The new November/December issue of Sustainable Plastics is out - and it’s now ready for you to download or read on our website.
As always, you’ll find news and developments plus stories about important topics in the industry today. Read about how the new mobility trends are affecting the way cars and their interiors will look in the future and what this means in terms of plastics use and sustainability. The real challenge, says Jeff Stout of Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, is digitalisation and its impact on the auto industry’s well-established business model. The automotive industry is facing a transition from selling cars to selling mobility and services. What does that even look like?
Digitalisation is also impacting blow moulding production, say Sheldon Yourist and John Hillenbrand, of Graham Packaging. Emerging technologies are making plastic packaging lighter and more sustainable - “Digitalisation is reshaping the design and production of packaging today,” they write.
Has the world finally woken up to the exciting potential of PHA? At Newlight Technologies, it certainly seems so. We talked to Mark Herrema about his company’s successful launch of its first commercial-scale plant and the almost 18-year journey to get there. High on his agenda is the need to solve the problem of plastic pollution ‘within this generation’, and the company’s future strategy is oriented, among others towards achieving this goal.
At LyondellBasell, circularity is an area of specific focus. This year saw the start-up of the company’s small-scale chemical recycling pilot plant, utilising its MoReTec technology, in Italy. It’s a step towards treating post-use plastic not as waste, but as a raw material or feedstock, said Jim Seward. This is a change in mind-set that is seen across the plastics value chain - one that is fascinating to watch, he noted.
And speaking of recycling: don’t forget to join us tomorrow for the kickoff of our PRSE Virtual Event, with a keynote at 10:05 - 10:45 from Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries at the European Commission.
Meanwhile, enjoy the issue!