LyondellBasell stays the course on sustainability despite market shifts

Despite recent market headwinds, LyondellBasell Industries is holding firm to its three-pillar sustainability strategy.

"Our strategy hasn't changed," said Yvonne van der Laan, executive vice president of circular and low carbon solutions, during an Oct. 8 press event at K 2025. "We're following the same three pillars.

That strategy, she said, focuses on addressing three global challenges: ending plastic waste, taking climate action and supporting a thriving society.

"We've established partnerships and engaged with consumer brand owners who are also staying committed to their sustainability goals," van der Laan said. "Higher prices [for sustainable materials] are a short-term reality. We know how to make high-quality chemically recycled [post-consumer] materials that brand owners can trust.

At K 2025, Houston-based LyondellBasell is showcasing efforts to grow its core businesses and expand its circular and low-carbon solutions portfolio. Key markets include packaging, health care, automotive and modern living, with solutions ranging from food-contact materials to medical-grade polymers and EV-specific offerings.

In Wesseling, Germany, the company is building a chemical recycling plant with annual processing capacity of 50,000 metric tons (110 million pounds). The facility will use LyondellBasell's proprietary MoReTec technology and is expected to start up in 2026. Construction began in September 2024.

Market dynamics have also led LyondellBasell to restructure parts of its global asset base. In June, the firm announced that it was negotiating to sell four European production sites — in Berre, France; Münchsmünster, Germany; Carrington, England; and Tarragona, Spain — to German investment firm AEQUITA. The sites had a combined annual capacity of 2.1 billion pounds of polypropylene and 700 million pounds each of high and low density polyethylene, according to industry estimates.

As part of the proposed transaction, LyondellBasell would contribute just over $300 million to a new company formed by AEQUITA, while AEQUITA would provide approximately $11.5 million in cash. The deal also includes a potential earnout of up to $114 million for LyondellBasell.

AEQUITA would assumed about $170 million in pension, employee and environmental liabilities. LyondellBasell officials said closing or decarbonizing the four assets would have been more costly than divestiture.

CEO Peter Vanacker called the deal "a significant step in LYB's transformation to grow and upgrade our core," adding that Europe "remains a core market for LYB and one we will continue to participate in."

In September, the company announced that it was selling four U.S. resin powder plants — located in Allentown, Pa.; East Chicago, Ind.; China, Texas; and Grand Junction, Tenn. — to Columbia, Md.-based Niche Polymer LLC. Niche Polymer plans to consolidate the operations into a new entity called Specialty Powders LLC.

Amid the restructuring, LyondellBasell has continued to advance its sustainability goals.

In September, it announced a partnership with three Japanese companies — Futamura Chemical Co., Iwatani Corp. and Shiseido Co. — to develop bio-based film packaging. The collaboration includes packaging for Shiseido's Clé de Peau Beauté product line, using Circulen Renew, LyondellBasell's bio-based polypropylene.

Futamura is using the same Circulen Renew grades in its SusFi sustainable film range. Company officials said the grades can serve as drop-in solutions that require no processing modifications.

In October, LyondellBasell confirmed that three of its Texas resin plants — in La Porte, Matagorda and Victoria — have earned Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) Blue verification, the highest tier of the plastics industry's zero resin loss initiative. The firm produces HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE at the sites.

OCS was launched in 1991 by the Plastics Industry Association and is managed in partnership with the American Chemistry Council. Its mission is to ensure plastic resin is responsibly managed and kept out of the environment.

LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest petrochemical and resin producers. The company's Advanced Polymer Solutions unit is the largest plastics compounder in North America. In 2024, LyondellBasell reported sales of $40.3 billion.

source : Sustainable Plastics

TYPE 4 COMPOSITE H2/CNG CYLINDER PROJECT REPORT

 TYPE 4 COMPOSITE H2/CNG CYLINDER PROJECT REPORT

Driving Toward a Safer, Greener, and Economically Viable Future

Purpose of the Report

This comprehensive project report is designed to empower entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors looking to enter the #Type4CompositeCylinder market—specifically for #Hydrogen (H2) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) applications. The goal is to provide a clear, actionable roadmap to success by understanding market dynamics, overcoming typical challenges, & aligning with the latest technological and regulatory trends.

