During a Nov. 21 investor event, company executives discussed the $375 million grant for the new Texas recycling plant and gave updates on the France plant and expansion in end markets. | Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Executives from Tennessee-based Eastman signaled uncertainty with the future of a federal grant supporting construction of their second chemical recycling plant, and apprehension about a potential trade war with China, during the company’s Circular Economy Deep Dive investor meeting.
Delegates at the fifth U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting Busan, South Korea, consult informally between sessions. | Kiara Worth/The Earth Negotiations Bulletin
The fifth and final United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting started in a whirlwind in Busan, South Korea, on Nov. 25.
The addition of 350 million pounds of annual processing capacity comes as feedstock-preparation company Cyclyx, a joint venture involving ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell, announces FID on a second U.S. plant in Texas. | JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock
Energy giant ExxonMobil is expanding its U.S. chemical recycling footprint, with 350 million additional pounds of capacity expected to start up in Texas in 2026.
The long-term outlook for used milk jugs contributed to KW Plastics’ move to add white recycled HDPE resin to its offerings. | StanislauV/Shutterstock
Recycled resin producer KW Plastics is rolling out white HDPE pellets this month, an idea that isn’t new but is gaining traction due to changes in consumer behavior and increasing demand for PCR. Continue Reading
Strong third-quarter commodity prices bolstered earnings for the nation’s top five haulers. | Courtesy of Republic Services
North America’s five largest publicly traded garbage and recycling companies recently reported quarterly financial results, reaching record revenues and margins.
The Trump presidency promises decreased regulation and likely less funding for environmental initiatives. | LLoughran-Shutterstock
Following Donald Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election, the plastics and chemicals industries are processing what may lie ahead in an environment that is likely to have drastic reductions in regulation and an emphasis on fossil fuels.
The largest brand owners in the world together used an average of 14% post-consumer resin in their packaging last year, a 2 percentage point increase over 2022. | Photka/Shutterstock
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s 2023 report indicated a year-over-year decrease in both virgin and overall plastic use from signatory companies. That came from companies incorporating more post-consumer resin, combined with lower overall consumer demand due to economic challenges.
For the first nine months of 2024, recovered plastic exports remained steady year over year, marking a change from multiple years of annual declines in export volume. | Qingqing/Shutterstock
For the first nine months of 2024, recovered plastic exports remained steady year over year, marking a change from multiple years of annual declines in export volume. Continue Reading
Although third-quarter revenues reached record levels for some of the nation’s top five publicly traded haulers, plummeting fiber pricing in October was an indicator for commodity values heading into 2025. | Huguette Roe/Shutterstock
Although third-quarter commodity prices contributed to record quarterly revenues and margins for North America’s largest garbage and recycling companies, their outlook has changed moving into the final stretch of the year. Continue Reading