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In recent weeks and months, disclosures by consumer goods giant PepsiCo and resin producer Shell have indicated the companies will either miss targets or adjust timelines to meet plastics recycling-related goals. Meanwhile, Nestle has received media scrutiny for changing how it describes its goals, even as it continues to make progress toward those targets.
The revelations join a growing chorus of major brand owners and other plastics industry stakeholders who have forecast that they are likely to miss some of the pledges they made for 2025. Recycling
PepsiCo projects it will be ‘short of our 100% goal’
PepsiCo will fall short of its 2025 goal to make 100% of its plastic packaging recoverable or reusable, citing a number of challenges it has yet to fully overcome. Packaging Europe first noted the shift.
In its latest sustainability report covering 2023, PepsiCo reported that achieving its packaging goals presents “a unique set of challenges,” and that those challenges mean the company will miss its 2025 design goal slightly. Recycling
By next year, the company estimates 98% of its plastic packaging will be recyclable, compostable, biodegradable or reusable, up from 89% in 2023.
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Nexam Chemical Announces Broad Initial International Commercial Traction for IV Enhancers in rPET Sheets
Nexam Chemical, a leader in high-performance additives for plastics, reports significant international commercial traction for its Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) enhancers in recycled PET (rPET) sheets. Initial orders have come from key markets including Pakistan, the USA, Australia, Mexico, and various regions in South America. Recycling
As sustainability efforts intensify globally, demand for recycled materials is rising. Nexam Chemical’s advanced IV enhancers improve intrinsic viscosity (IV), enhancing the performance and quality of rPET sheets for diverse applications, from packaging to industrial use. These additives ensure superior mechanical properties, durability, and clarity, meeting stringent industry requirements. Recycling
Key Highlights:
- Pakistan: Significant interest from the packaging industry, leading to a new local partner agreement to improve rPET sheet quality and other recycling applications.
- USA: Sales of IV enhancers for PET foamed sheets used in sustainable food packaging solutions. Recycling
- Australia: Companies committed to sustainability are expected to place first commercial scale orders soon, enhancing recycled materials quality.
- Mexico and South America: Rapidly expanding recycling sectors are seeking advanced solutions to meet international standards, supported by a new channel sales agreement expected to generate increasing volumes. Recycling
LDPE Market Sees Varied Trends: US and Asia Prices Rise Amid Supply Challenges, While Europe Remains Stable
This week, the global Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) market demonstrated varied trends, with prices increasing in the US and Asia while remaining stable in Europe. In the United States, the rise in LDPE prices was driven by robust domestic trading activity and the effects of Hurricane Beryl. European and Asian LDPE markets experienced supply challenges amid moderate to low demand from downstream sectors such as construction, packaging, and automotive. Additionally, the price of Ethylene feedstock decreased in Europe and Asia but increased in the US. As a result, LDPE prices in the US rose by 2% for Film grade FOB Texas, while China’s LDPE Adhesive Film grade CFR Shanghai saw a 1% increase by July 12, 2024. Recycling
The US LDPE market continued to rise this week, supported by strong downstream demand and active trading activities. A significant volume of LDPE transactions occurred as processors and resellers acquired additional materials in anticipation of Hurricane Beryl, which unexpectedly struck the Houston area. The storm caused severe winds and over a foot of rain, resulting in widespread flooding and logistical disruptions that complicated recovery efforts. Major polyethylene producers such as Ineos, Formosa, LyondellBasell, Baystar, and Dow proactively shut down operations or implemented weather-related plans to mitigate the impact. Recycling
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Borouge, ADNOC, Borealis Plan Specialty Polyolefins Complex in China
A consortium including UAE’s Borouge Plc, ADNOC, and Austria’s Borealis is conducting a feasibility study for a proposed specialty polyolefins complex in Fujian Province, China. The project is expected to produce 1.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of specialty polyolefins. The consortium has signed a project collaboration agreement with China’s Wanhua Chemical and its subsidiary, Wanrong New Materials (Fujian), according to a statement by Borouge on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Recycling
The complex, located in Fuzhou, will be developed as an equally owned Sino-foreign joint venture with Wanrong New Materials, pending regulatory approvals. The final project structure and financial commitments will be determined post-feasibility study. The consortium is also exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance automated plant operations.
A key feature of the planned complex is its commitment to sustainability, as it will be powered entirely by zero-carbon electricity. Asia, particularly China, is a significant market for polyolefins, with China alone accounting for 40% of global consumption. Borouge’s revenue from China constitutes nearly 30% of its total earnings, highlighting the strategic importance of this project. Recycling
This initiative marks a significant step in addressing the growing demand for polyolefins in Asia and aligns with global sustainability goals.
Govt Mulls QR System to Collect PET Plastic Bottles
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development is discussing a QR code-based system for collecting PET plastic bottles for recycling. This was highlighted in a recent Parliamentary Committee meeting chaired by MP Ajith Mannapperuma. Recycling
During the meeting, Mannapperuma noted that while the country imports 450,000 tons of plastic annually, only 50,000 tons are recycled, with much of the remainder burned openly. Focusing on PET plastic, he stated that of the 1,200 tons used monthly, only 400 tons are recycled, leaving 900 tons improperly disposed of, contaminating rivers, canals, and soil.
The primary issue is the public’s lack of interest in collecting PET bottles due to their low value. To address this, newspaper ads called for technical and financial proposals on a QR code-based deposit return system by July 18. Recycling
However, industrialists and relevant parties argued that this timeframe was too short and advocated for an extension and the mandatory implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system.
After thorough discussion, the Committee recommended extending the proposal submission deadline to August 27 and making the EPR system mandatory.
Berry Partners with Abel & Cole to Introduce Innovative Club Zero Refillable Milk Bottles
New, refillable milk bottles offer lightweight alternative to glass and support up to 16 uses
Global sustainable packaging leader, Berry Global Group, Inc., partnered with Abel & Cole, a pioneer in sustainable food delivery, to supply bottles for its Club Zero Refillable Milk delivery service. The new polypropylene (PP) bottles can be refilled up to 16 times before being recycled. Recycling
Made with widely recyclable PP, the new bottles produce fewer transport and processing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to heavier glass bottles,* challenging the conventional use of glass bottles for home milk delivery.
Research conducted by Abel & Cole suggests that reusing the Club Zero Refillable Milk bottles just four times reduces the carbon footprint of their single-use milk bottles by half compared to heavier glass bottles, which would take over 15 returns to reach similar emissions savings. Recycling
At the same time, the concept saves 450,000 single-use plastic milk bottles from landfills or incineration per year, equivalent to 23 tonnes of plastic.
“When it comes to packaging materials, plastic is often seen as the enemy,” explained Hugo Lynch, Sustainability Lead at Abel & Cole. “But we challenged ourselves to ask if it was better to use glass, which is heavier and more energy-intensive to make, or to go against the grain.” Recycling
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Single-Use Plastics – Living in a plastic world: tackling the plastic pollution problem 25-07-2024
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