Author: Editor
-
Asian Plastics in Crisis
Asian plastics producers face mounting pressure as naphtha shortages, force majeure declarations and weak margins disrupt petrochemical production across region.
Written by
·
-
Anellotech Goes Bankrupt: Another Advanced Recycling Dream Collapses
Anellotech is liquidating after nearly two decades developing technologies to convert biomass and plastic waste into petrochemical feedstocks. The US company had promoted its Plas-TCat process as a route to BTX aromatics, ethylene and propylene from mixed plastic waste. Its collapse raises fresh questions about the economics, scalability and commercial viability of advanced recycling technologies.…
Written by
·
-
The Rhine Group: The People Who Broke Europe Are Here to Fix It
The Rhine Group: Making Europe Competitive Again, from Switzerland and the USA
Written by
·
-
Latest Update on the UN Plastics Treaty
Latest developments on the UN Plastics Treaty ahead of crucial negotiations taking place in Bangkok soon.
Written by
·
-
Europe Created Its Own Petrochemical Crisis
Europe’s shrinking petrochemical capacity leaves it increasingly exposed as geopolitical disruptions tighten global chemical supplies.
Written by
·
-
South Korea Protects Its Petrochemical Industry
South Korea protects domestic naphtha supplies as global competition for petrochemical feedstocks intensifies amid disruptions.
Written by
·
-
Petrochemical Winners of the Iran War
War-driven supply disruptions reshuffled petrochemical fortunes, boosting Western producers’ margins while Middle Eastern competitors struggled with production and logistics.
Written by
·
-
War Hits Arab Petrochemical Giants
Middle Eastern petrochemical producers took a direct hit from the regional war. Saudi Arabia’s SABIC saw operating income fall 27%, while UAE-based Borouge reported a 27% decline in net profit and 18% lower sales volumes. Saudi Kayan and Sipchem also suffered from weaker volumes and higher costs, while Yansab bucked the trend, posting its strongest…
Written by
·
-
Japan Resonac Dumps Petrochemicals on Shareholders
Resonac separates its petrochemicals operations, handing control of Crasus to shareholders as the Japanese group shifts towards higher-value businesses.
Written by
·
-
Saudi Arabia Abandons Europe’s Chemical Recycling Ship
SABIC’s European exit and Plastic Energy’s collapse expose growing cracks in Europe’s chemical recycling ambitions as German investors take over.
Written by
·
-
PetroChina Bets on Petrochemicals
PetroChina accelerates its petrochemical and advanced-materials expansion as declining transport-fuel demand reshapes China’s oil refining and chemicals industry.
Written by
·
-
Trump Strikes World’s Biggest Oil Deal
A landmark US-Venezuela oil agreement gives American interests majority control over 65 billion barrels while promising investment and increased production.
Written by
·
-
Refinery Attacks Cut Russian Gasoline Supply by 30%
Russia’s Fuel Crisis Adds Pressure to Fragile Global Market
Written by
·
-
US Wants 100-Year Deal on Venezuelan Oil
Washington is considering a century-long arrangement granting US companies access to Venezuelan oil fields as investment and production plans accelerate.
Written by
·
-
Global Supply Disruptions Rescue German Chemicals
German chemical producers see improving demand and sentiment, but weak capacity utilisation and global uncertainty continue to cloud the sector’s recovery.
Written by
·
-
Plastic Giant Braskem Drowns in $11 Billion Debt
Mounting debt, cheaper imports and shrinking market share are pushing one of Latin America’s largest petrochemical producers into financial restructuring.
Written by
·
-
15 Dead at SIBUR–Sinopec Gas Chemical Complex
A deadly fire at the massive SIBUR–Sinopec petrochemical complex highlights the human risks behind expanding global plastics production capacity.
Written by
·
-
EU Still Needs Russian Oil & Gas
Geopolitical instability is narrowing Europe’s energy options just as winter approaches, exposing the consequences of increasingly fragile supply routes.
Written by
·
-
Sinopec Resets Strategy Amid Petrochemical Overcapacity
China’s Sinopec is reshaping its strategy as petrochemical overcapacity, weaker fuel demand and shrinking margins challenge the traditional refining and chemicals business.