Key Focus Areas Covered in the Report

-> Market Landscape & Growth Potential

->Global overview of the Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) and Hydrogen vehicle market

->Market segmentation by vehicle use and bulk transportation

->Regional analysis: India & international markets

Technological Advancements

->Latest innovations in Type 3 and Type 4 composite cylinder technology

->New manufacturing techniques, lightweight materials, and safety features

->Impact of automation and digital monitoring systems

Strategic & Competitive Insights

->Analysis of major global and regional players

->Market share distribution, SWOT analysis, and strategic models adopted

->Mergers & Acquisitions landscape

Investment & Project Setup

->Estimated initial capital investment for setting up a Type 4 cylinder manufacturing line

->Infrastructure and equipment guidance

->Costing and certification

Regulatory & Standards Overview

->Overview of global certification standards

->Safety and durability assessments

->Quality assurance practices

Economic Efficiency & Customer Value

*Comparative analysis of Type 1 vs. Type 4 cylinders in terms of cost-efficiency and performance

*Economic rationale behind choosing Type 4 for mobility & transport sectors

Special Insights Included

*The hydrogen economy: Global trends, policies, and application-specific demand for Type 4 cylinders

*Durability studies of composite cylinders under various stress environments

*Case studies: Lessons from failed and successful projects

*Guidance on navigating prototyping and certification hurdles

Strategic Vision

This report is not just data-driven, but strategically aligned to guide new entrants, startups, & expanding enterprises toward avoiding common pitfalls. With an increasing number of companies failing due to certification delays and technical setbacks, this report lays out a clear roadmap to market entry and scalability.

Why This Report?

User-friendly format for entrepreneurs & decision-makers

Competitive pricing, making it accessible for small & mid-sized firms

Aims to support a cleaner, safer, & economically feasible hydrogen & CNG future

Detailed investment modeling and market entry tactics for real-world execution

The Future Is Composite

With the global push toward carbon neutrality and hydrogen adoption, the demand for durable, lightweight, and certified composite cylinders is set to soar. This report helps you stay ahead of the curve.

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Blister Pack Recycling in Turkey

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Let’s talk about blister pack recycling - and what we can do now.

Blister packs are everywhere in pharmacies, but most end up in landfill or incineration because their mix of plastic and aluminum makes recycling tough.

In Türkiye, we estimate that over 1 billion blister-pack doses are used every year - that’s around 300 tonnes of plastic and aluminum waste.

Across the EU, this figure rises to between 5 and 7 billion blister doses annually, generating nearly 2,000 tonnes of packaging waste.

Here’s the opportunity :

- Separate collection: Pharmacies and retailers can set up dedicated collection points for empty blister packs. This keeps them out of regular waste streams and prepares them for specialised recycling.

- Partner with recyclers: Companies like TerraCycle and Pharmacycle have proven that collecting and recycling blister packs is feasible - turning waste into new materials rather than trash.

- Push for mono-material packaging: The industry is advancing mono-material blisters (like polypropylene or polyethylene or PET only), which are much easier to recycle locally. Major packaging firms including Amcor , Constantia Flexibles , and Klöckner Pentaplast already offer these solutions.

These steps can significantly reduce plastic and aluminum waste, cut CO₂ emissions (potentially over 1,000 tonnes annually in Türkiye alone), and support circular economy goals - without waiting for perfect infrastructure.

source : Dogan Ilter/UN Sustainable Development Group

#blisterpackrecycling #sustainablepackaging

Milliken & Company Launches Millad ClearX™ 9000: The Clear Choice for Polypropylene

Milliken & Company proudly announces the launch of Millad ClearX™ 9000, the next generation clarifying technology for polypropylene (PP) developed to deliver ultra-clear transparency at reduced additive loading levels. Ideal for food packaging, home storage and medical applications, #MilladClearX™ 9000 sets a new standard for value, aesthetics, and operational efficiency in transparent #PP applications.

Building on the proven Millad® platform, Millad ClearX™ 9000 provides manufacturers with an advanced solution that:

Achieves ultra-clear PP using more efficient loading levels, reducing the amount of clarifying additives needed.

Lowers extraction and migration rates in PP packaging and parts—critical for food-contact and medical applications.

Improves processing compatibility compared to prior generations, supporting enhanced operational efficiency.

Eliminates the need for segregated virgin and PCR resin streams, enabling greater composition flexibility.

“Millad ClearX™ 9000 is a breakthrough for the polypropylene industry, delivering ultra-clear transparency with less clarifying additive and greater flexibility for our customers”, said Wim Van De Velde, SVP and Managing Director of #Milliken’s plastic additives business. “This launch reflects Milliken’s ongoing commitment to advancing material science and helping our partners meet evolving market demands.

Millad ClearX™ 9000 has broad FDA conditions of use approval (A-J), opening doors for its use across a wide spectrum of food-contact applications. By enhancing additive compatibility, it helps resin producers and converters experience less downtime, less waste, and quicker changeovers delivering measurable improvements in manufacturing efficiency. The technology also allows for improved compatibility with other Millad #clarifyingagents, giving producers the flexibility to optimize formulations for both virgin and post-consumer recycled (PCR) PP, supporting sustainability initiatives.

