Big brands set to miss plastic sustainability targets

Big brands set to miss plastic sustainability targets

Some of the world's biggest consumer goods companies, including PepsiCo, Mars and Nestle, are almost certain to miss a target to make plastic packaging more sustainable by 2025, according Reuters.

The study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the United Nations Environment Program also revealed that some companies - including Coca-Cola and Pepsi - are using more virgin plastic despite a pledge to reduce its use.

The report comes as U.N. members are due to meet in Uruguay this month to start negotiations on the first ever global plastics treaty, which is aimed at reining in soaring waste pollution choking marine life and contaminating food.

Some U.N. members are pushing for a pact that includes legally binding targets to increase recycled content in packaging and use less petroleum-derived virgin plastic, rules that would have financial implications for the consumer goods and petrochemical industries.

Dozens of major brands have in recent years set targets to increase plastic recycling and reduce the use of single-use packaging in partnership with the Ellen MacAurthur Foundation, as part of efforts to burnish their green credentials.

The headline pledge was that 100% of plastic packaging would be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, but this goal will "almost certainly be missed by most organizations", the environmental group's report said.

Nestle said these targets were hampered by a lack of government recycling infrastructure globally, noting that it had reduced the amount of virgin plastic it uses by 8% since 2018.

Mars said it is making progress in tackling plastic waste and investing hundreds of millions of dollars to redesign thousands of packaging components. Pepsi and Coca-Cola did not respond to requests for comment.

Greenpeace said the report is evidence that voluntary corporate targets have failed and called on the U.N. to forge a treaty that forces governments and companies to use less single-use plastic packaging.

"This underlines the need for governments to ensure that the global plastic treaty ... delivers major reductions in plastic production and use," said Graham Forbes, Greenpeace’s USA Global Plastics Project Leader.

We remind, Dow, and ByFusion are announcing a new business agreement that continues their collaboration in the greater Boise area to divert hard-to-recycle plastics from the landfill. The announcement follows a successful demonstration project that began in July 2021 to collect plastic waste from the community through the Hefty EnergyBag program and convert the materials into ByBlocks.
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ADNOC and ADQ launched the next phase of growth at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone

ADNOC  and ADQ launched the next phase of growth at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and ADQ, the majority shareholders in TA’ZIZ, launched the next phase of growth at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone, in Al Ruways Industrial City, which will more than double the number of chemicals produced at the industrial hub, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The centerpiece of the expansion will be a new world-scale, low-carbon footprint steam cracker to supply feedstocks for the various downstream production units, bringing multiple new product value chains to the UAE for the first time. The project is in the feasibility study phase, with the design phase set to commence in Q1 2023.

The first phase of TA’ZIZ growth continues to progress, with a new strategic agreement signed at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) to advance the development of world-scale facilities for the production of ethylene dichloride (EDC) and chlor-alkali, polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Site preparation at TA’ZIZ is underway and final investment decisions on the first phase of projects are expected before year end.

In line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, TA’ZIZ will leverage low carbon electricity sources such as cogeneration from the on-site utility facility, grid power from nuclear and solar clean energy and use best available technology to drive manufacturing growth with lower carbon emissions.

Khaleefa Yousef Al Mheiri, TA’ZIZ Acting Chief Executive Officer, said: “TA’ZIZ is a critical enabler of the UAE’s industrial development and manufacturing growth ambitions. Following strong demand from partners and investors for the first phase of world-scale growth at TA’ZIZ, and capitalizing on growing global demand for chemicals, we are expediting plans for the next phase of expansion of our chemicals production.

“In line with our chemicals’ growth strategy, this major project supports our wise leadership’s vision to harness our country’s vast natural resources, while responding to the growing global demand for chemicals. By leveraging clean grid power and gas-based feedstocks, we are building new low-carbon industrial value chains that will further grow, diversify and future-proof our economy, as well as create opportunities to support the private sector.”

During ADIPEC, the TA’ZIZ EDC/PVC partners, TA’ZIZ, Reliance Industries and Shaheen signed a Joint Venture incorporation agreement for the development of a world-scale ethylene dichloride (EDC), chlor-alkali, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production facility, with a total investment in excess of USD2 B.

Fertiglobe, Mitsui & Co., Ltd (Mitsui) and GS Energy Corporation (GS Energy) are also partnering with TA’ZIZ to develop a world-scale low-carbon ammonia facility while TA’ZIZ and Proman are focused on progressing a methanol facility, both at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone.