Written by
·
-
Indonesia Plans New Refinery and Petrochemical Complex
Indonesia is moving ahead with plans for a nearly $6 billion refinery and petrochemical complex in North Kalimantan.
Written by
·
-
How Trump Keeps America the World’s Oil Master
Trump is turning America’s oil dominance into economic and geopolitical power, challenging Europe’s perception of him as an unpredictable leader.
Written by
·
-
Taiwan Turns to America for Its Petrochemical Feedstocks
Taiwan turns to U.S. petrochemical feedstocks as Middle Eastern disruptions expose its dependence on Gulf supplies.
Written by
·
-
Japan Changes Its Oil Strategy
Japan is reshaping its oil strategy, diversifying crude and naphtha supplies while protecting the domestic refining and petrochemical industries from future geopolitical disruptions.
Written by
·
-
Braskem Makes Money but Can’t Pay the Bills
Braskem is making money again, but a massive $10.9 billion debt burden shows why profits alone cannot fix the petrochemical giant’s financial troubles.
Written by
·
-
Shell to sell European Chemicals Business
Shell considers selling its European and US chemical assets as weak margins, high costs and declining competitiveness reshape the future of its global chemicals business.
Written by
·
-
PPWR: The Recycling Fairy Tale Gets a Sequel
Forty years later, Brussels tries recycling again.
Written by
·
-
Joe Biden Appointed EU Special Envoy for Oil and Gas
Joe Biden has been appointed EU Special Envoy for Oil and Gas
Written by
·
-
Massive Oil Spills Spread Across the Persian Gulf
Major oil spills are spreading across waters near Iran and Oman, adding an environmental crisis to an already volatile region. Satellite imagery has revealed oil pollution near Iran’s Qeshm Island, where contamination has reached beaches and environmentally sensitive areas. The slick is believed to be linked to the Minoan Pioneer, a bulk carrier damaged near…
Written by
·
-
Lukoil Romanian Refinery Enters Insolvency
Lukoil’s Petrotel refinery in Ploiești, Romania, is entering insolvency, as international sanctions continue to weigh on the Russian group’s European operations.
Written by
·
-
US Refineries cash in While Europe Shuts Down
U.S. refineries are running close to full capacity and cashing in on exceptionally strong refining margins, while Europe continues to lose refining capacity.
Written by
·
-
Sinopec Looks Beyond the Gulf for Crude Oil
China’s Sinopec is moving to diversify its crude oil supplies as conflict in the Middle East exposes the risks of depending heavily on the region.
Written by
·
-
How to Make the Chinese Great Again
This article offers a few practical and cultural observations on how Chinese companies and their people can operate more effectively in Europe, strengthen their image and build better relationships with European society.
Written by
·
-
Is TotalEnergies Becoming Overexposed to Renewables?
TotalEnergies is increasingly exposed to renewable electricity, raising questions about whether the French energy major is allocating too much capital to a sector heavily shaped by European policy.
Written by
·
-
Shell Sells European Renewables — and It Makes Perfect Sense
Shell has agreed to sell its European onshore renewables business to TotalEnergies as the British energy major continues to reshape its portfolio and concentrate capital on businesses offering stronger returns.
Written by
·
-
Shell sells US chemical business
Shell is considering the sale of its US chemicals portfolio as part of a broader effort to reduce exposure to underperforming businesses and concentrate capital on higher-return activities such as oil, gas and trading.
Written by
·
-
Norway Refuses to Run Its Energy Policy From the Berlaymont Cafeteria
Norway has delivered an inconvenient message to Brussels: it intends to keep looking for oil and gas in the Arctic, whether the European Union likes it or not. Norwegian Energy Minister Terje Aasland said Oslo would continue developing resources in the Barents Sea regardless of the EU’s position, arguing that Europe will continue needing secure…
Written by
·
-
Philippines Cracks Down on 155 Companies Over Plastic EPR Compliance
The Philippines is stepping up enforcement of its plastic packaging rules, ordering 155 companies to explain their alleged failure to meet recycling and recovery obligations under the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation.
