factories in North America to become fully operational. “Shadow factories” can contribute to the onshoring solution by increasing production output without the lengthy process of breaking ground on a new plant. The shadow factory is unused capacity within an existing factory. It might be the third shift in a plant that is only running two shifts. Or it may…