Bio based chemicals and fuels will be not an option, but an necessity: With growing demand and dwindling feedstock, innovations in biochemicals are required if more bio-based products are to replace petroleum-based ones, says a new report by analyst company Lux Research.

BASF offers the packaging industry a variety of barrier solutions that demonstrate a high effectiveness in preventing mineral oil residues from migrating from cardboard food packaging into food. Mineral oil residues in food packaging pose a potential threat for the consumers' health.

Jacobs has been appointed to execute site engineering services at BASF’s site in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Royal DSM has appointed Shruti Singhal as President of DSM Engineering Plastics. Singhal will report to Dimitri de Vreeze, Member of DSM’s Managing Board and succeed Roeland Polet who is expected to retire next year.

Daelim’s Petrochemical Business Division has disclosed its plan to expand its highly reactive polybutene plant. The company intends to expand the annual output of its existing plant, which is located at Yeosu National Industrial Complex, from 65,000 tons to 100,000 tons by November 2016 by investing KRW 74 billion.

Adani, BASF, Adnoc and Borealis have signed a MOU to conduct a joint feasibility study in order to evaluate collaboration for the construction of a 4 billion dollar chemical complex in Mundra, Gujarat, India.

Right from the United Nations’ Clean Seas campaign to the Paris agreement, single use plastics has become a burning issue across the globe. Nonetheless, prominent global companies have taken up the challenge to create a more sustainable and circular economy for the plastics industry.

Fluor Corporation announced that it has secured a contract for engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for BASF’s toluene diisocyanate (TDI) Complex project at BASF’s site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Fluor booked the undisclosed value into backlog in the fourth quarter of 2012.

In all segments of the water and wastewater industry, there is still plenty of scope for innovations, as the sector will be amply demonstrating at this year’s IFAT. The exhibitors will come up with plenty of new ideas in water and wastewater treatment. Here are just some examples …

BASF expands its battery materials business: Together with Toda Kogyo of Japan, the world's biggest chemicals company has launches a joint venture firm for cathode active materials (CAM) for lithium-ion batteries in Japan.