Based on the momentum building over the past three years, I predict that 2021 will mark a significant turning point for advanced plastics recycling.

Interest in advanced plastics recycling (or chemical recycling) is soaring for many reasons, in no small part due to growing awareness of plastic waste in our environment. While many communities are able to collect and process traditionally recyclable plastics (e.g., bottles, containers), more and more companies today are deploying advanced recycling technologies to recycle even more type of plastics and keep them out of our environment.

Announcements of new advanced recycling projects are impressive. Here are just a few examples from the last few months of 2020 from multinational corporations.

• ExxonMobil – In December ExxonMobil announced a joint venture with recycling technology provider Agilyx Corporation that plans to process large volumes of used plastics into feedstocks to create chemical products, including those that can be re-formed into new plastics.

• Shell Chemical – In November Shell announced it is scaling up its program to successfully make high-end chemicals using a liquid feedstock made from hard-to-recycle plastics. The company has announced plans to use one million metric tons of post-use plastics a year in its global chemical facilities by 2025 and this latest announcement gets them closer.

• Chevron-Phillips (CPChem) – In October CPChem announced that it successfully completed the first U.S. commercial scale production of “circular” polyethylene made from recycled mixed-waste plastics. The company plans to expand the program which furthers its commitment to help the world find sustainable solutions, including the elimination of plastic waste in the environment.

• Eastman Chemical Company—also in December, as part of its “Better Circle” initiative, Eastman committed to recycling more than 500 million pounds of plastic waste annually by 2030 via molecular recycling technologies, with a commitment to recycle 250 million pounds annually by 2025.

These announcements contribute to the growing momentum nationwide in advanced recycling. Since mid-2017, 66 projects valued at $5.5 billion—including $4.3 billion for advanced recycling—have been announced. These projects have the potential to divert more than 4.0 million metric tons (over 9 billion pounds) of waste from landfills each year.

On top of this momentum in investments, policymakers at the state and federal level also are climbing on board.

Nine states (Fla., Wis., Ga., Iowa, Ill., Tenn., Texas, Ohio, and Pa.) have passed legislation to help jumpstart advanced plastics recycling technologies by revising outdated policies that treated these advanced technologies as waste disposal. These states now more appropriately regulate these technologies as manufacturing facilities, which can open up economic opportunities such as new recycling businesses and job creation.

But with advanced recycling’s increased visibility, there has been some confusion, which is natural due to the new-ish nature of the technologies. We put together a short video that helps explain it. The two-minute video briefly explains the importance of advanced recycling in achieving a circular economy, in which plastics are reused rather than discarded, which helps keep them out of our environment and in productive use.

Please watch the video. And then please share it to help contribute to the circularity movement.

The post The Year of Advanced Plastics Recycling (And Watch the Video) appeared first on American Chemistry Matters.

As a young African American child, my love for science started with the gift of an unassuming red microscope from my parents. I remember spending many days transfixed by my “magic looking glass”, which allowed me to see a tiny world of living things and sparked an unquenchable desire to learn more about biology and chemistry. As I got older, I came to understand what that tiny world of organisms meant, the role of a scientist and the education needed to reach my goal of becoming one. I also realized that there were limited opportunities available to me that could provide a strong science education while also offering financial freedom to cover the expenses of college tuition.

So, it’s probably not surprising that it’s important for me to work with a company that seeks to enhance STEM education through scholarship opportunities and leadership training for underrepresented groups, cultivating a future workforce where diversity, inclusiveness and respect are valued and promoted.

I’m proud to be a part of this important work, starting with ACC’s partnership with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Chemours and The HBCU Week Foundation to establish the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI).

FOSSI seeks to increase the number of underrepresented professionals by providing $40,000 scholarships to students pursuing STEM degrees at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and connecting these students to internships, leadership development and mentoring opportunities at participating companies. With nearly 30 sponsoring organizations and almost $10 million raised, we are proud of the incredible impact FOSSI will have on our cohort of 2021 FOSSI Scholars, and those to come.

As an African American scientist and an alumni of Texas Southern University, an HBCU, I know first-hand how scholarship opportunities like FOSSI can impact your life. While completing my graduate education, I was privileged to participate in the NASA Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Program (JPFP). The JPFP was supported through a partnership between NASA and the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation, which provided me three years of graduate funding as well as mentoring, coaching, professional development training and opportunities to work at NASA Centers. Through the JPFP, I was able to alleviate the financial burden associated with pursuing a graduate degree, gain experience and make personal connections with the cohort of students and mentors, which I continue to draw on to this day.

