Industry: Chemicals & Plastics

In the 2024 November ADI chemicals newsletter, we discussed how the chemical industry is experiencing significant shifts, with battery recycling poised for exponential growth due to mineral scarcity and regulatory pressures. Concurrently, companies are strategically expanding production capacities and engaging in mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their market positions, while securing feedstock supply agreements to […]

The demand for lithium is on the rise due to its role as a crucial component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage systems.  Major oil and gas companies such as Equinor and ExxonMobil are seizing opportunities in this growing market. ExxonMobil is constructing a lithium production facility in Arkansas and has recently secured […]

Selecting the site for a new hydrogen project, chemicals plant, or renewable energy facility can be a long and rigorous process. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is driving investment into new energy transition projects, but location is often a critical factor in a project’s success. Whether it’s the company’s first, second, or hundredth facility, finding […]

California signed the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) into law in June 2022 to reduce plastic waste generation and increase recycling in the state. The law sets plastic source reduction goals, imposing strict compliance, reporting, and fee requirements on manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of single-use packaging and other covered materials. […]

In the 2024 October edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, the chemical industry is saw substantial developments, with significant investments in new plants for ammonia, polyethylene, and specialty chemicals, alongside a growing focus on sustainable practices like green ammonia production and advanced recycling. Legal challenges, such as California’s suit against ExxonMobil, highlighted increasing scrutiny of […]

In the 2024 October edition of the ADI newsletter, the U.S. energy sector faced significant shifts, with the presidential election poised to reshape policies and impact markets such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is experiencing both strong demand and project setbacks. The path to widespread sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption faced challenges despite strong […]

The greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of plastics continues to find attention with a recent report published by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) in April 2024. In the past, this issue was looked at by McKinsey in July 2022 when they estimated life cycle GHG emissions of plastics. According to the LBNL report, in […]

Renewable electricity is becoming increasingly accessible for companies striving to meet their sustainability goals. They can either generate it themselves or procure it from third-party providers. There are seven options a chemical company can use to obtain renewable electricity, such as owned on-site generation, owned off-site generation, on-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) / operating leases, […]

In the September 2024 edition of the ADI newsletter, we analyzed the trends in U.S. natural gas prices and spotlighted emerging green electricity solutions for decarbonization. We shared highlights from the 2024 ADI Forum, featuring expert insights on LNG, CCUS, and private equity in chemicals. We explored how AI is transforming mining operations and why […]

In the September 2024 edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, we covered on how the chemical and energy sectors are increasingly focused on sustainability. This was evidenced by strategic acquisitions like LyondellBasell’s purchase of APK for advanced recycling and new plant launches dedicated to green hydrogen and waste-to-ethanol production. Major companies, including Nouryon and Evonik, […]

The chemical industry, a hard-to-abate sector, is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to its high energy consumption. This significant energy use is largely driven by the extensive operation of furnaces and boilers, particularly in producing products such as ethylene. To address this, the industry faces considerable pressure to decarbonize and one […]

Increasing recognition of environmental issues, like carbon emissions, has catalyzed investment in sustainable packaging. Sustainable packaging is designed to reduce environmental impact while keeping both consumers and producers satisfied with functional products. Many conventional plastics do not reach this environmentally friendly threshold, but polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) offers a promising alternative to conventional plastics with its versatile […]