ICIS Launches State of Play 2024 Study Providing Comprehensive Insights into the PET Market in Europe

ICIS, a global source of commodity intelligence, is pleased to announce, together with Plastics Recyclers Europe, Petcore Europe, UNESDA and NMWE, the launch of the State of Play 2024 study, offering a detailed examination of the PET market in Europe in 2022. The study, conducted in collaboration with industry leaders and organisations, provides valuable data, trends, and future scenarios for the PET market, including insights into challenges and opportunities within the supply chain.

The comprehensive study includes data for the 27 EU member states plus Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom and covers various aspects of the PET  market, including PET production and demand, waste management operations, recycling infrastructure, legislative developments, and the role of key stakeholders in driving sustainability.

Key highlights of the State of Play 2024 study include:

• PET collection rate in 2022 increased to 60%, from the total of 5 million tonnes of PET resin utilised in the region.
• European extrusion capacity for rPET pellet production doubled to 1.4 million tonnes in 2022.
• Existing European recycling capacity is deemed sufficient to meet short-term targets, with around 800,000 tonnes of rPET required to meet the SUPD mandatory recycled content targets for 2025.

Despite the positive progress, the study identifies regional disparities in collection and recycled content rates, emphasising the need for continued efforts in improving sorting infrastructure and harmonised waste collection to achieve long-term self-sufficiency in recycling PET.

The collaborative endeavours of PET recycling participants have led to an improved recycling process and increased utilisation of rPET during 2022. Strategies such as Design for Recycle (DfR), Deposit-Return Systems (DRS), and the development of sorting technologies have contributed to the effectiveness of capturing PET packaging into the recycling stream.

“We are excited to present the State of Play 2024 study, a comprehensive analysis of the European PET market. Through collaboration with industry leaders and organisations, we have compiled valuable insights that shed light on the challenges and opportunities within the PET supply chain. This study underscores the importance of continued efforts in improving recycling infrastructure and fostering sustainability across the region,” said Helen McGeough, Senior Analyst, Plastics Recycling at ICIS.

ICIS conducted the study in conjunction with partners, including Plastics Recyclers Europe, Natural Mineral Waters Europe, Petcore Europe, and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe. The study uses the best available data sources, including ICIS PET production, consumption, and trade data, interviews across the European rPET supply chain, and the results of Plastics Recyclers Europe’s Annual PET Recyclers survey.

www.icis.com

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Positive Future Prospects for the Printing And Paper Industry: Packaging as A Driver of the Sector

Digitalisation, demographic change, climate change – these megatrends are also having a significant impact on the transformation of the printing and paper industries. Nevertheless, paper and printed products will still be used and needed in many areas of life in the coming decades – the industry has a future. Playing a central role in this is sustainability. And this is also the central theme of the Touchpoint Sustainability special forum at drupa 2024 in Düsseldorf.

With a comprehensive overview of the industry, various examples of best practice and a varied stage line-up, Touchpoint Sustainability from 28 May to 7 June 2024, as an independent, company-neutral forum, will show what is already possible today, where the industry is heading and that sustainability also makes economic sense for companies.

High pressure to change – digitalisation and sustainability as drivers

The current challenges and increasing demands from end customers must be met with innovations in mechanical and plant engineering. This can create new business models, reduce energy and material consumption and lower the error rate.

“In principle, paper and packaging will continue to play a central role in people’s lives. However, there is massive pressure for change, driven primarily by two factors: digitalisation and sustainability,” explains Thomas Schiemann, Managing Director of the VDMA Printing and Paper Technology Association.

For years now, increasing digitalisation has been enabling new solutions to make processes more efficient in terms of the use of time and resources. An important trend here is also the gradual improvement of analogue systems, which are in direct competition with new digital machines. Machine learning and AI are also driving automation and impacting print and packaging products. As a result, actual production and printing costs are falling, giving companies that invest in this field a competitive advantage.

Focus on sustainability

The second key driver for the transformation of the industry is the topic of sustainability. This is becoming an increasingly important decision-making factor for consumers. Which is why companies around the world are increasingly investing in more sustainable processes and products.

Two aspects play a role here. On the one hand, specific consumer expectations must of course be addressed in order to survive on the market long term and maintain or increase one’s own brand value. On the other, more sustainable processes and products now offer huge potential, particularly in combination with digital solutions, to make processes more and more cost-effective, as it is basically mostly about the challenge of efficiency. The paper and printing industries are therefore already moving in the direction of a circular economy, also thanks to the considerable cost savings anticipated in the long term.