Similarly, FOSSI enables the chemical industry to come together to build a pipeline of diverse scientists to change the face of our industry and continue our ability to find solutions to the world’s challenges. FOSSI is just the first step in ACC’s journey towards a more diverse and equitable workforce. Over the next year, ACC will also be rolling out programs to enable black, brown, female and other minority groups to develop the skills to become leaders in the industry, changing not just the face of our workforce, but the face of our Board rooms and leadership groups.

As ACC’s new Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs, I’m proud to continue to be a part of the innovative work of ACC and our members to enhance our industry’s commitments to diversity, sustainability, environmental health, safety and chemicals management – just a few of the many opportunities to engage and innovate through the business of chemistry. Stay tuned as we continue to build momentum and move this important work forward.

The post Honoring Black History and Creating Future Leaders appeared first on American Chemistry Matters.

The donation is part of ACC and TRANSCAER’s commitment to emergency responders – our dedicated, essential partners helping to ensure safe movement of our member companies’ products. The fund was created in partial recognition that without this program, budget shortfalls and the COVID-19-related economic slowdown might otherwise limit community hazmat safety investments.

In 2021, the TRANSCAER Hazmat Team Response Fund will sponsor at least two awards of $500 to $2,500 each to hazmat teams in the United States. The application process for the awards – which will be especially helpful to small towns and rural communities – is simple. No matching funds are required to qualify. Any hazmat team within a local or state fire department in the United States can apply. The application deadline is May 1^st , and awardees will be notified by July 1^st.

In the future, as donor funding increases, the number and size of awards will also rise – making corporate contributions critical to the success of this important program.

Companies that are interested in supporting the new program are encouraged to participate in the TRANSCAER Corporate Member Program, which allocates $500 of each membership fee to this fund.

For further details, contact Erica Bernstein, Director of Outreach and Special Programs, CHEMTREC® at ebernstein@chemtrec.com.

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Those involved in the business of antimicrobials are encouraged to attend this year’s virtual Thirteenth Antimicrobial Workshop, a series of online meetings held every Wednesday, beginning Mar. 24 through Apr. 21, from 1:00 pm ET – 3:30 pm ET. This one-of-a-kind workshop provides those working with biocide chemistries the unique opportunity to engage with critical stakeholders and stay up-to-date with the latest news and information regarding the legislative, regulatory, and business landscape.

“This past year has given everybody an up-close look at the critical role that antimicrobial products play in public health,” said Komal K. Jain, Executive Director of the Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC), one of the three organizations presenting the event. “We’re still in the midst of an ever-evolving pandemic while a new administration takes over in Washington. The Antimicrobial Workshop will help the biocide community navigate the many challenges we face by sharing and discussing the latest federal policies and business issues.”

The Antimicrobials Workshop will also delve into contributions antimicrobials make to economic and environmental sustainability, and there will be a Global Outlook session that looks at international trends, Brexit, and international trade developments and tariffs on antimicrobials.

Who should attend? The workshop is vital for personnel with regulatory responsibilities, technical staff, marketing professionals and management. Specifically:

• Federal & State Regulators will gain new insights into antimicrobial products and learn from their fellow colleagues.
• Industry professionals will receive the latest information on domestic and international issues and hear directly from U.S. federal regulators and their industry peers..

What are some of the highlights of the Antimicrobial Workshop?

• State of the EPA Antimicrobial Division and Registration Review
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Public Policy and Industry Supply Chains
• CDC Policies on Emerging Pathogens including COVID-19
• COVID-19 Emergency Policies for Disinfectant Registration and Amendments
• Electrostatic Sprayer Guidance by EPA
• Antimicrobial Performance Evaluation Program
• International Trends and BREXIT
• What is a material preservative, and how does it contribute to economic sustainability?
• EPA Design for the Environment Program for Antimicrobials

The Antimicrobial Workshop is hosted by CBC, the Household & Commercial Products Association, and ISSA, the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Antimicrobials Division. The event is sponsored by Scientific & Regulatory Consultants, TSG Consulting, and Reach24H.

The registration fee for the Thirteenth Antimicrobial Workshop is $595 per person, and registration is currently open.

Click here for a complete schedule and agenda.