Separately, the Zone’s utility facilities, that will provide power, steam, cooling, demineralized and wastewater services will be jointly developed by ADNOC and TAQA. And ADNOC L&S and AD Ports Group will develop a liquids terminal and logistics facility with an international partner, VTTI B.V., which will include construction of a new world-class port. The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the utility facilities and the EPC contract for the logistics facilities marine works have both been tendered, with EPC awards expected shortly.

The total investment in the first phase of TA’ZIZ will be in excess of USD5 billion (AED18 billion), with most of the chemicals produced in the UAE for the first time. All agreements are subject to regulatory approvals. Launched at the end of 2020, TA’ZIZ is driving and enabling expansion of the Al Ruways Industrial City, as well as Abu Dhabi’s wider chemicals, manufacturing and industrial sectors.

We remind, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and GAIL (India) Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration opportunities in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply and decarbonisation, including short and long term LNG sales agreements. The agreement also includes potential optimization of LNG trading activities, the review of joint equity investments in renewables and the monitoring of greenhouse gasses for LNG cargoes, to support low carbon LNG supplies.
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LyondellBasell Spheripol technology selected by Stavian Quang Yen Petrochemical

LyondellBasell Spheripol technology selected by Stavian Quang Yen Petrochemical

LyondellBasell announced that its leading polypropylene (PP) technology has been selected by Stavian Quang Yen Petrochemical, Ltd. (Stavian) for a new world scale production facility, said the company.

The facility will include a 600 kiloton per annum (KTA) polypropylene plant using LyondellBasell’s Spheripol technology. The facility will be built in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam.

“We are delighted Stavian Quang Yen Petrochemical selected LyondellBasell as its polypropylene licensor for their first polyolefin facility,” said Neil Nadalin, director of licensing at LyondellBasell. Nadalin added, “The selection of the Spheripol process will enable Stavian to produce benchmark polypropylene resins in a state-of-the-art process technology, allowing them to best serve the fast growing Vietnamese polyolefin market."

Mr. Bui Viet Ha, Project Director at Stavian Quang Yen Petrochemical stated: “Working with the leading polypropylene technology licensor gives us enormous confidence that we will be able to deliver timely large scale quality resins to the domestic market. The excellent reputation of LyondellBasell and its solid licensing record and experience as well as an extensive product portfolio lead us to choose LyondellBasell as the PP licensor for our project."

Spheripol is the leading PP process with more than 30 million tons of licensed capacity. The latest fifth generation Spheripol technology includes process improvements that further maximize operational efficiency. The plant will commence operation using the LyondellBasell Avant ZN catalyst.

New licensees take advantage of the LyondellBasell in-house expertise of continuous production improvement, sustainable product development and catalyst knowhow, by optionally joining our Technical Service program.

We remind, LyondellBasell and Shakti Plastic Industries, India's largest plastic scrap recycler and waste collection company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a joint venture to build and operate a fully-automated, mechanical recycling plant in India.

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Solvay Q3 net profit surges

Solvay Q3 net profit surges

Solvay SA, a Belgian chemical firm, on Thursday posted a surge in earnings for the third-quarter, helped by increased revenue driven by higher prices and sustained demand, said the company.

For the third-quarter, the company posted an underlying net profit of 509 million euros, higher than last year's 273 million euros.

Underlying EBITDA was at 917 million euros as against 599 million euros of last year. This increase was mainly driven by higher pricing which overcame the significant inflationary costs in the quarter.

Net sales were 3.609 billion euros, versus 2.573 billion euros, posted for the third-quarter of 2021.

As per MRC, Solvay is partnering with two companies to collect and re-use the limestone residues from its soda ash production in Rosignano, furthering the company’s commitment to continually optimize the efficiency and sustainability of its operations. Pending further tests, the new partnerships could accelerate the decrease of limestone residues released into the sea, building upon the action plan announced in September to invest in new technical solutions at the site.
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Celanese Q3 profit decreases, misses estimates

Celanese Q3 profit decreases, misses estimates

Celanese Corp. (CE) reported a profit for third quarter that decreased from last year and missed the Street estimates, said the company.

The company's bottom line totaled USD191 million, or USD1.75 per share. This compares with USD506 million, or USD4.56 per share, in last year's third quarter.

Excluding items, Celanese Corp. reported adjusted earnings of USD430 million or USD3.94 per share for the period.

Analysts on average had expected the company to earn USD3.98 per share, according to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

The company's revenue for the quarter rose 1.3% to USD2.30 billion from USD2.27 billion last year.

We remind, Celanese has completed the USD11bn acquisition of DuPont’s Mobility & Materials (M&M) business. With the acquisition, announced in February 2022, Celanese obtains a broad portfolio of engineered thermoplastics and elastomers, brands and intellectual property, global production assets, and a “world-class organisation”, it said.

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