The role of the industry within this sustainable transformation will also be the key topic at the special forum Touchpoint Sustainability at drupa 2024. “The industry has good prospects for the future – but it needs to be prepared. Scarcely no other topic concerns us more at drupa 2024 and in the entire mechanical and plant engineering industry than sustainability – not just from an ecological but also from an economic perspective. We are therefore delighted, with the Sustainability Touchpoint, to create a cross-industry platform for dialogue, discussion and knowledge transfer on the future of the printing and paper industry,” says Thomas Schiemann, who is responsible for this Touchpoint.

The 400m² special forum at the trade fair is organised by the VDMA Printing and Paper Technology Association and showcases a variety of best practice examples and innovative solutions for greater sustainability across the entire value chain. Here, key industry players will present current solutions and ideas for the future by means of use cases and a varied stage programme.

Industry forecasts and trends

So just what are the forecasts for the printing and paper industries against the backdrop of current megatrends and geopolitical upheavals? Overall, the industry is growing.

*A recent study by Smithers shows: Demand has been rising for some time and growth forecasts are good. Overall, Smithers expects average annual growth of over 2.1% for the global printing industry over the next five years, adjusted for inflation, after 1.1% in the past five years. This development is expected to be driven primarily by the labels and packaging sector, where the growth of recent years will continue, albeit no longer at the same level. This sector currently accounts for around 60% of the global printing market.

Global production increases

The overall growth of the global print market – even adjusted for inflation – is set to even accelerate slightly over the next five years compared to the corresponding previous years. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to increase worldwide from 0.5% to 1.7%. For Western Europe, Smithers expects stable, almost unchanged development. Asia, by far the largest market, along with Africa are both expected to grow at a respective, average rate of around 3% per year until 2028, and thus post the highest growth rates. In North America, the market volume recently reported as slightly declining, is expected to stabilise again. This assessment is supported by the fact that the majority of global long-term investments by leading brands have been made in Asia in particular.

Smithers is a multinational provider of market intelligence and data, consulting, testing and compliance services. Smithers’ market reports are recognised worldwide for their reliable market forecasts, critical industry analysis, in-depth insights into key industry drivers and trends, and much more.

www.smithers.com

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Borealis and Akva Group Set A New Standard for Sustainability in Aquaculturewith Borealis and Akva Group Launch Groundbreaking Polarcirkel Workboat Hull Crafted From Renewable Feedstock-Based Plastic

• Borealis and AKVA group set a new standard for sustainability in aquaculturewith workboat hull crafted from renewable feedstock-based plastic
• AKVA group can now deliver the world’s first boat hull made from renewable raw materials
• AKVA group’s iconic Polarcirkel boats are known for their ability to endure extreme conditions, with a substantially reduced carbon footprint
• EverMinds in action: Borealis’ Bornewables,range of renewable polyolefins enables the Polarcirkel series to maintain exceptional performance standards while driving progress towards a circular economy

Borealis and AKVA group are pleased to announce a breakthrough in sustainable aquaculture: a workboat hull constructed from renewable plastic. The boat will be unveiled in Mo i Rana, Norway, in Spring 2024, marking a significant step forward for circularity in marine technology.

Borealis is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and sustainable polyolefin solutions. AKVA group is the world’s foremost technology provider to the aquaculture industry.

The iconic Polarcirkel series is known for its practical design, exceptional reliability, and unmatched safety. Used in a wide range of industries, including fish farming, oil and gas, rescue, defense, Arctic tours, and recreational boating, these vessels can endure some of the most challenging conditions on the planet, from -40°C in Arctic regions to +55°C in the tropics.

Using Borealis’ Bornewables portfolio of renewable polyolefins, AKVA group can now offer these boats with a substantially reduced carbon footprint. Derived from renewable sources such as used cooking oil, the Bornewables offer the same material performance as virgin plastics, yet decoupled from fossil-based feedstock.

The hull is made from Borealis BorSafe HE3490-LS-HW grade, which is composed of 90% renewable content based on a Mass Balance approach. For every kilogram of polyolefin produced, this grade achieves an estimated reduction of 1.9kg of CO2 equivalent emissions when compared to a fossil-based equivalent.[1]

AKVA group has also taken sustainability a step further, transporting materials to Mo i Rana by train to minimize the transportation carbon footprint.