The post Stay Ahead of the Regulatory Curve with the Thirteenth Antimicrobial Workshop appeared first on American Chemistry Matters.

The groundbreaking project was made possible through a collaborative effort between Harris County, an independent research group and private industry. To get the project off the ground, the ACC Foundation provided a $1 million grant to Harris County to purchase new air monitoring equipment and support the development of new scientific tools to interpret air monitoring data.

The deployment of new equipment includes stationary, mobile and handheld monitors, which will enhance the collection of air monitoring data and improve air quality knowledge. One of the more unique aspects of the project involves the creation of new protocols by HARC, which will help the County better understand and communicate air monitoring results.

As ACC’s President and CEO, Chris Jahn pointed out, “One of the project’s important strengths is that in addition to providing local officials with an array of new air monitoring equipment, it also allows officials to draw on the scientific expertise of HARC. It’s a tremendous team effort that will greatly improve the county’s ability to collect, analyze and share information about air quality, especially during an emergency.”

This new air monitoring initiative is a good example of what can be accomplished when industry and local officials and the scientific community work together to achieve a shared goal – improving environmental performance and taking care of communities. We hope that this project can serve as a potential model for working with other communities.

The post Groundbreaking Air Monitoring Initiative Demonstrates Commitment to Safety appeared first on American Chemistry Matters.

In the run-up to Thanksgiving, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed into law bipartisan legislation to help jumpstart advanced plastics recycling technologies in the state. Like many other states, Pennsylvania’s former laws and regulations had treated these advanced technologies—in which used plastics are broken down into their molecular components to be reused to make new products—as waste disposal. Outdated regulations like those formerly in Pennsylvania have hindered recycling and stymied efforts to deploy new technologies that can dramatically expand the types and amounts of plastics recycled.

Pennsylvania’s new law defines advanced recycling technologies as manufacturing because these technologies take raw materials—used plastics—and turn them into multiple useful products, including new plastics, industrial chemicals, additives for building and construction applications, transportation fuels, and others.

With this new law, Pennsylvania has opened its doors to economic opportunities such as new recycling businesses and job creation. Since mid-2017, 64 projects valued at $5.3 billion—including $4.3 billion for advanced recycling—have been announced throughout the United States. These projects have the potential to divert more than 4.0 million metric tons (nearly 9 billion pounds) of waste from landfills each year.

Wolf is the ninth governor to sign such legislation since 2017, joining Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, and Ohio. We look forward to working with other state policymakers in the months ahead.  

On another positive note, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in early October released its draft National Recycling Strategy designed to help improve recycling nationwide. The strategy will help EPA realize its recently announced National Recycling Goal aimed at increasing the national recycling rate for all materials to 50% by 2030.

The Strategy and Goal represent a newly enhanced commitment by the federal government to play a leadership role in increasing recycling broadly, which America’s plastic makers have welcomed. EPA’s work aligns with plastic makers’ goal of recycling or recovering 100% of plastic packaging in the U.S. by 2040 and our Roadmap to Reuse and Guiding Principles that will help us reach our goal.

It’s important for EPA’s National Recycling Strategy to recognize the critical role advanced recycling will play in supporting the Agency’s Goal and in creating new markets for used plastics. In addition, U.S. communities need to enhance collection of plastics and other materials. EPA also should develop a more harmonized federal approach on recycling education and standards that can help communities collect and recycle more plastics. And we encourage the Agency to work closely with Congress to develop policies that will support private sector funding for recycling infrastructure, including systems to enable communities to increase collection of plastics and other recyclable materials.

We offer our support and look forward to working with EPA and the incoming Administration as they build on the draft strategy and develop pragmatic bipartisan solutions.

Despite the serious headwinds our nation encountered in 2020, I’m encouraged by these recent developments and feel a true sense of momentum in plastics recycling.

Looking forward to 2021.

The post Policies to Modernize Plastics Recycling End 2020 on a High Note appeared first on American Chemistry Matters.

In that spirit, our industry would like to thank Administrator Andrew Wheeler and the dedicated staff at EPA—both political staff and civil servants—for all they have accomplished in order to help the agency achieve its mission of protecting human health and the environment, including through the implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). We also look forward to working with the Biden Administration and nominee Michael S. Regan if he is confirmed by the Senate.

