Montachem Media Monitoring Report, June 2022
Plastics News
Upcoming Industry Events:
Plastics Recycling Technology
September 13 – 15, 2022
Vienna, Austria
For More Information: https://www.ami-events.com/event/e4828ba5-51bf-4ac2-b22b-cee7857425fd/websitePage:a070c8b8-97cf-4801-a9e7-eef209386215?RefId=AMI%20website
K 2022
October 19 – 26, 2022
Messe Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf, Germany
For More Information: https://www.k-online.com/
Current Trending Topics in the News with Links to Articles:
- Governmental and Lobbying:
Chemicals to fall under more regulatory scrutiny
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/chemicals-fall-under-more-regulatory-scrutiny
In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency is conducting 22 high-priority risk evaluations. It’s a three-year process, and the agency is a little more than halfway through. The investigations will include seven phthalates, including DEHP, which he said likely will have the most impact on hose and belt makers. Other chemicals being evaluated include several chlorinated substances, three flame retardants and formaldehyde.
The EPA also has proposed completely reformatting its method of hazard and risk assessments on new and existing chemicals. Boito said evaluations of new materials are seeing severe delays. Instead of 90-day reviews, the process is taking longer than two years for each evaluation
US to ban PVC goods from region in China using forced labor
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/us-ban-pvc-goods-region-china-using-forced-labor
The supply chains of some of the world’s largest home improvement stores and flooring brands are at risk of being tainted by use of forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China.
All seven of the PVC factories in the region, which produce 10 percent of the world’s PVC, employ “transferred laborers” through state and corporate programs that “minoritized” citizens are not allowed to refuse.
The evidence of a widespread campaign of repression, internment, surveillance and forced labor prompted the United States to prohibit the import of any product made in whole or in part in the region starting June 21.
Lawmakers face deadline on California plastics referendum
A coalition of environmental groups made a renewed call on June 26 for California lawmakers to pass what would be the country’s most far-reaching plastics legislation, ahead of a June 30 deadline to either approve the plan or move forward with a separate plastics ballot referendum in November.
The environmental groups, including Oceana and Ocean Conservancy, touted changes made to the bill late on June 24, saying they would strengthen the legislation, which was unveiled June 16.
- Features and News Articles:
Resin buyers say latest price increase ‘completely unwarranted’
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/why-are-resin-price-increases-june-completely-unwarranted
After an extended battle, North American polyethylene resin makers were able to raise May prices by an average of 3 cents per pound.
PE prices had been flat in April as buyers held off a 6-cent hike that producers were pushing hard for. The 3-cent May hike was half of the April attempt. Prices were up 4 cents in March after being flat for two consecutive months to start 2022.
Industry braces for return of Superfund excise taxes
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/superfund-excise-taxes-return-july-1-what-will-it-mean-resin
The reinstatement of federal Superfund excise taxes could raise the prices of many plastic resins and related feedstocks on July 1.
The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act was passed in November. It reinstated those taxes on chemicals and taxable substances, effective July 1. They originally had expired in 1995.
In addition to the reinstatement of the taxes, the bill doubled the prior tax rate on 42 listed chemicals, according to a report from financial firm Deloitte. This effectively doubled the tax rate of the imported taxable substances as well, the report said. The bill also increased the alternative method of calculation of the taxable substances to 10 percent of the value of import.
Resins on the taxable list include polyethylene, polypropylene, homopolymer polystyrene, PVC, polybutadiene, synthetic rubber, phenolics and melamine. Plastics feedstocks on the list include butadiene, propylene, benzene, ethylene, toluene and chlorine.
Lego to build $1B US molding plant
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/lego-build-1b-us-molding-plant
Toymaker Lego A/S is expanding its injection molding operations to the U.S., announcing a $1 billion expansion in Virginia that will employ 1,760.
Construction on the 1.7 million-square-foot plan near Richmond, Va., will begin later this year. The company will open a packaging operation by 2024 and full production including molding in 2025. The site also will generate its own electricity from solar panels at the site, making it a carbon-neutral facility.
PVC prices fall in Europe for first time in two years
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/pvc-prices-fall-europe-first-time-two-years
The European plastics industry has been stressed since Russia invaded Ukraine, and China’s Shanghai region went into lockdown for about two months. Global supply chains have consequently become even more fragile leading to uncertain supplies and material bottlenecks.
Against this backdrop it came as a relief for converters to see crude oil and naphtha costs falling, and later, ethylene and propylene costs settling lower in May. It was however not all good news, styrene monomer costs and benzene settled much higher.
Plastics Recycling World Magazine
Link to May/June Issue (read the entire articles via this link): https://content.yudu.com/web/1rl19/0A42x3p/PRWMayJun22/html/index.html?refUrl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.plasticsrecyclingworld.com%252F
Current Trending Topics:
US Recyclers Need More Supply, Says APR
The latest post-consumer Plastics Recycling Data Report from the US Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) shows 4,803.8m lb of plastics in the US was recovered for recycling in 2020. This was a 5.7% decline from 2019 due to pandemic disruptions in collection, transportation and the supply chain, plus staffing shortages.
What’s New in Compatibilisers
One day in the not-too-distant future, automatic sorting equipment that can create single-polymer streams from mixed post-connsumer waste may be a commonplace feature. Until then, recycling and compounding companies will continue to call on special additives to compatibilise plastics that are normally immiscible in order to provide improved consistent performance. If you relish a challenge, somewhere in the wide range of solutions available to you could the answer you are looking for. Here are just a few of the latest developments.
Getting More from In-House Recycling
By recycling process waste, plastics manufacturers can reap business benefits and contribute to the circular economy agenda. Read about the different options available to the various types of plastics manufacturers…
Upcoming Events:
Plastics Recycling Technology
September 13 – 15, 2022
Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen
Vienna, Austria
Plastics Recycling World Expo
November 9 – 10, 2022
Cleveland, Ohio
For More Info and To Book a Booth: https://go.ami.international/expos-us-2022-exhibit/?utm_source=AMIMags&utm_medium=ExpromAd_DPS&utm_campaign=220120_E000_PA_BYS_Exhib_US_Prospect_Exhibitors_AMI_Mag_panel