Written by
·
-
Kazakhstan PP Exports to EU Surge 67% as EU Producers Struggle
Kazakhstan is strengthening its position in the European polypropylene market as domestic production rises and exports to the EU accelerate.
Written by
·
-
Chemical Industry Faces Legal and Business Uncertainties in Europe
INEOS’ €4 billion Project ONE ethane cracker in Antwerp is approaching the final stages of construction, but the project continues to illustrate the legal and business uncertainties facing major chemical investments in Europe.
Written by
·
-
China Joins the Great Recycled Plastic Treasure Hunt
After nearly nine years of keeping foreign plastic waste at arm’s length, China is reopening its borders to certain recycled plastic materials.
Written by
·
-
South Korea Bets Big on Petrochemicals
While much of the global petrochemical industry is struggling with overcapacity and weak margins, South Korea is making a remarkably bold industrial bet.
Written by
·
-
The Human Cost of the Bio-on Affair: A Personal Reflection
Looking back at the Bio-on affair today, there is one aspect of the story that deserves more attention: the human cost. After the report by Quintessential Capital Management, Bio-on’s collapse was extraordinarily rapid. The company, its technology and, above all, its chairman Marco Astorri became the subject of intense public scrutiny. What followed was not…
Written by
·
-
Italy’s “Eco” Bags: Who Is Protecting Competition?
The €32 Million Question: Who Protects Competition in Italy’s Bioplastics Market?
Written by
·
-
US Builds the Next Oil Route While Europe Destroys the Old One
Sometimes the difference between American and European strategic thinking can be summed up in a pipeline.
Written by
·
-
How EU PPWR Bureaucracy Crushes Small Businesses
The EU’s Sustainable Trap: Treating Grandma’s Hobby Shop Like Amazon. Why the New PPWR is the Ultimate Death Blow for Micro-Businesse
Written by
·
-
Trump Administration Targets Packaging Chemicals
The Trump administration is closing the GRAS loophole to require public disclosure of all food packaging chemicals.
Written by
·
-
EU Hits Net-Zero Goals by Exploding Refineries
A satirical critique of the European Union funding infrastructure strikes that trigger global energy spikes, hilariously punishing its own taxpayers with soaring inflation and freezing winter heating bills.
Written by
·
-
The EU Apologizes (Sort Of) for Decades of Legal Poisoning
A satirical double-feature exposing the absurdity of EU regulations, from decades of legally permitting toxic “forever chemicals” in fast-food packaging to the loophole-ridden ban arriving this August [Regulation (EU) 2025/40].
Written by
·
-
The Waste Shipment Regulation fairy tale
After decades of treating developing nations as Europe’s personal plastic landfills, a new EU law finally kicked in this May to ensure our trash is handled “sustainably.” It turns out shipping millions of tons of plastic scrap across the ocean only for it to be dumped in someone else’s backyard wasn’t the eco-friendly triumph Brussels…
Written by
·
-
PPWR: And They All Recycled Happily Ever After
A European fairy tale in which every plastic package finds the correct bin, every recycling plant works perfectly, compostable plastic magically becomes compost, and nobody asks inconvenient questions.
Written by
·
-
You Can’t Stop Plastic With A Law. Bangladesh Shows Us That We Need To Change The Material
Written by Marco Astorri, founder of Bio-on, this article argues that banning conventional plastics is not enough. Using Bangladesh’s struggle to replace plastic with jute, Astorri makes the case for PHA: biodegradable polymers that could preserve plastic’s functionality while avoiding its long-term environmental persistence.
Written by
·
-
Compostable Plastics: Where Do the Failed Ecotoxicity Tests Go?
This article examines how compostable plastics are tested for ecotoxicity in Europe, who performs these tests, what regulators receive, and raises a simple question: what happens to the ecotoxicity tests that fail?
Written by
·
-
The Albanian oil scandal
Albania produces oil. So why are Albanians paying more than €2 a litre at the pump—and where does the country’s oil money actually go?
Written by
·
-
Has the EU Turned Mass Balance into a Fraud Magnet?
