With an aim to enhance global textile circularity, Indorama Ventures’ Fibers business and Jiaren Chemical Recycling have established a joint venture. The partnership is backed with a double-digit million-dollar equity investment in Jiaren’s recycling capacity.

The European Union and India have recently concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement which is claimed to be the mother of all deals. India will grant the EU tariff reductions that none of its other trading partners have received. For example, Tariffs ranging up to 44 % on machinery, 22 % on chemicals and 11 % on pharmaceuticals will be mostly eliminated.

A recent press release by Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council) mentions that the EU Bioeconomy Strategy signals Europe’s intent to lead in sustainable growth and innovation. While the vision is clear, concrete delivery mechanisms and binding commitments are still missing, shares the Council.

UPM has joined Cefic with an aim to strengthen the role of renewable chemistry in Europe. The move plays a significant role in the company’s transformation from a forest industry leader into a major player in the European chemical landscape.

Beijing Shougang International Engineering Technology pilots BIM workflows to deliver a seawater desalination project for Wanhua Chemical. The engineering company made use of Bentley’s open applications to shorten design by 50 % while supporting intelligent plant operations.

With a whooping investment of 4+ billion euros, Project One—Europe’s most sustainable cracker—is the largest investment in the region’s chemical sector in the past 2 decades. The project is expected to produce 1.5 million tonnes of ethylene annually and will have a carbon footprint of less than half of the 10 % best-performing steam crackers in Europe!

Plastic Energy has successfully commercialised ‘char’, a byproduct of its chemical recycling process, under the name Tacfiller. Its production results in up to 89 % lower emissions than conventional carbon black.

Set out to mark a significant milestone in sustainable chemical production, the world’s largest electric steam methane reformer is expected to begin operations in 2026. Sypox’s innovative electrical reformer technology along with Clariant’s catalysts will be used by the electric steam methane reformer to generate approximately 150 tons of syngas daily from 10 MW of renewable electricity. The technology boasts of multiple advantages over conventional steam methane reforming processes.

With an aim to accelerate Europe’s path to low-carbon chemicals and sustainable aviation fuel, the Global Impact Coalition has launched its spin-off structure. Beginning with a feasibility study, it will explore a new methanol-based route to electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel and low-carbon chemicals in Europe.

Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Ruhr University Bochum and Evonik Oxeno have developed a novel catalyst system that enables the use of the climate gas carbon dioxide as a raw material for the chemical industry.