Despite efforts to combat plastic waste, many state and local governments have suspended bans on the use of plastic bags as a temporary measure and have banned the use of reusable bags to stop the spread of COVID-19. Plastics processors support measures that at the same time “make environmentalists cry,” C&EN says ironically. In the […]
Ukrainian import of polypropylene decreased by 2% in January – March
According to the results of the first three months of the year, the total volume of polypropylene imports to the Ukrainian market amounted to about 31 thousand tons, which is 2% less than the same indicator in 2019. External supplies of virtually all types of propylene polymers decreased In March, the volume of imports of […]
BIR Update on the Impact of COVID-19 Measures to Scrap Recycling Yards Around the World
The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) is providing ad hoc updates from its Ambassadors around the world on the impacts on recyclers as the world takes unprecedented measures to tackle COVID-19. In the US, the situation varies from state to state. The most populous of these, California, has shut down all non-essential industries but scrap recycling […]
The next five years could be turning for bioplastics
Most plastics are currently made from petrochemicals, which reinforces the world’s dependence on crude oil. Despite growing awareness of plastics issues, global plastics production is growing, and IDTechEx’s recent Bioplastics 2020-2025 report predicts that plastics production will exceed 600 million tons by 2030. Bioplastics are a family of polymers derived from biomass raw materials, they […]
Sinopec resumes expansion of Wuhan plant
Sinopec-SK Wuhan Petrochemical Corp, a joint venture between Sinopec China and South Korea’s SK Innovation, has resumed expanding its petrochemical plant in Wuhan (Hubei Province), media reported. Work was suspended earlier this year due to an outbreak of coronavirus, the epicenter of which was Wuhan Chinese. To combat the virus, it was decided to actually […]
The new enzyme will be able to recycle 90 percent of plastic bottles
Scientists synthesized an improved hydrolase – an enzyme that breaks down up to 90 percent of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) into monomers in 10 hours. The properties of the resulting plastic are not inferior to those that were originally made from petroleum products, and can be used again for the manufacture of packaging and textiles, which […]
PRODUCERS OF PACKAGING MATERIALS CAN WORK DURING SELF-INSULATION
The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation issued instructions (a copy of the letter is in the editorial office of Plastinfo.ru. – Ed.) On ensuring the work of all organizations and facilities that create conditions for the functioning of the distribution network supplying the population with food, essential goods, as well as […]
European PP fell by EUR90-100 per tonne in April for deliveries to the markets of the CIS countries
The April contract price of propylene in Europe was agreed at EUR175 per tonne below the level a month earlier. Nevertheless, European manufacturers do not intend to make a proportional reduction in the export prices of polypropylene (PP) for deliveries to the markets of the CIS countries in April, according to the ICIS-MRС Price Review. […]
SIBUR switched to a four-day work week
The largest petrochemical company in Eastern Europe, SIBUR decided to transfer all office personnel to a four-day work week due to the COVID-19 epidemic, RBC reports citing a company representative. So, SIBUR decided to implement a set of measures, including a temporary transition to a four-day working week for all employees of the corporate center […]
The Cabinet of Ministers called on Ukrainians to minimize the generation of household waste during the quarantine period
The capacity of utilities that collect, sort, and recycle waste is significantly reduced compared to normal time. The Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine calls on citizens to minimize the generation of household waste, since the capacity of utilities decreased significantly during the quarantine period. “The capacity of utilities that collect, sort, […]