Category: Trends
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Europe Faces Winter Energy Crisis says IEA
Europe enters winter with historically low gas reserves as Middle Eastern conflicts disrupt supplies, threatening higher prices and shortages.
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Is France Heading Towards Civil War?
France’s escalating unrest raises fears of further violence, a turbulent New Year’s Eve and growing instability across Western Europe.
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TotalEnergies Declares Force Majeure on Polystyrene in France
TotalEnergies declares force majeure on polystyrene after an unexpected shutdown in France, raising concerns about European plastic supplies and prices.
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Middle East Oil Exports Are Returning to Normal
Middle East oil exports are returning toward normal levels despite tanker attacks, shipping risks and persistently high logistics costs.
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How China Replaced EU as a World Power
China’s long-term rise in science, technology, industry and geopolitics contrasts with Europe’s declining influence, competitiveness and global strategic weight.
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China Tightens Chemical Exports to Help US Fight Fentanyl
China tightens chemical export controls on fentanyl precursors, linking industrial chemical trade with the wider fight against drugs and organised…
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The World Is Running Out of Oil Tankers
A global shortage of supertankers is driving freight costs higher, making long-distance crude shipments more expensive and squeezing refinery margins…
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McKinsey Report: Energy Security
A short summary of the McKinsey report on the Hormuz crisis and its impact on global energy security.
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The Price of Oil Is Hitting India Hard
India’s oil import bill jumped 48% despite lower volumes, as higher crude prices, tighter supplies and soaring freight costs hit…
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OPEC’s 2026 Oil Growth Forecast Is Evaporating
OPEC has slashed its 2026 oil demand growth forecast by 73%, raising questions about whether global demand could soon decline.
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Lotte Stops South Korea PET Recycling Project
Lotte cancels its planned PET chemical recycling plant, raising questions over whether industry confidence in advanced recycling is beginning to…
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Saudi Arabia’s Biggest Oil Pipeline Hit
Saudi Arabia’s largest oil pipeline was reportedly damaged by a drone attack, disrupting Red Sea exports and pressuring global oil…
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EU Now Depends on Nigerian Oil
Europe is increasingly turning to Nigeria’s Dangote refinery as Middle Eastern disruptions tighten fuel supplies and reshape traditional energy trade…
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World Oil Demand Is Falling
IEA expects global oil demand to fall sharply in 2026 as high prices weaken consumption, especially across Asian petrochemical markets.
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Evonik Shuts Two German Chemical Plants
Evonik will close two German chemical sites, shifting production elsewhere as weak demand, Asian competition and margin pressure hit operations.
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Trump vs China: The Oil Price War
Trump’s Iran strategy may squeeze China’s oil lifelines, boost American crude, and push Beijing into an even tighter energy alliance…
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EU Blames China for the Collapse of Its Chemical and Plastics Industry
Europe blames China for its industrial decline, but Brussels may need to confront how much of the damage is self-inflicted.
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Goldman Sachs Warns of $120 Oil
Goldman Sachs warns intensifying Middle East shipping attacks could push oil prices toward $120 per barrel amid severe supply disruption…
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Asian Plastics in Crisis
Asian plastics producers face mounting pressure as naphtha shortages, force majeure declarations and weak margins disrupt petrochemical production across region.
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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…
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EU plastic trends: prepare for the worse
What briefing should you give to your corporate EU affairs department?
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EU is losing the global competition by betting on Bio-economy
Here’s a summary of global competition based on McKinsey insights.
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Why I stopped buying “bioplastic” – The scam behind the green leaf logo
Source Why I stopped buying “bioplastic” – The scam behind the green leaf logo
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Holiday gifts and many happy returns
Article by David Goldstein, Ventura County Public Works Agency Environmental Resource Analyst.
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McKinsey Plastics, Recycling and Sustainability Files
This page provides an overview of articles, reports, and related publications by McKinsey, focused on plastics, recycling, and sustainability.
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Are biodegradable plastics the answer to microplastics?
Are biodegradable plastics the answer to microplastics?
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Why Ireland could lead the way in a new multi-trillion euro industry
https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/1112/1543503-bioplastics-industry-ireland-plastic-waste-sustainability
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Building sector’s appetite for sustainability wanes amid cost and geopolitical concerns
https://www.eco-business.com/news/building-sectors-appetite-for-sustainability-wanes-amid-cost-and-geopolitical-concerns
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Biodegradable Plastics: Help or Hype?
Biodegradable Plastics: Help or Hype?
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Plastic production keeps rising and could double by 2060
https://valorinternational.globo.com/environment/news/2025/11/07/plastic-production-keeps-rising-and-could-double-by-2060.ghtml
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Is China the new enemy?