EU Biodiesel Market Becomes Increasingly Vulnerable to Fraud
Written by
·
-
China’s Fuel Export Strategy Gains Speed
China Reinforces Its Position as Asia’s Refining Powerhouse
Written by
·
-
European Oil Companies Continue to Outperform Chemical Industry
European oil companies continue to thrive, while the continent’s chemical industry faces mounting challenges. A look at how different policy priorities in the US and Europe are shaping the future of the oil and chemical industries.
Written by
·
-
UK Considers Legal Action Over Benzene Emissions
UK Regulator Considers Legal Action Against Huntsman Over Benzene Emissions
Written by
·
-
Trump blasts Exxon, Chevron for making ‘too much money,’ demands lower gasoline prices
Trump Tells Big Oil to Cut Gasoline Prices, Singles Out Chevron CEO
Written by
·
-
Germany Needs an Oil Champion
Did Germany make a strategic mistake by never building a global oil and gas champion? This article explores the history of Germany’s energy strategy and argues that Europe should rethink its approach to energy sovereignty—with a satirical twist at the end.
Written by
·
-
BIOME CEO is Bioplastics Most Consistent Communicator
Play the video (LinkedIn Post) BIOME’s CEO has been one of the most consistent voices in the bioplastics industry. Whether you agree with his views or not, he has communicated his vision with consistency over the years. In that sense, he truly walks the walk. That said, I don’t fully share his emphasis on climate…
Written by
·
-
Dow’s €1.1 Billion Lawsuit Could Change Competition Law in Petrochemical Industry
Dow’s €1.1 billion damages claim over the European ethylene buyers’ cartel may prove to be far more significant than the lawsuit itself.
Written by
·
-
USDA EU Biofuels Intelligence Reports 2026 (€199)
Published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), these reports provide authoritative market intelligence on the European biofuels sector. Limitd
Written by
·
-
Zelensky’s position on EU tethered bottle cap (Video)
Zelensky just did the unthinkable: he ripped off the famous EU tethered bottle cap… the one we’re constantly told can’t be ripped off without consequences. Yet somehow, civilization survived.
Written by
·
-
Is the World’s Biggest Cartel Hiding in Plain Sight?
How Does an Oil Cartel Fit Into a Free Trade Environment?
Written by
·
-
Chemical Recycling Bubble Begins to Burst
Chemical Recycling Faces a Reality Check as Projects Stall Across Europe and the US
Written by
·
-
Italy says it Recycled more than 75% of Packaging
Italy Recycles Record 77.3% of Packaging, Strengthening Its Circular Economy Credentials
Written by
·
-
Is DG COMP Trying to Block Compostable Plastics in Europe?
The European Commission has once again found itself at the centre of the debate over compostable plastics.
Written by
·
-
How China Took One for the Team to Keep Oil Markets Stable
China’s Lower Oil Imports Helped Stabilize the Global Market
Written by
·
-
India Signals a New Era in Global Crude Procurement
India’s state-owned Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL) has become the country’s first refiner to formally instruct crude oil suppliers to avoid shipments transiting the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz in a spot crude tender.
Written by
·
-
EU Sanctions: Ordinary Russians are Paying the Price
After several years of sanctions, one question deserves to be asked: who is really paying the highest price?
Written by
·
-
Ursula von der Leyen Explains EU’s Relationship with OPEC
Exclusive Interview with Bioplastics News: Ursula von der Leyen Explains Europe’s Relationship with OPEC
Written by
·
-
US and OPEC: A Relationship of Contradictions
For decades, the United States has criticized OPEC for coordinating oil production and influencing global prices, arguing that free markets—not producer cartels—should determine the price of crude. Yet Washington has never seriously sought to dismantle the organization.
Written by
·
-
Germany’s Chemical Industry Takes Another Hit
Germany’s chemical industry is facing another major challenge as exceptionally low water levels on the Rhine disrupt the transport of key petrochemical feedstocks.
Written by
·
-
ENI acting responsibly in Mozambique
Not every story about the oil industry has to be a negative one. When an energy company promotes policies that can genuinely benefit local communities, those initiatives deserve recognition—even when the company in question is ENI.
Written by
·
-
Is the UK Subsidising the Destruction of Canadian Forests for Bioenergy?
Watch the video
Written by
·
-
Italian biofuel cartel: appeals move to Italy’s highest court
The legal battle over Italy’s €936 million biofuel cartel decision is entering its next phase.