The continued implementation of the 2016 amendments to TSCA, in a way that provides the regulated community and the public with certainty and confidence, is critical to our industry’s ability to produce countless products essential to our daily lives, including the safe storage and delivery of the vaccines necessary to overcome COVID-19. Many of those products have also been critical during the pandemic. Those include personal protective gear for front line workers; chemical biocides and disinfectants that eliminate bacteria and viruses; and plastic packaging materials that help prevent the contamination of food and other consumer products. Countless other chemical innovations will be essential to emissions reductions and renewable energy solutions needed to meet climate goals and thousands of other technologies that will enable a more sustainable future.

The TSCA amendments were the result of years of negotiations between lawmakers of both parties and stakeholders from industry, environment, public health, animal rights and labor organizations. The legislation, passed by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both Houses of Congress and signed into law by President Obama, directs EPA to review the safety of all chemicals in commerce. It was a watershed moment during a time of political gridlock, and the updated law continues to play a role in helping our industry protect the most vulnerable people and places in America.

As EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety Alexandra Dunn recently commented, the agency’s efforts have ensured greater awareness of the chemicals being used in our communities, more extensive safeguards for health and the environment and a significant reduction in toxic pollution.

Not everyone has agreed with EPA’s approach, some have even challenged the framework rules in court. Those regulations largely held up under judicial scrutiny, which is validation that the agency has adhered to the letter and spirit of the law. We appreciate Administrator Wheeler’s commitment to adherence to the law, transparent implementation and steady progress, as well as the countless hours that EPA staff have put in since 2016 to achieve important milestones.

We look forward to working with Mr. Regan, if he is confirmed by the Senate. The need for communication between regulators and industry has never been greater.

The post Chemistry in a Time of Transition and COVID appeared first on American Chemistry Matters.

Our previous blogs have taken a deep dive into the tenets of the 2016 TSCA amendments, most notably the required use of best available science, the weight of scientific evidence, and a transparent systematic review process. These three requirements help ensure thorough and accurate risk and hazard assessments by bringing the highest-quality science to the top and establishing protocols to comprehensively, objectively, transparently, and consistently identify, evaluate, and integrate the evidence.

Would it surprise you to learn that manufacturers of DINP and DIDP are taking the lead on requesting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate these chemicals under TSCA? Consumers deserve to know the risks and hazards of chemicals that they come into contact with every day, and the science consistently demonstrates that high phthalates, DINP and DIDP, are safe in all current uses.

Science Continues to Determine that High Phthalates are Safe

In 2019, the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) High Phthalates Panel requested that EPA evaluate the risks of DINP and DIDP under the 2016 TSCA amendments. These amendments allow for a transparent, fair and evidence-based risk evaluation on uses of these high phthalates.   ACC’s High Phthalates Panel wants consumers to have faith in the products they encounter every day, and science continues to show that high phthalates, as currently used, are safe.

With more than 30 years of research, high phthalates are one of the most heavily studied chemical families, having been reviewed by a number of government scientific agencies and regulatory bodies across the globe. In fact, over the past six years, regulatory agencies like the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the Australian National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS), and Canada’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Ministry of Health have put high phthalates through rigorous regulatory review and determined them to be safe as currently used.

Even though high phthalates are found in many consumer products and some people may be exposed to high phthalate products every day, high phthalates don’t migrate out of products easily, nor do they tend to accumulate in our bodies. Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the last 10 years indicates that, despite the fact that high phthalates are used in many products, exposure is extremely low – significantly lower than levels of concern set by regulatory agencies, and phthalates are rapidly metabolized and eliminated from our bodies.

Canada Finds No Risk

Environment and Climate Change Canada released its Final Screening Assessment for the Phthalates Substance Grouping on December 5, 2020. In this detailed review of the hazards and risks of phthalates, including an assessment of cumulative risk for certain phthalates, Canada concluded that 14 phthalates, including DINP and DIDP, “do not meet the criteria under paragraphs 64(a) or (b) of CEPA as they are not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity or that constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends.”

Additionally, Canada concluded that all 14 phthalates in the Phthalate Substance Grouping “do not meet the criteria under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA as they are not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.”

So what does this mean for DINP and DIDP in Canada? It’s simple –

1. DINP and DIDP current use does not pose a danger to human life or health, according to CEPA.
2. DINP and DIDP are safe for use by the general Canadian population, including sensitive subpopulations (pregnant women/women of childbearing age, infants, and children).
3. DINP and DIDP are safe for use without restrictions in existing applications, including use in food packaging.

