I recently spoke at the Adhesive and Sealant Council’s 2024 Annual Convention and EXPO in Louisville, Kentucky, where much attention was placed on the value proposition of adhesives and sealants in the realm of energy transition. Discussions revolved around bio-based and low-carbon products, as well as the applications of adhesives and sealants in emerging sectors…
Although electric vehicle (EV) sales are slowing, they have surpassed expectations in the past few years. While an average EV still remains more expensive than an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle today, prices have fallen significantly in recent years. As shown in exhibit 1, the decline in lithium-ion battery pack prices since 2015 is particularly…
Ammonia is mainly used in fertilizer production which represents ~70% of global ammonia demand. A rising population is expected to support consistent ammonia-based fertilizer demand growth in the medium term. Traditionally, ammonia has been produced via steam methane reforming (SMR) or auto-thermal refining (ATR) of methane gas which can emit 1.9 to 2.6 tons of…
The global chemical industry struggled in 2023. The year was marked by rising inflation rates and low demand from major markets. With China still in recovery, the growth the industry was hoping for never came to fruition. In 2024 we expect things to stay the course and see no drastic changes up or down in…
In line with the Paris Agreement’s targets of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050, companies across the world are looking for ways to reduce their emissions. There are some seeing this trend as an emerging market and are working to monetize other companies’ carbon emissions.…
The C&EN has announced their Global Top 50 chemical firms for 2023, and many of them have invested into sustainability projects. These projects include initiatives to decarbonize energy and to improve current recycling capabilities.
Polypropylene (PP) is the most used plastic after polyethylene and has made way into our daily lives ranging from packaging and food containers to clothing, furniture, and automotives. PP is made via polymerization of propylene in the presence of catalyst, and it has benefitted largely through the catalyst development efforts that began with Natta, who…
Chemical companies, similar to a broad range of corporate sectors, are under pressure from investors and consumers to improve Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices across their entire value chain. Chemical companies are particularly being held accountable for sourcing raw materials responsibly as well as improving the recyclability of products produced by downstream industries. Due…