ARTICLES

  • Geotextiles are gaining importance on account of large scale infrastructural development at a global level. Major applications for geotextiles are road industry, erosion control, waste management and pavement repair. The emerging economies have large number of projects which are being developed currently. To know about the important markets, growth regions, growing applications, growth trend,growth drivers, etc, read Geotextiles market to reach US$6.3 bln by 2017, driven by demand from emerging Asian economies
  • Recycling of plastics films and bottles is on the rise in USA. The rise in recycling of plastic film in USA can be attributed to an increase in the locations across the country where consumers can bring their used polyethylene bags and wraps to be recycled. Recycling of single-serve PET water bottles has 'jumped dramatically' in the USA, with success being partly attributed to the fact that PET bottles are the most recycled beverage container in kerbside recycling programs. On the other hand, Europe is faced with stagnating collection of PET bottles. PET recycling industry is threatened by persistent structural market failures across Europe. Read more in Increase in plastic film recycling and bottle recycling in USA, PET recycling stagnates in EU
  • Acrylic acid and its derivatives are widely used in industrial processing. The major markets for acrylic acid and its derivatives include surface coatings, adhesives, plastic additives and co-monomers. Substitution to higher performance formulations and increasing building and construction industries in emerging countries are the factors driving acrylic polymers into coatings and sealants. The demand trend for acrylic acid and its derivatives is expected to increase gradually in Asia-Pacific till 2018. Rising disposable income levels of the individuals, growing population, and strong economic conditions support promising growth in super absorbent polymers. Read more in Growing demand for super absorbent polymers to drive growth of acrylic acid market
  • The technology for solar photovoltaic power is continuing to develop to reduce costs and enhance long-term performance, with the evidence indicating that it may be optimal to select specific materials for different environmental conditions. Design is becoming a feature too, with colours, shapes and flexibility being introduced to encourage integration in buildings and other structures. Developments have been made in waterproof membranes, backsheets, encapsulant material for thin film silicon modules, printable photovoltaics, technologies in weathering and ageing, techniques for identifying genuine components. To know about the grwoing markets and challenges faced by the industry, read Polymer industry has grown with growing photovoltaic power industry
  • The European Commission has launched a consultation exercise on policy options for a further reduction of plastic waste. The long-anticipated green paper comprises mostly of policy options put out to consultation in 2011, including the phasing-out or banning of plastic waste landfilling. The purpose of this Green Paper is to launch a broad reflection on possible responses to the public policy challenges posed by plastic waste which are at present not specifically addressed in EU waste legislation. Measures could also be adopted to further reduce packaging waste, which has been calculated to represent 63% of all plastic waste generated. Although plastic is a fully recyclable material, only a small fraction of plastic waste is at present recycled. Enhanced recycling would contribute to the aims of the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe. Read more in Developments in policy on further reduction of plastic waste in EU
  • A research team has developed a food packaging technology that could eliminate the need for plastic containers by encasing various foods and liquids in edible membranes that function like the skin of a grape. The packaging could be used to protect otherwise vulnerable foods, its shell is compostable making the total product more environmentally friendly. Another team has developed an edible food coating derived from the dairy by-product whey. This is a smooth, glossy coat or a thin, plastic-like film, that can be used to make foods spoilage-resistant. Read more in Advances in edible food packaging to tackle waste management issues.
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