It is vital for consumers to have faith in the safety of products that they encounter every day, and it’s critical for the TSCA risk evaluation process to provide the most accurate assessment on chemical risks and hazards as possible. The 2016 amendments lay the foundation needed to help ensure that TSCA risk evaluations do just that.  As you can see, the science is quite clear on the safety of high phthalates, and manufacturers fully believe that the TSCA risk evaluation will show the public that these chemicals are safe as currently used. After all, they deserve the same peace of mind as consumers in Canada and the European Union now enjoy regarding safe use of DINP and DIDP. Are you interested in the impact of the TSCA risk evaluation process on other chemicals? Check out the rest of our four-part blog series here: 1,3-butadiene, 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde.

The post The Science is Clear: Why Manufacturers are Asking EPA to Evaluate High Phthalates appeared first on American Chemistry Matters.

The country’s transportation network is at a tipping point due to the fact that federal policies have not been able to keep up with major and disruptive changes within the freight rail industry. Massive consolidation and major operational changes have diminished service and driven up the cost to ship by rail.

Small and large businesses across America depend on railroads to connect them with their customers and are calling on policymakers to act on solutions that will get freight rail back on track. That is why the Coalition supports regulatory reforms at the Surface Transportation Board (STB) that will promote a healthy, reliable and affordable freight rail network.

The letter specifically asks President-Elect Biden to move quickly to fill the critical roles of both a Chairman and new member at the STB. It calls for current STB Vice Chairman Martin Oberman to be designated as Chairman upon the start of the Biden Administration. The coalition also requests that the upcoming Board vacancy be filled with an individual who shares the commitment in moving the Board forward, as demonstrated by Vice Chairman Oberman and Member Patrick Fuchs. The nominee needs to be fair-minded, objective and innovative in addressing freight rail issues. With such strong leadership, and a full complement of Board Members committed to fulfilling the entire mission of the Staggers Rail Act, the STB can establish a more balanced and modern regulatory system that helps ensure that rail remains a vital mode of transportation well into the future.

The post America Needs Smarter Freight Rail Policies appeared first on American Chemistry Matters.

Other researchers have not observed associations between PFAS and reduced immune response.  In the largest study[1] of an exposed population, researchers reported no association between exposure to PFOA, which has been substantially studied, and response to an influenza vaccine in a group of 411 adults in West Virginia. Both Health Canada and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have also questioned whether small variations in antibody levels reported in some studies are sufficient to result in adverse health effects in humans.

PFAS (or Fluorotechnology) are a large and diverse universe of chemistries. Each has its own unique structure, uses and environmental and health profiles. It is very concerning that some are lumping all PFAS together as though they are one chemistry. The failure to acknowledge the significant uncertainty surrounding the claims that PFAS exposure affects vaccine effectiveness makes this concern even more troubling.  This results in a perception that is misleading and inaccurate, especially as it relates to the discussion of COVID-19.

In the time of a global pandemic, with so much fear and uncertainty, it is reckless and disappointing to see anyone who calls themselves a member of the scientific community engaging in fearmongering. Our products in use today have been approved through rigorous regulatory review, and in fact are used in many essential medical applications in the fight against COVID-19.

For instance, PFAS technology is being used in COVID-19 testing equipment and in the production of ventilators. Another type of PFAS technology is being used in medical garments, hospital gowns, drapes and divider curtains to create a barrier that provides life-saving protection against infections and transmission of diseases in hospitals. In fact, products of chemistry account for more than 25 percent of the material inputs to make life-saving medical equipment, and a full 75 percent of the value of vital cleaning and disinfecting compounds. With some types of PFAS being used to help save lives around the world in the midst of this pandemic, these accusations actually do a disservice to overall public health.

PFOA and PFOS have long been voluntarily phased out by our members in the US, Europe and Japan. Other PFAS chemistries in use today have been fully approved for use by various regulatory agencies in the US and Europe, including by the U.S. EPA and the FDA.

Our member companies are dedicated to the responsible production, use, and management of PFAS chemistries in a manner that protects the public health and our environment. We will continue to engage with lawmakers and regulators on this important issue and support strong, science based chemical regulations that are protective of the safety of human health and the environment.

^[1] Looker C et al. Influenza vaccine response in adults exposed to perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate. Toxicol Sci 138: 76–88 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kft269

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