Industry Trends

July 2023

See what has been happening in Asia’s plastics & rubber industries over the last weeks. What are experts and industry magazines talking about?

What has been happening?

Why natural latex mattresses are so expensive, Stronger rubber that could cut down on microplastic pollution, Bioplastic sheets made with pineapple stems from agricultural waste, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Latest Plastics & Rubber Articles

Why natural latex mattresses are so expensive
Business Insider

One of the most expensive mattresses on the market is made from natural latex. It’s hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and more durable than memory foam. You can buy a memory-foam mattress for a few hundred dollars, but natural latex mattresses usually cost over $1,500 and can exceed $2,000. Latex sap from rubber trees is in high demand from dozens of industries, including car tires. This high demand has caused deforestation and displacement of farmers in Cambodia.
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Scientists make stronger rubber that could cut down on microplastic pollution
ZME Science

Car tires are made of a combination of rubber, plastic polymers, and various other materials. When tires come into contact with the road, tiny particles of these materials tend to detach. These can be carried away by water and end up in soils and waterways, while some find their way into the air. The potential long-term impact of these tire particles on humans and organisms is unknown, but it can’t be good.
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Researchers make bioplastic sheets with pineapple stems from agricultural waste
Phys.org: Polymers News

A team of researchers from universities in Thailand and Malaysia have collaborated to develop a unique kind of bioplastic sheet that is good for the environment and can decompose naturally. They made this bioplastic sheet using a byproduct of the bromelain industry which used the leftover pineapple stems from agricultural waste.
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Virginia Tech to lead 3D printing project to increase efficiency of tire retreading
TCT Magazine

A team at Virginia Tech has been selected for a 1.5 million USD project that will explore the use of additive manufacturing in tire retreading. “The resulting retreading technology could result in annual reductions of about 90 metric kilotons of tire waste.”
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Chemists develop sustainable method to remove 'forever chemicals' from water
Phys.org: Polymers News

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly versatile chemicals. These fluorine-containing organic molecules are the reason why rain drops simply slide off outdoor jackets. They are used in the greaseproof coating of paper food packaging and are key ingredients in fire-extinguisher foams and the protective gear worn by firefighters. PFAS were first introduced in the 1940s and since then, the number of products and areas in which they are used has grown astronomically.
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Why Re-Looping is Plastics Recycling 2.0
PlasticsToday.com

The best solution for the complex and growing plastic packaging waste problem? Re-looping food-grade plastics back into food-grade recycled materials…here’s how.
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Rubber materials taking a beating without losing their bounce
Plasticstar

Tire wear and tear is a major source of microplastic pollution. Scientists at Duke and MIT say advances in polymer design could help tackle this problem.
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Plastics by the Numbers
PlasticsToday.com

Plastic market reports for polylactic acid (PLA), medical device packaging, BOPP films, sugarcane packaging, antimicrobial additives, biodegradable plastics, and more are featured in this slideshow.
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New report urges packaging producers to act quickly on sustainability
Plastics News

While the focus of the plastic packaging sector continues to be strongly directed at sustainability, recycling rates have not kept pace with ambitions, according to a new report from Rabobank.
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Hemp can be substitute for polyethylene in packaging, Canadian study shows
Hemp Today

Packaging could be the first major application of hemp bioplastics, a new study from Canadian researchers suggests. The research, by a team at Western University (WU), London, Ontario, replaced high-density polyethylene pellets used in conventional plastic with powder made by grinding up hemp stems. The material was fed directly into the manufacturing process currently used to produce packaging, with no special technology or processes added.
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How antimicrobial packaging is transforming the healthcare industry
Medical Plastics News

The use of antimicrobial packaging in the healthcare industry is further fuelling product sales. Rising awareness of consumers on hygiene and packaging of medicines is aiding the market growth. Lavanya Maya, Future Market Insights, discusses.
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PET bottle resin prices join PP, PVC in an early summer slump
Plastics News

PET bottle resin fell by an average of 2 cents per pound in May, becoming the third commodity resin to see a decrease in the month due to lower demand and feedstock costs.
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Avantium and SCGC Partner to Scale-Up CO2- Based Polymers to Pilot Plant
Plastics Technology

Avantium, the Amsterdam-based technology company in renewable chemistry, has partnered with Thailand’s SCGC, a leading Asian integrated supplier of PE, PP, PV, green polymer, bioplastics and specialty compounds, to further develop CO2-based polymers and to scale-up to a pilot plant with an annual capacity of 23,000 lbs (10 m.t.).
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Commentary: Cut plastic packaging? Not so straightforward in modern Singapore
Channel NewsAsia

Plastic use in supermarkets extends far beyond disposable carrier bags at checkout counters. But there are few easy, plastic-free alternatives for storing and transporting perishable food, says cookbook author Pamelia Chia.
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"Glove players treading water"
NST Online Latest News

Public Investment Bank (PublicInvest) believes Malaysia’s rubber glove sector is treading water by slashing annual sintalled capacities.
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UMFCCI meets with MRPPA to ramp up rubber production, export promotion
Global New Light Of Myanmar

Officials of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) and Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association (MRPPA) discussed matters to boost value-added rubber production and promote exports at the UMFCCI’s headquarters on 26 June 2023.
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Mahkota Giovey Abadi empowers scavengers, takes part in coping with plastic waste
The Jakarta Post

As a country with the world’s fourth largest population, Indonesia produces the most mismanaged plastic waste.
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Myanmar bags US$22 mln in rubber exports to foreign markets in May
Global New Light Of Myanmar

More than 18,000 tonnes of Myanmar’s rubber were shipped to foreign countries in May 2023, generating earnings of US$22 million, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Myanmar exported over 14,860 tonnes of rubber worth $18.417 million by sea and over 3,330 tonnes of rubber worth $4.073 million through border channels last month.
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