Written by
·
-
EU targets construction chemicals cartel
The European Commission has stepped up its crackdown on alleged cartels by issuing a Statement of Objections to ten construction chemicals manufacturers and three national trade associations over suspected price-fixing.
Written by
·
-
Did the EU Ban Textile Waste—or Simply Export It?
The EU has banned the destruction of unsold clothing. From now on, large fashion companies can no longer incinerate or landfill new, unsold garments.
Written by
·
-
Dow demands €1.1 billion over EU ethylene cartel
The legal fallout from Europe’s ethylene cartel is far from over.
Written by
·
-
PPWR: The Quiet Demotion of Compostable Plastics
For years, compostable plastics were presented as one of the key solutions to Europe’s packaging waste problem. Policymakers, industry associations and manufacturers promoted them as an important pillar of the transition towards a circular economy. The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), however, tells a different story.
Written by
·
-
Is Italy’s Waste Management System Collapsing?
Italy managed to convince EU officials that its waste management system was a best-in-class example. Watch the video
Written by
·
-
Who Killed ENI founder? Insider Points to the Mafia
Benito Li Vigni (often spelled Benito Livigni in English-language references, but correctly Li Vigni) was a close collaborator of Enrico Mattei, founder and president of ENI. Over the years, he made a number of claims about ENI, Mattei’s death, and Italian politics.
Written by
·
-
Novamont Lost €70 Million in 2025
According to Eni’s 2025 Annual Report, Novamont recorded a net loss of approximately €70 million in 2025. That’s a €110 million loss in two years
Written by
·
-
NL Prosecutors open criminal inquiry into Sabic PFAS pollution
Dutch prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into plastics manufacturer Sabic over the suspected illegal discharge of the PFAS chemical PFBS into the Westerschelde estuary in the Netherlands. According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), Sabic’s plant in Bergen op Zoom is suspected of releasing PFBS—a so-called “forever chemical”—into the Westerschelde and the nearby Theodorushaven…
Written by
·
-
Pakistan is one of the biggest polluter on the planet
Here’s an interesting video on waste management in Pakistan.
Written by
·
-
EU Basic Chemicals Production is collapsing
What are basic Chemicals Basic chemicals (also called commodity chemicals, upstream petrochemicals or building-block chemicals) are the fundamental molecules from which thousands of other chemicals and plastics are made. Basic chemical Used to make Ethylene Polyethylene (PE), PVC, antifreeze, detergents Propylene Polypropylene (PP), acrylics, solvents Butadiene Synthetic rubber (tires) Benzene Polystyrene, nylon, detergents Chlorine PVC,…
Written by
·
-
EU agricultural subsidies for Royal UAE family
Talking about misallocation of EU funding.
Written by
·
-
Facing 2 years of prison for cleaning a UK river
An environmental lawyer and campaigner in the UK is facing up to two years in prison and could potentially lose his job for the “crime” of… cleaning up a highly polluted local river.
Written by
·
-
The Fall of Rome and the EU
I’m a big fan of Roman history, and one question has always fascinated me: How was it possible for the Roman Empire to collapse? I think I found an answer.
Written by
·
-
ENI Versalis plastic plant burns down
A fire broke out in a plastics warehouse owned by Versalis in the industrial area of Mantua.
Written by
·
-
The Free Movement of Goods: EU and US Perspectives
The EU often promotes the free movement of goods as one of the cornerstones of European integration. Yet, when you look at the United States, it seems that the “Made in USA” label carries far more weight than the unrestricted flow of products across state lines.
Written by
·
-
Chinese insights on whether oil is a fossil ressource
One of the most persistent conspiracy theories surrounding the fossil oil industry is the claim that oil isn’t a fossil resource at all. Now, China appears to be jumping on that bandwagon.
Written by
·
-
EU Justice Fairy Tale
The EU promotes the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ rights. Unfortunately, my personal experience has been very different from what is being marketed.
Written by
·
-
EU China PBAT Anti dumping Investigation
The European Commission on June 4 opened an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese imports of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and related copolyesters, following a complaint from EU producers led by BASF.
Written by
·
