Page 33 - Plastics News March 2021

internAtionAL news

Dow to build $250 million Exports of US plastic garbage

polyurethane hub in southern rise, despite ban
China

espite the ban exports
Dof US scrap plastics
ow Chemical plans to build a South China Specialties
DHub with polyurethane chemistry at its heart. The remains higher according to
$250 million expansion would add 250,000 metric tons the new data. The new trade
per year of polyurethanes and alkoxylate capacity at the data for January, the first
site, which is located at Dongai Island, the southernmost month that the agreement
tip of mainland China. The site also offers opportunity took effect, shows that U.S.
for future development and expansion at the Specialties exports of plastic scrap to
Hub. Henry Ling, vice president of operations, Dow Asia poorer countries have barely
Pacific, said, “The South China Specialties Hub will be changed, and overall scrap
built to Dow’s world-class environmental, health and plastics exports rose, which
safety standards and aligned to Dow’s recent commitment environmental watchdog groups say is evidence that
to become net carbon neutral by 2050. The new hub exporters are ignoring the new rules.With more than
will adopt and employ advanced digital, intelligence 180 nations agreeing last year to place strict limits on
and automation technologies to create a manufacturing exports of plastic waste from richer countries to poorer
space of world-class safety, productivity, reliability and ones, the move was seen as a major victory in the fight
sustainability performance.” The new manufacturing hub against plastic pollution. The U.S. companies seem to
would extend Dow’s local reach, further enhancing supply be relying on a remarkable interpretation of the new
reliability, responsiveness to market needs and customized rules: Even though it’s now illegal for most countries to
innovation, and better positions customers for success in accept all but the purest forms of plastic scrap from the
markets including automotive, pharmaceuticals, cleaning United States, there’s nothing that prevents the United
chemicals, apparel, lubricants and adhesives. Asia Pacific States from sending the waste. The main reason: The
is the world’s largest chemicals market. Demands in United States is one of the few countries in the world
the region are evolving towards high-value, specialty that didn’t ratify the global ban. “This is our first hard
chemicals that help customers meet rapidly-developing evidence that nobody seems to be paying attention to
megatrends in mobility, urbanization and sustainability,” the international law,” said Jim Puckett, executive
director of Basel Action Network, a nonprofit group that
lobbies against the plastic waste trade. “As soon as the
shipments get on the high seas, it’s considered illegal
trafficking. And the rest of the world has to deal with
it.” The scrap industry says many of the exports are
quite likely compliant with the new rules and that the
increase in January reflects growing global demand for
plastic to recycle and use as inputs for new products.
Recent history, however, shows that a large of amount
plastic scrap exported from the United States does
not get recycled but ends up as waste. “There’s going
said Jon Penrice, Dow Asia Pacific president. “The to be a little bit of chaos,” Mr. Puckett stated. “If a
establishment of the Dow South China Specialties Hub cargo does get returned, the query is, the place is it
would further position Dow to provide industry-leading going to go subsequent? It might simply find yourself on
materials science solutions to continue to grow with our one other ship, or in another nation that brokers are
customers in China and throughout the entire region.” going to seek out is the subsequent weak hyperlink on
Henry Ling, vice president of operations, Dow Asia Pacific, the market.” If america had been to ratify the Basel
said, “The South China Specialties Hub will be built to settlement merchants discovered to be transport
Dow’s world-class environmental, health and safety plastic waste abroad could possibly be prosecuted.
standards."
33 March 2021 Plastics News