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In the race to mainstream advanced recycling (aka chemical recycling), there inevitably will be losers and winners. Late last week, we reported on Encina abandoning plans to build a $1.1 billion advanced recycling plant in Pennsylvania, bowing to community opposition because of environmental and health concerns. Just about two years ago, it looked like Brightmark was on the losing side when it scrapped plans to build a $680 million advanced…

Earth Day’s focus this week is on the planet versus plastics, with organizers stating their goal for the Earth to reduce plastic use by 60% by 2040. There’s little doubt that we are in a plastic waste crisis. Driven by our quick consumption culture, which has only increased since online orders skyrocketed during the pandemic. More than 350M metric tons of plastic waste is generated per year. Without any changes…

We all know that the past couple of years have not been the best for many plastics manufacturers. We have also written about how we see that changing in 2024 and beyond, although stubborn inflation and high interest rates remain as headwinds for the industry. A bit of good news may be that the industry is performing better than overall US businesses when it comes to retaining a trained workforce.…

Following a unanimous vote by the Northumberland Borough Council to oppose the construction of a chemical recycling plant by Encina on the banks of the Susquehanna River in Point Township, PA, Encina Development Group announced yesterday that it would abandon building the facility on that site. The proposed $1.1 billion plant initially was welcomed by former Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the state legislature, but opposition began to grow over…

Spot resin trading stayed active into mid-month, with above-average completed volumes across the marketplace supported by strong export sales, reports the PlasticsExchange in its weekly Market Update. While Prime polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) prices have been shedding their 2024 gains in recent weeks, they stayed flat the week of April 8 and remain higher for the year. Domestic buyers continued to take advantage of softer prices. A heavier flow…

So, it’s “Planet vs. Plastics,” is it? As you may have heard, that’s the theme for this year’s Earth Day, which falls on April 22. Underscoring this admittedly catchy slogan, Earthday.org is calling for a “60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 and an ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come.” All I can say is: Be careful what you wish for. A world…

A leading European automotive brand has selected Ineos Styrolution’s Luran S XA SPF60 acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) for the blackening panel of the company’s line of trucks. The selection was made due to the product’s superior surface quality in combination with its weather resistance. Collaborative relationship. Ineos Styrolution has had a longstanding relationship with the automotive company and its supplier. The two companies have previously collaborated on development projects using Ineos Styrolution’s…

Adhesives have been used by humans for a very long time. Not hundreds of years, not thousands of years, but tens of thousands of years. While most modern adhesives are not based on natural materials, people living in the Middle Paleolithic (more commonly known as the Middle Stone Age) didn’t have extensive catalogs of silicone, acrylate, hot melt, and other adhesives to order from and needed to rely on nature-based…

deSter and Eastman want to permanently ground single-use plastics on airlines. The two companies revealed a blue-sky plan that brings innovation to the airline industry by introducing reusable inflight drinkware made with Tritan Renew copolyester. “The airline industry generates 6.1 million tons of plastic waste per year, representing 2% of the world’s plastic waste and more than 50% of aircraft waste,” says Philippe De Naeyer, director sustainability at deSter. The…

Metallocene-catalyzed polypropylene (mPP) was developed around the same time as metallocene-based polyethylene (mPE), but sales of the two materials have been lopsided, with the mPE market perhaps 15 times larger. Nevertheless, mPP suppliers still hold hope that the resin will play a more prominent role in markets where purity and performance are priorities. Maximizing hygiene potential. MPP initially found its niche in the spunbond and meltblown nonwoven textile market, especially…