June 2022

LanzaTech, Danone help develop a new method that uses AI to produce PET bottles from captured carbon by direct production of precursor MEG.

The Malay Mail Online

Airless tyres that never go flat or need to be inflated: It’s a decades-long dream that manufacturers hope to turn into a reality soon, but for truck drivers first.
The challenges that the technology faces were put on display at a Goodyear test track in Luxembourg, where a group of journalists put a Tesla equipped with airless tyres through its paces.

The CEFLEX ‘Criteria for Circularity’ have been developed as a constructive and practical check list for EPR schemes and stakeholders to work through on their journey to making packaging waste materials circular.

Graphene additives also bring a sustainability dividend, according to Brazil’s Gerdau Graphene, which is beginning to roll out the enhanced PP and PE masterbatches.

Sustainability is about much more than the manufactured product, and it’s about more than the environment—recycling, waste reduction, energy efficiency, etc. The good news is that plastics processors are concerned with all of what Sustainability entails—even if they don’t think of it that way.

Leipzig researchers have found an enzyme that rapidly breaks down PET, the most widely produced plastic in the world. It might just eat your old tote bags.

What is said to be the world’s first urban bike made of recycled plastic is being introduced by igus, the German-based manufacturer of “motion plastics”—self-lubricated, wear-resistant plastic components and machinable barstock for sliding and rotating applications. The first model should be available by the end of this year.

Plastics Technology

The pricing outlook for the five volume commodity resins was mixed in April, and perhaps even more so going into May and June. While prices for PE and PS may have peaked, tabs for PP and PET moved slightly lower and PVC went higher. Among contributing factors were lower feedstock prices, higher resin inventories, lower operating rates, uncertain demand outlook, and continued logistical issues.

BusinessWorld

Plastic waste generated by electronic commerce (e-commerce) transactions is beyond the capacity of local governments to deal with the additional solid waste, EcoWaste Coalition said. The environmental advocacy said in a statement on Monday that the plastic waste from e-commerce packaging imposes an “additional and unnecessary burden” on communities.

Phys.org: Polymers News

Branched polymers, polymers that look like tiny tree branches, have significant potential for water filtration, the biomedical field, nanoelectronics, and other applications. Researchers have now come up with a better way for efficiently creating these unique structures.

Tire Technology International

Last week saw the long-awaited return of Tire Technology Expo in Hannover, Germany, providing the perfect opportunity for the tire industry to meet in person once again and see the latest innovations and developments from an international array of leading exhibitors.

Plastics Today

The lightweight front-wing component can withstand forces equivalent to almost 1000 times its own weight.

Plastics Technology

CJ Bio a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang, has introduced Phact Marine Biodegradable Polymers based on its proprietary PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) technology. The first product of the new line–Phact A1000P, is an amorphous PHA being produced at CJ Bio’s newly commissioned Pasuruan, Indonesia facility. Currently, this is said to be the only amorphous PHA on the market.

NST Online Latest News

The Malaysia Rubber Council (MRC) has initiated a RM10 million grant for Global Funding for Rubber Innovation (GFRI) to local and overseas parties in bid to encourage research into rubber-based products expansion.

Bangkokpost.com

Thailand can become the world’s largest electric vehicle production hub with the support of Japan, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the 27th International Conference on the Future of Asia organised by Nikkei Inc, also known as the Nikkei Forum, in Tokyo on Thursday.

Manila Bulletin

The local petrochemical industry has pressed for the imposition of safeguard duties to curb the surge in importation of resins, particularly of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) to protect local manufacturers from unfair competition.

NST Online Latest News

Glove manufacturers should switch their focus and delve into the non-medical industry in order to make it much more lucrative and continue to thrive, Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) chief executive officer Nor Hizwan Ahmad said.

Vietnam +

Vietnam exported around 110,000 tonnes of rubber worth 181 million USD in May, up 40.4 percent in volume and 27.9 percent in value against the previous month.

VN Express

The government is taking one step at a time to reduce disposable plastic bags, but a full-fledged ban is a long way away yet.