These measures represent clear and measurable progress towards reducing climate impact and establishing a circular economy. In the near future, the partnership between Borealis and AKVA group is set to expand to cover a wider range of workboat components as well as floating aquaculture constructions made of pipes.

“The aquaculture industry is poised for a circular transformation, and we’re excited to lead the charge with the help of Borealis. Our first priority will always be the safety of the people on board our vessels, and it’s remarkable that this can now be achieved just as effectively with a much smaller carbon footprint,” says Freddy Bakken Braseth, General Manager of the AKVA group department in Mo i Rana.

“We’re committed to supporting our customers to move away from traditional feedstock and to embrace renewable materials,” explains John Webster, Borealis Global Commercial Director Infrastructure. “The use of the Bornewables in Polarcirkel affirms that high-performance standards can be met sustainably. This move is a significant step forward in our EverMinds mission to accelerate the transformation to a circular economy – with this we put reinventing essentials for sustainable living into full action.”

A cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, conducted according to ISO14040:2006 and ISO14044:2006 standards, was carried out to assess the environmental impact of producing the Bornewables polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). The study compared the potential footprint of Bornewables materials produced at sites in Sweden, Finland and Belgium using both steam cracker and propane dehydrogenation processes, with that of equivalent polyolefins derived from fossil feedstocks at the sites.

www.borealisgroup.com

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Europe Casts its Nets Outwards

Pushing the pace – that is Europe’s current motto as far as the energy transition is concerned. Numerous new high-speed electricity highways are being constructed so that the transition process can pick up speed. But it also still depends on the quality of the available cables: Particularly reliable transmission networks and distribution grids are needed in order to transmit the electricity which will be generated from renewable energies efficiently and without losses occurring over long distances. Because Europe is casting its nets outwards!

The Suedlink cable between the North and South of Germany, for example, is contributing to the massive expansion of the electricity grids. With a length of 700 kilometres and an underground cable length of over 2,400 kilometres, it is the largest infrastructure project for the energy transition in Germany and is scheduled to go into operation in 2028. The 600-kilometre NordLink, which enables the exchange of energy between Norway and Germany via an undersea cable routed through the North Sea, has already been completed.

Cables for global energy security
Full speed ahead is the motto for the future: Plans include the NorNed, an underwater cable route between Norway and the Netherlands as well as the BritNed, which is designed to connect the British and Dutch electricity markets. There are also plans for mega projects such as the EuroAfrica Interconnector and the EuroAsia Interconnector.

However, the demands which are placed on the cable systems for the power routes are high. In extensive tests, they have to prove that they possess the necessary mechanical robustness and electrical performance as well as being waterproof. After all, they all serve to fulfil one objective: to ensure energy security with renewable energies – even in the face of an uncertain geopolitical situation. An indispensable part of the solution are the manufacturers of cables and cable machinery, who will also be demonstrating their skills at wire 2024 in Düsseldorf.

Trends and highlights from the industrial sectors of wire, cables and pipes will be presented at the world’s leading trade fair of wire & Tube from 15 to 19 April 2024 at Düsseldorf fairgrounds.

www.wire-tradefair.com

www.tube-tradefair.com

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Starting into a PTFE-free future – with a new texturing agent for powder coatings

Clariant is committed to bringing solutions to market that improve the overall health and well-being of society. In line with that commitment, Clariant has developed Ceridust 8170M; a PTFE-free alternative texturing agent for powder coatings that delivers performance without the negative aspects of PTFE.

Our innovation journey begins with the customer in mind. This sums up the approach of the new Coatings Innovation Center in the Charlotte metro area. It is about addressing the challenges faced by North American formulators in the paints and coatings industry. Completed in late 2023, this new innovation center was designed to enable us to work collaboratively with our customers all along the value chain. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology including a spray booth and accelerated weathering chambers. With this, Clariant is able to test every performance detail of new formulations from scrub, sag and leveling to color acceptance. This new lab will also be able to support compliance with regulatory and sustainability specific requirements. In this way, Clariant is supporting our customers with high-performing products and solutions that can accelerate their success and meet the changing needs of the market.

Powder coating without PTFE
We all know about the convenience of how nothing sticks to coated pans. In fact, this anti-adhesive material was not, as many assume, discovered in space research but is a substance called PTFE. PTFE was developed in 1938 by Dr. Roy Plunkett, an employee of the chemical company, DuPont. But still, it did find its way into space later – as insulation material for cables, such as in the Apollo missions.

