DSM Regains Top Position in Dow Jones Sustainability Index
AkzoNobel holds on to second place....
Study Links Polycarbonate to Substantially Higher Levels of BPA in Urine
A study on bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has shown that people who drink from bottles made of polycarbonate may have up to 69% higher concentration of BPA in their urine, according to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health published recently in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The Harvard...
STUDY: Plastics Recycling Still having 'Negligible Impact' on Virgin Resins Market
The cumulative effect of plastics recycling on the global consumption of thermoplastic resins is having a negligible impact on the displacement of virgin resin, according to the findings of a report recently published by SRI Consulting (Menlo Park, CA). Part of the reason for recycled plastics low...
GAO Calls for Overhaul of EPA’s Toxics Program
The Government Accounting Office (GAO; Washington) has identified EPA’s chemicals management program as a “high risk” area of federal government in need of significant changes. GAO’s biennial “high risk” report highlights areas of federal government that are more...
SURVEY: 76% of Europeans Say Industry Not Doing Enough to Tackle Climate Change
A survey commissioned by the European Union (EU) published today has found that 76% of citizens in the region think that not enough is being done by corporations and industry to combat climate change. Only 22% of Germans surveyed said they thought industry was doing enough to combat climate change. Some 67%...
Only 19% of U.K. Biofuels Meet Environmental Standard
U.K. government body the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA; St. Leonards-on-Sea, U.K.) in its first monthly report on the supply of biofuels in the U.K. has identified that between mid-April to mid-May only 19% of biofuels sold in the U.K. met its minimum environmental standard. The environmental standard includes...
Survey Says: Consumers Willing to Pay More for 'Green' Products
A survey sponsored by DuPont and Mohawk Industries (Calhoun, GA) finds that U.S. consumers are willing to pay on average about 8% more for products made from renewable resources. Market Tools, which conducted the survey, queried 1,000 U.S. homeowners to identify consumers' stance on environmental...
Water Treatment
Consolidation in the water treatment industry remains “dynamic” as several suppliers aim to streamline raw material costs, enhance product portfolios, enter new sectors, and expand geographically, and especially in emerging regions, analysts say. Demand in the global water treatment chemical and...
View reports and abstracts on these sustainability topics:
Published November 2006
Report Abstract
The global biodiesel industry is among the fastest-growing markets the chemical industry has ever seen. World capacity, production and consumption of biodiesel grew on average by 32% per year during 2000–2005, and the industry looks set for even faster growth rates—115% per year for capacity, and 101% per year for demand—in the years to 2008 and beyond. This 548-page CEH study is a comprehensive report on the expansion of this market, and contains country-by-country forecasts to the year 2010 for production capacity, production and consumption.
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Report Abstract
Biomass is poised to provide a significant renewable source of energy and materials. Biomass in the form of forestry and agricultural residues is the oldest energy source used by mankind but was replaced by fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum. Today biomass is responsible for 11% of the energy needs globally but only 3% in the developed countries.
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Report Abstract
Ethanol's biggest problem as a fuel is its high cost. The U.S. wholesale price in 2002 was around $1.10 per gallon.
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Published October 2006
Report Abstract
World ethanol production is undergoing spectacular growth. Brazil, the world’s leading fuel ethanol producer until 2005, is continuing to expand production. Domestic consumption of the renewable fuel continues to rise and important export markets are being developed in Asia, Europe and North America.
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Published October 2005
Report Abstract
China, Malaysia, the United States, the European Union, Indonesia, India, Brazil and Argentina are notable fats and oils–producing countries, and China, the European Union and India are notable high-demand areas that must supplement regional production through imports. The following graph shows world production and consumption by country/region: Global fats and oils consumption will grow at an average annual rate of 4%, mainly as a result of growth in China and India. Growing economies, large populations and improving incomes will increase per capita demand for oils and fats in these countries.
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Published November 2005
Report Abstract
The glycerin market is heavily oversupplied. Massive amounts of raw glycerin (as a by-product of biodiesel production) are overstocking the market in Western Europe, while glycerin output in Asia went up as a result of increased oleochemicals production. A combination of substantial growth in the larger applications (such as personal/oral care products, drugs, and food and beverages) as well as in the traditionally mature end uses contributed to glycerin’s consumption increase.
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Published July 2007
Report Abstract
Methanol is one of the most important commodity chemicals as it is used as a raw material in several intermediate chemicals and end uses. Since it was originally produced as a by-product of wood carbonization, it is sometimes referred to as wood alcohol. Over the last two decades, a major shift in regional methanol capacity and production has occurred.
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By KPMG
Published October 2006
Report Abstract
Biodegradable polymers constitute a loosely defined family of polymers. This report includes only polymers that producers promote as fully biodegradable and that meet international standards. In 2005, the two most important commercial biodegradable polymers were polylactide (PLA) and starch-based polymers.
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Report Abstract
The world market for oil field chemicals, expressed in sales dollars at the service company level, reached almost $8 billion in 2004. Sales are expected to total over $9 billion in 2009, based on volume growth and price changes in effect as of early 2005. The following pie charts provide a breakdown of the global oil field chemicals market by category and by region.
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Published April 2006
Report Abstract
Gasolines with an octane rating that satisfies market requirements are produced in refineries by blending various refinery streams that differ in composition, boiling range and octane ratings. The octane number is an expression of the antiknock property of gasoline and is defined as the percentage, by volume, of isooctane (assigned an octane number of 100) that must be mixed with n-heptane (assigned an octane number of 0) in order to match the knock intensity of the fuel that is undergoing test. Until recently, methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) was the predominant oxygenate used worldwide; however, a major shift to alternative oxygenates such as ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and ETBE is starting to occur.
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Published December 2006
Report Abstract
Biofuels have become one of the hottest topics of this decade. Threats of diminishing petroleum production, global warming concerns and energy security have prompted an explosion of new capacity for biofuels.
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Published December 2007
Report Abstract
For centuries, humans have impacted their environment in ways both large and small. Most of this environmental impact has stemmed from the basic human need for shelter. In creating shelter, mankind has had an effect on the environment—cutting trees, clearing land, and creating waste by-products, as well as bringing about other unintentional environmental consequences.
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