Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2021 - 7

newsround
BASF Japan, Mitsui
Chemicals mull options to
commercialise chemical
recycling in Japan
BASF AND MITSUI CHEMICALS
have launched a joint
study aimed at evaluating
collaborative business models
and various options to
commercialise chemical recycling
in Japan, in order to address
the local
challenge of
plastic waste
recycling.
In its ChemCycling
project,
BASF works
together with technology partners
to convert post-consumer
plastic waste into pyrolysis oil
that can serve as a feedstock to
produce chemicals. In the next
step, these chemicals are used
to produce new materials such
as plastics without compromising
on quality in even the most
sensitive applications.
The share of recycled material
is allocated to these products
according to a third-party audited
mass balance approach.
Chemical recycling is a complementary
solution to mechanical
recycling as it focuses
on plastic waste that cannot be
recycled mechanically whether
for technological, economic,
or ecological reasons. In Europe,
commercial
products
manufactured
with this approach
are already
available
in the market.
From 2025, BASF Group aims
to process 250,000 metric tons
of recycled feedstock annually,
replacing fossil raw materials.
As part of their cooperation,
BASF and Mitsui Chemicals
also want to accelerate
discussions with related ministries,
agencies, and industry
groups for implementation of
chemical recycling in Japan,
and promote the effective and
efficient use of recycled materials
in the country.
Nexeo Plastics acquires Nevicolor S.p.A.
NEXEO PLASTICS,
LLC, a leading global
thermoplastics resin distributor
and an aff iliate
of GPD Companies, Inc.
has announced that it
has acquired Nevicolor
S.p.A., a leading Italian
distributor and compounder
of thermoplastics.
Terms of the transaction
were not disclosed.
A family-founded business
based in Luzzara, Italy, with broad
geographic reach throughout the
country, Nevicolor has provided
value-added thermoplastic resins,
compounds and application
development services for over 57
years. Its portfolio of over 3,000
grades of high-quality polymers,
including recyclate-based materials,
serve a variety of customers
and suppliers in the industrial
components, healthcare, automotive,
advanced
packaging, agriculture
and electrical
sectors.
" This strategic acquisition
increases
GPD's scale and affords
Nexeo Plastics
access to Nevicolor's
highly technical and
analytical specialization, " said
Paul Tayler, Chief Executive Off icer
of GPD.
" We are pleased to join Nexeo
Plastics, which will enhance
and streamline our operations in
Europe, " said Alessandro Negri,
Business Director of Nevicolor.
" Our customers in Europe will
now have access to a robust offering
of tailor-made compounds,
specialty polymers, lab services
and recycled material, " added
Joost d'Hooghe, Vice President
of EMEA at Nexeo Plastics.
FINAT launches new
sustainability competition
Green label
competition
is open for
submissions
SUSTAINABILITY IS key to the
packaging industry and with
the launch of the award, the
association will highlight eff orts
by members to focus on sustainability's
three Rs: Reduce,
Reuse and Recycle.
" There's an enormous opportunity
across the label industry
to reduce waste, reuse containers
and recycle the materials
we use in our products, " said
Jacques van Leeuwen, head
judge and a former recycling
consultant for FINAT who himself
is a veteran of green initiatives
across the label industry.
Sustainability is one of FINAT's
six strategic pillars, and
the association is leading the
industry in finding economically
viable recycling solutions for
secondary materials, limiting
the amount of raw materials
used, and improving the recyclability
of products.
The jury will be judging based
on four main criteria: The potential
impact on the industry,
whether it involves cooperation
along the value chain, how original
it is - and how successful
initiatives have been so far. The
winning initiative will be prominently
promoted with a video
and article in FINAT News and
on the association's website.
Other highly-commended projects
may be highlighted too.
The competition was off icially
launched 3 June at the European
Label Forum, and is open to
submissions from all label converts
and labelstock suppliers,
as well as brand owners. Entries
must be projects started in 201920
to qualify, and at least one FINAT
member must be involved
in the initiative. The closing date
is the 31st of August.
Styrenics Circular Solutions
welcomes new member Bewi
BEWI, ONE OF the leading
providers of packaging, components
and insulations solutions
in Europe, is the latest
company to join Styrenics
Circular Solutions, the value
chain initiative to increase
the circularity of styrenics.
The company manufactures
a wide range of products that
includes components in bike
helmets, lifebuoys, fish boxes,
components for cars and a
variety of insulation solutions
used in walls, roofs and floors,
under streets and roads and
in bridges.
The company's participation
further builds the circuThe
Styrenics Circular Solutions
initiative engages the entire value
chain in the development and
industrialisation of new recycling
technologies and solutions.
larity of styrenics, said Jens
Kathmann, Secretary-General
of SCS, welcoming Bewi
to the SCS team. Bewi's approach
to the circular economy
will contribute to SCS'
momentum, he added.
May/June 2021
7
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2021

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