I was recently speaking with an EU lobbyist who runs a PR agency in Brussels. He told me that China…
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A Hundred International Specialists Address Challenges and Advances in Plastic Material Characterization at CHARPLAST
https://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=64999
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Petroleum-based Plastics Aren’t Going Away Anytime Soon
https://www.plasticstoday.com/industry-trends/there-s-a-simple-reason-why-petroleum-based-plastics-aren-t-going-away-anytime-soon-follow-the-money
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Plastic’s triumph was no accident. It built an economy addicted to throwaway living
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Bioplastics and the future of packaging
Bioplastics are emerging as a promising alternative to traditional plastics, offering packaging solutions made from renewable materials
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Biomanufacturing is predicted to be worth up to 30 trillion euros in the next 20 years (Video)
30 Trillion 😂😂😂. I’m sure people at the European Commission believe this.
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Tipping point: Threats to jobs and growth in Europe’s chemical sector
https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/tipping-point-threats-to-jobs-and-growth-in-europes-chemical-sector
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Bio-Based Polyamide As A Plastic Alternative
https://www.all-about-industries.com/development-bio-based-biohybrid-materials-a-40770cb3f949b98a2aee876392a2cd0f
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Plastics Europe sounds alarm on declining EU market, stalled circular progress
The EU Plastics industry had a terrible communication, marketing and lobbying strategy. This is a FREE article.
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Latest survey reveals the scale of green investment in UK manufacturing
https://www.makeuk.org/insights/reports/manufacturing-sustainable-future-capitalising-green-technologies
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PLASTICS Releases Global Trends Report, U.S. Plastics Remains Driver of Global Economic Growth
https://www.plasticsindustry.org/newsroom/plastics-releases-global-trends-report-u-s-plastics-remains-driver-of-global-economic-growth
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INEOS CEO says EU is killing the chemical industry
The European Union is mismanaged by the European Commission. The EU is less than the sum of its part. Western…
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Germany’s Vast Plastics Market Poised for a Biobased Shift
https://whattheythink.com/news/127922-germanys-vast-plastics-market-poised-biobased-shift
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More CEOs confident of achieving net-zero targets by using AI, finds KPMG
https://www.eco-business.com/news/more-ceos-confident-of-achieving-net-zero-targets-by-using-ai-finds-kpmg https://kpmg.com/xx/en/our-insights/value-creation/global-ceo-outlook-survey.html
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Inconsistent plastic definitions across UK Regulations create barriers for bio-based innovation
https://hub-4.com/news/inconsistent-plastic-definitions-across-uk-regulations-create-barriers-for-bio-based-innovation
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Plant-Based Packaging: The Green Revolution for Vegan Brands
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Are compostable plastics preferable to biodegradable ones?
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/772149
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Confidence in recycling continues to fall, warns WRAP study
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Moisture migration as an influencing factor in food freshness biocomposite packaging: A trend analysis review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825007233
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Consumed by convenience: The culture of disposability
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The future of hair extensions is biodegradable, Thanks to a Nyamira entrepreneur
https://nation.africa/kenya/business/seeds-of-gold/the-future-of-hair-extensions-is-biodegradable-thanks-to-a-nyamira-entrepreneur-5191596
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The end of the plastic recycling industry
It will start in the EU and the US and will continue in Asia. An article by Axel Barrett. This…
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EPA Paved Way for Buildout of Fossil Fuel-Boosting Chemical Recycling Facilities
EPA Paved Way for Buildout of Fossil Fuel-Boosting Chemical Recycling Facilities
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In Finland, plastic bag recycling often eco-friendlier than tossing biodegradable ones
https://yle.fi/a/74-20181859
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Temple City’s Plastic Ban Loses Steam After Seven Years Andhra Pradesh
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/andhra-pradesh/temple-citys-plastic-ban-loses-steam-after-seven-years-1901971
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Compostable packaging gains ground: What CPGs should know about PHA
https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2025/09/04/compostable-packaging-pha-updates-for-cpg-bands
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The Quiet Revolution in Takeout: Why Bagasse Clamshell Boxes Are Taking Over
https://vocal.media/earth/the-quiet-revolution-in-takeout-why-bagasse-clamshell-boxes-are-taking-over
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Should end-of-life options determine the future of packaging technology? (FREE)
Should the circular economy dictate the future of packaging technology? Haven’t we learned a lesson from the recycling fairy tale?…
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Retailers continue march towards plastic-free future (Vietnam)
https://vir.com.vn/retailers-continue-march-towards-plastic-free-future-134990.html
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Spain emerges as a promising market for Vietnamese bioplastics
https://en.vneconomy.vn/spain-emerges-as-a-promising-market-for-vietnamese-bioplastics.htm
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EU is in economic crisis and the Plastic industry is the canary in the coal mine
EU is sliding in an economic crisis due to the European Commission’s mismanagement. This is a FREE article
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When recyclable beats compostable: the case for data
https://www.packaging-gateway.com/features/when-recyclable-beats-compostable-the-case-for-data/?cf-view
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The use of bacteria as an effective tool in the fight against plastic for a cleaner future
The use of bacteria as an effective tool in the fight against plastic for a cleaner future
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Bioplastic to reduce daily plastic use: research report
https://vietnamnews.vn/environment/1723057/bioplastic-to-reduce-daily-plastic-use-research-report.html
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Meet 4 chemistry start-ups navigating uncertainty in the Trump era
https://cen.acs.org/business/start-ups/Meet-4-chemistry-start-ups/103/web/2025/08
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Sustainable Car Materials – The Future of Eco-Friendly Automotive Design (Pakistan)
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World in $1.5tn ‘plastics crisis’ hitting health from infancy to old age, report warns
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/03/world-in-15tn-plastics-crisis-hitting-health-from-infancy-to-old-age-report-warns
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This Incredible New Bioplastic Could Be The Supermaterial of Tomorrow
https://www.sciencealert.com/this-incredible-new-bioplastic-could-be-the-supermaterial-of-tomorrow
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“Nature Already Solved This” as Scientists Use Plant-Based Design to Reinvent Plastic and Fuel Fierce Clash Over Eco Hype Versus Real-World Impact
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LG Chem develops eco-friendly technologies to enhance sustainable food sources
https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-industry/2025/07/30/5OBAURVWI5GVBPXLTY6ZCGJY2A
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The rise of bioplastics and new materials in sustainable packaging
https://www.packaging-gateway.com/features/the-rise-of-bioplastics-and-new-materials-in-sustainable-packaging/?cf-view
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Biodegradable plastics: A green promise or a complex environmental challenge?
