Plastics and a very fast acceleration for EVs
With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposing much higher vehicle emission standards — a combined fleet average year-over-year CO2 reduction between the 2027 and 2032 model years of 13 percent, according to our sister paper Automotive News — the headlines have focused on how that will stress a faster transition to electric vehicles in the U.S.
Again, via Auto News: "The plan could lead to EVs making up 67 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales and 46 percent of medium-duty vehicle sales in the 2032 model year."
Some parts of the plastics industry have been anticipating rapid growth, however, and are gearing up to boost production of key parts.
PN"s Sarah Kominek writes that Inoac USA Inc. makes foam products for EV battery packaging and protection using polyurethane, silicone, rubber and acrylic materials. It"s a new business opportunity that has been years in the making.
"Most of these materials that we"re bringing to [the North American] market now … have been under development and being commercialized for at least 10 years," Inoac"s Brad Harris said.
The American Chemistry Council issued a news release after the EPA announcement noting that the auto industry will need plastics to meet the goal and that the plastics industry will also need public policy support.
"We strongly encourage the Administration and Congress to pursue policies and regulations that will enable and promote the U.S. chemical industry — not stifle it — so that it can continue to be a catalyst to addressing this issue and so many others," ACC said.
Fast-casual restaurants in New York City may soon be required to offer reusable containers to both takeout and dine-in customers.
The "Choose to Reuse" bill presented to the city council doesn"t require restaurants to use only reusable foodservice products because single-use items would be available if specifically requested, our sister paper Crain"s New York Business writes. It would apply to corporate-owned chains.
Marjorie Velazquez, the bill"s sponsor, also sponsored the "Skip the Stuff" bill that the New York City Council approved earlier this year, which requires that restaurants and food delivery services not include disposable items such as plastic utensils, condiment packets and extra food containers unless specifically requested.
The latest big acquisition deal in the medical industry is seeking to unite molders on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Clayens Group, based in France, will pick up eight locations in the U.S. and one in Mexico with its purchase of Parkway Plastics LLC of Greenville, S.C.
"Our combined capabilities are better given the ability for us to now share and leverage advanced technologies. And we"ll have more geographic reach to serve people where they want to be served," Parkway CEO Andrew Green told PN"s Jim Johnson. "We have technologies to cross-sell. We have customers that operate in Europe on one hand or the United States on the other."
You can find the story with Jim"s exclusive interview here.
source : https://www.plasticsnews.com/kickstart/plastics-and-very-fast-acceleration-evs
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