Plastics and the World
It’s been a tough year for the plastic sector and for the rest of the world.
After the Covid virus, lockdown and supply chain fiasco, the Ukraine-Russian war, the energy crisis, the inflation crisis and now the Gaza war… it hasn’t been a walk in the park for the plastic industry and for the rest of the world.
Western Leaders such as Biden and Von der Leyen were not up to standards. They were stuck up into dogmas and their policies had a direct negative impact on the living standards of the middle class. Von der Leyen wants Ukraine to join the EU …. probably another manoeuvre to distract from the fact that she should end up in front of a trial for crimes against humanity for the covid vaccines cabal.
Have you noticed the amount of senior bioplastics officials taking a step back from their professional duties due to personal (health) reasons? Do you know why? Covid vaccines side effects?
Let’s go back to plastics ….
Perception wise, it was a negative year for plastic as the public perception on plastic has regressed even more than last year. It was a bad year for the public perception on bioplastics and a disastrous year for the public perception on chemical recycling.
It seems as if the plastic sector has literally missed the ball in terms of communication and it’s not going to be solved overnight.
TotalEnergies Corbion
The bioplastic news of the year was the announcement by Corbion to pull out of the TotalEnergies Corbion project to build a PLA plant in France. It would have been their second plant after the one in Thailand.
Corbion didn’t give an explanation for pulling out the plug. However, chances are high that PLA may be banned in France by 2030 so the investment would have been a stranded asset.
More:
Novamont Saga
Novamont was acquired by Versalis (Eni). To make a long story short: Versalis was already a Novamont shareholder and Novamont was supposed to pay something back to Versalis regarding past agreements. However, Novamont was unable to pay back Versalis so the ownership was transferred. Lots of debts and an outdated technology. And now, ENI wants to sell Novamont …. which they wouldn’t do if it was a cash cow.
More
- Versalis: acquisition of Novamont completed
- EU Commission Approves acquisition of Novamont by Versalis
- Versalis in Final Stages of Full Acquisition of Novamont
- Versalis Buys Novamont
- Eni looking to sell Novamont
Symphony Environmental
A ban on biodegradable bioplastics referred to as “OXO” was included in the EU SUPD. World’s biggest producer of biodegradable additives for PE plastic, Symphony Environmental, proceeded against the European Commission, Parliament, and Council of the European Union in the General Court of the EU in Luxembourg.
More
Bio-on is back
BIO-on, once the PHA world leader, had been pestered by short-selling activities in the US and was placed under administration by the Italian justice without any trial. The Italian legal procedure has been …. to say the least …. an Italian fiasco. Eventually, Bio-on was acquired by the MAIP Group.
More
3M PFAS Scandal
A 3M factory based in Belgium had been accused of PFAS pollution in the surrounding region of the plant. After extensive NGO lobbying, 3M was forced to pay millions in compensations to clean up their toxic mess.
More:
Chemical Recycling
There has been an upsurge in studies, reports and opinions against chemical recycling. Let me re-phrase this, there has been an avalanche of studies demonstrating that chemical recycling is highly toxic etc. I’ve reached out to the EU association that is supposed to defend Chemical Recycling and the conclusion is that it’s all but reassuring. Dark days ahead for chemical recycling.
More:
Greenwashing Legal proceedings
NGOs filed complaints against many companies regarding greenwashing claims.
More:
PPWR
PPWD became PPWR.
More
Plastic Treaty and Cop28
Plastic Treaty is close to nowhere, and Cop 28 was a farce.
More:
Compostable Plastic Bans
A few countries have banned compostable plastic packaging.
Plastic Waste Trade Export
Well, we’ve discovered that there’s still a monumental dumping of unrecyclable and unproceccable plastic waste in African countries. And some of those rogue traders even get EU subsidies. A corrupted system.
Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF)
The EMF has confirmed that they were a blunt greenwashing platform for plastic polluters. They ended up with a phenomenal joke that is going to last for a few years. According to EMF, Unilever was an example for their plastics strategy. Read between the lines: Unilever is probably sponsoring her next sail trip around the world.
More:
- Unilever investigated by UK watchdog for greenwashing claims
- Unilever’s complicity in the plastics crisis (Greenpeace)
- Whipping, Beating and Forced Labour at Nestle and Unilever Palm Oil Plantation
Time Magazine
Time Magazine issued its ‘100 climate leaders list’ …. The joke is as phenomenal as the Unilever MacArthur one with the exception that this one will last for a couple of decades. I mean it looked more like the list of the biggest eco-hypocrites in the world …. Bill Gates and John Kerry …. Excuse my French but what an insult to mother earth. But then again, Time Magazine named Hitler and Stalin person of the year in the past.
More:
Final Remarks
Anyway, Ladies & Gentlemen, I wish you the very best for 2024. Remember what is important in life: physical and mental health, family, love and friends. That’s the recipe for happiness. Your legacy will not be measured in dollars on your bank account but in the amount of love that you have poured in the world.
And don’t forget to act like a gentle(wo)man
Leave a Reply