Read https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2025/07/25/biodegradable-plastics-a-green-promise-or-a-complex-environmental-challenge.html
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Nano-Biocomposites: What’s Next for These Hybrid Materials?
https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6928
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8 Innovative Materials Meant to Replace Plastic
https://www.newsbreak.com/climate-cosmos-318752396/4138564351308-8-innovative-materials-meant-to-replace-plastic
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US unable to curb plastic pollution (Study)
Read https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/study-us-subpar-comes-curbing-152806046.html
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Why I No Longer Compost-And Why You May Want To Stop
Read https://www.newsbreak.com/24-7-food-recipes-318752653/4104984850898-why-i-no-longer-compost-and-why-you-may-want-to-stop
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Soaring oil prices may accelerate global green energy transition
Read https://www.eco-business.com/news/soaring-oil-prices-may-accelerate-global-green-energy-transition
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Bio-based products powering a greener future
Read
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Climate change will impact cassava, corn, rice, sorghum and soya bean yields
The corrupted European Bioplastics members and the Nova Institut will tell you that using bio-based feedstock will not impact food…
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UNEP roundtable: Huhtamaki VP discusses flexible packaging circularity in India
Read https://www.packaginginsights.com/news/india-recyclable-flexible-packaging.html
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How far has the dial really moved in climate finance since COP29?
Read https://www.eco-business.com/opinion/how-far-has-the-dial-really-moved-in-climate-finance-since-cop29
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Shell Polymer Trends Report 2025
Download
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Recycling in Vietnam: Study suggests national DRS to accelerate circularity and design innovation
Read https://www.packaginginsights.com/news/vietnam-drs-recycle-waste-management-eunomia.html
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The Planet is 20% greener than 30 years ago (Jordan Peterson)
Play
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Alliance for Fibre-Based Packaging warns EPR fees could increase plastic use
Read
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The Challenges of Setting Hong Kong Free From Single-Use Plastics (FREE)
FREE article
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Regulatory standards favour fossil materials over bio-based alternatives (FREE)
Read Regulatory standards favour fossil materials over bio-based alternatives
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Schools in Mysuru to take up ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ campaign (FREE)
ADVERTISING – New revolutionary biodegradable plastic resin from Symphony Environmental called ‘NbR’: Less fossil and CO2 emissions — This is…
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New guidelines published for best practices in chemical recycling / Framework spells out clarity and recommendations for companies (FREE)
Read New guidelines published for best practices in chemical recycling / Framework spells out clarity and recommendations for companies
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MOB Beauty just launched biodegradable packaging (FREE)
Read MOB Beauty just launched biodegradable packaging
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8 Materials That Might Replace Plastic Long-Term (FREE)
Read 8 Materials That Might Replace Plastic Long-Term
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China continues push for greener packaging (FREE)
Read China continues push for greener packaging
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How MRFs develop their accepted material lists (FREE)
Read How MRFs develop their accepted material lists
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Compostable packaging innovations proliferate amid consumer and regulatory demands (FREE)
Read Compostable packaging innovations proliferate amid consumer and regulatory demands
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We need fundamental shift to compostable packaging (FREE)
Read Cllr Kevin Pressland: We need fundamental shift to compostable packaging
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NERC states preference for mechanical recycling (FREE)
Read NERC states preference for mechanical recycling
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What are bioplastic and how they occur (FREE)
Read What are bioplastic and how they occur
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China continues push for greener packaging (FREE)
Read China continues push for greener packaging
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US renewable diesel production and biodiesel production declined in 1Q25 (FREE)
Read U.S. renewable diesel production and biodiesel production declined in 1Q25
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Rethinking bioplastic waste for a circular future (FREE)
Read Beyond the bin: Rethinking bioplastic waste for a circular future