PTFE’s unique properties have enabled its growth into many other areas, such as powder coatings. Thus, when it comes to decorating and protecting a window frame, a fence or a bike, a PTFE-containing powder coating was – up to now – the go-to-choice. PTFE can enhance the scratch resistance and slip performance or act as a texturizing additive, providing powder coatings with the right consistency and stability for many applications.

However, there are increasing concerns about PTFE’s impact on human health & the environment, leading to the consequential legislative action to potentially restrict its use. This has resulted in a call for more eco-friendly and PTFE-free alternatives. Furthermore, if the restrictive policies of EU regulators prevail, PTFE-free solutions will soon become a significant business imperative.

Best of both ideas – answering to the needs of the market
To address this challenge, we’ve innovated a PTFE-free texturing agent: Ceridust 8170 M. Ceridust 8170 M combines two ideas that have, until now, only existed separately: the texturing qualities of PTFE and the environmental benefits of a PTFE-free alternative. Ceridust 8170 M has the added benefit of reduced energy consumption as part of the powder coating extrusion process. Furthermore, Ceridust 8170 M is compliant with the EU law REACH (Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals) and is not only PTFE- but also PFAS-free.

We are looking forward to providing this pioneering product to our customers in the powder coatings industry, whether for industrial coatings or in the building and construction area. When it comes to innovation, Ceridust 8170 M confirms our position as frontrunners for PTFE-free products. We understand the urgent need for change and are proud to be leading the way with PTFE-free solutions.

www.clariant.com/en/Corporate

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Trumpler partners with Archroma to launch revolutionary tanning process for leather production

Trumpler, a leader in leather chemicals since 1868 has teamed up with Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals with a focus on sustainable solutions, to offer a groundbreaking leather production process that can be used to produce high-performance leather in a more eco-friendly and cost-efficient way.

DyTan, the new process combines innovations from Archroma and Trumpler to offer an alternative to existing metal-free and chrome-tanned leather. It enables the reliable production of leather with impeccable shavability, excellent color depth and outstanding migration and abrasion resistance. Free from metal salts and reactive aldehydes, DyTan is suitable for a wide range of leather applications, from garment and footwear to automotive and furniture upholstery, for today’s eco-conscious leather producers and consumers.

At the core of the DyTan process is Archroma’s patented revolutionary AVICUERO System, which is based on novel molecules that enable more sustainable leather tanning and dyeing, developed by Archroma in cooperation with leather technology consultant Dr Leather. It enables collagen fibers in the leather to be covalently cross-linked through a simplified process at low temperatures. As a result, the system shows strong potential to save energy and water, while also reducing process time and CO2 emissions by up to 23%.

The DyTan process combines the AVICUERO System with Trumpler’s bio-based fatliquors and retanning agents based on functional biopolymers produced from hydrolyzed shavings – resource-saving technology that Trumpler has been refining for 15 years.

“Our collaboration with Archroma has made it possible to rethink traditional methods of leather production and to develop a pioneering alternative,” explains Hein Vugs, Managing Director of the Trumpler Group. “Our vision is to lead the leather industry to a more consciously sustainable future without compromising on quality or efficiency. With DyTan and AVICUERO, we are proud not only to achieve our ecological goals, but also to enable our customers to realize noticeable cost savings.”

“With the aim of bringing a new state-of-the-art solution to the leather industry, Archroma and Trumpler share a commitment to innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction,” Mark Garrett, Archroma Group CEO, says. “Leveraging the AVICUERO System, the new DyTan process represents a significant milestone in the history of leather production, bringing remarkable operational and end-use benefits to help uplift the industry as a whole.”

As an exclusive global partner of Archroma, the Trumpler Group is responsible for the distribution of the AVICUERO System worldwide. Delivering technical support and first-class customer care, Trumpler will help leather manufacturers and brands to implement sustainable tanning and draw on its comprehensive product portfolio and process knowledge of tanning, retanning and fatliquoring processes.

Estimations carried out with the Archroma ONE WAY Impact Calculator show energy savings of up to 25% and reduced process time leading to a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 23%, compared to traditional chrome tanning1. They also show significant water savings compared to other metal-free tanning systems. With the ONE WAY Impact Calculator, customers will be offered personalized calculations for their specific processes.

www.archroma.com/

#Archroma #solutions #automotive #personalized #sustainable