Welcome to the Plastics Weekly, NEO’s regular news monitoring of the plastics industry.
Every Monday, we publish a roundup of the top developments in plastics and sustainability – from regulatory changes to company news.
This week’s highlights:
- Plastic makers are reeling from soaring oil costs and rising competition, as more oil refiners focus on producing plastics over traditional fuels. (Bloomberg)
- A group of scientists have called for a global treaty to end the production of “virgin”, or new plastic by 2040. A binding worldwide agreement would prevent the accumulation of a predicted 12,000 million tonnes of plastic waste by 2050, scientists say. (The Guardian)
- Consumer companies including Univeler and Mars are developing paper alternatives to plastic packaging amid pollution concerns. But the switch brings technical challenges, as paper and wood pulp are more permeable and less durable than plastic. (Financial Times)