Milliken, through its Millad platform, pioneered the application of clarifying agents to create transparent PP parts and packaging incorporating PCR content, and the company’s latest clarifying technology builds on that legacy.

source : milliken

MEL Composites and Aresa Shipyards collaborate on four fishing vessels:

Based in Barcelona, MEL Composites has worked closely with Aresa Shipyards to supply a comprehensive package of materials and engineering services for a series of four commercial #fishingboats.

The collaboration aimed to streamline manufacturing processes and reduce build times through an integrated approach. MEL was responsible for mould preparation, technical design, and engineering consulting for the vessel’s key structural elements, including the main deck, upper deck, and structural hull and deck bulkheads. According to initial estimates, this organization enabled Aresa to reduce overall production time, while improving process consistency and repeatability.

Integrated Composite Structures

From a technical perspective, the project stands out for its advanced #vacuuminfusion technology, applied to glass fibre sandwich bulkheads. The structures are built using MEL Composites’ Aircell HR80 PVC core, precisely CNC-cut to ensure optimal accuracy and allow the integration of all longitudinal and transverse reinforcements within a single infusion process.

Another innovation is the use of a grooved foam core, which eliminates the need for mesh vacuum consumables during the infusion. This approach reduces both material waste and processing time while minimizing overall production waste.

The composite manufacturing was carried out in collaboration with the Catalan company Fibervent, which specializes in the repair and production of composite structures for the wind energy and marine industries. The components were produced off-site, with the transverse and longitudinal beams integrated directly into the infused part.

This off-site production strategy enabled just-in-time delivery to Aresa’s shipyard, optimizing scheduling and assembly efficiency.

Innovation Rooted in the Black Falcon V2.0

This new program follows the success of the Black Falcon V2.0 project, jointly developed by MEL Composites and Aresa Shipyards. The 15.2-meter high-speed interceptor, powered by four 450 hp Yamaha engines, can exceed 65 knots – a benchmark of performance and structural optimization.

For this earlier project, MEL provided a complete turnkey package, including kitted materials, consumables, infusion support, and on-site technical assistance.

Today, #MELComposites positions itself as a fully integrated composite solutions provider, covering the entire supply chain, from resins, reinforcements, foam cores, and consumables to tools and processing equipment.

With its in-house facility for core pre-processing and structural kit production, the company now offers ready-to-install composite components, helping #shipbuilders achieve significant gains in production efficiency, material optimization, and quality consistency.

credits: Mel Compoistes/Jeccompoistes

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Why Amorphous Polymers Show Less Orientation and Anisotropy in Injection Molding

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Why Amorphous Polymers Show Less Orientation and Anisotropy in Injection Molding

Despite similar Melt Flow Index (MFI) values, amorphous polymers consistently demonstrate reduced molecular orientation and anisotropy following injection molding compared to semi-crystalline counterparts.

This phenomenon is attributed to three primary factors rooted in their distinct molecular structures and thermal behaviors.

Shorter Chain Lengths and Faster Relaxation Times:

Many engineering amorphous polymers incorporate bulky aromatic moieties, leading to a higher molecular weight per monomer unit. Consequently, for a given total molecular weight, amorphous polymers possess significantly shorter polymer chains than semi-crystalline polymers. Shorter chain lengths result in shorter relaxation times, allowing stress-induced orientation to dissipate more readily before solidification, leading to less locked-in molecular orientation in the final part.

Greater Temperature Difference Between Processing and "Freeze-Off":

The relative difference between the typical melt processing temperature and the material's "freeze-off" temperature significantly influences molecular relaxation. Amorphous polymers are considerably more viscous and necessitate processing at temperatures significantly above their Tg. This larger processing window means they remain in a highly mobile state for a longer duration during cooling in the mold. This extended period allows for greater molecular relaxation and a more complete dissipation of flow-induced orientation, contributing to lower overall locked-in anisotropy.

Absence of Crystallization-Induced Anisotropy:

The process of crystallization itself is a substantial contributor to anisotropy in semi-crystalline polymers. As polymer chains align and organize into crystalline structures, they impart unique anisotropic properties. This inherent contribution to anisotropy is entirely absent in amorphous grades, which by definition lack crystalline domains. Consequently, amorphous polymers avoid this additional source of orientation, further contributing to their lower overall mechanical properties anisotropy.

In a subsequent article, we will specifically address the higher anisotropic shrinkage observed in crystalline materials compared to amorphous ones.

source: Vito leo

#polymers #molecularorientation #rheology