Outlook for surface disinfectants
The rising prevalence of chronic illnesses and surgeries, along with the growth of health clubs and gyms and expanding global tourism, have all given a boost to the market for disinfectant chemicals.
Electrifying solutions
Grid and pricing volatility is a major challenge for the energy intensive chemicals industry. But the sector can reduce reliance on external factors by implementing on-site energy solutions. Read the comment by David Kipling, CEO On-Site Energy
Recycling inks and plastics
In its Global Commitment Progress Report for 2022, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation states that the target to completely implement reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025 will ‘likely not be met’ by most business signatories, with the use of flexible plastic packaging highlighted as a major contributing factor.
Carbon neutral confusion
‘Carbon neutral’, ‘CO2 neutral’, ‘carbon positive’, ‘carbon neutral certified’. These days it’s difficult to miss these powerful claims on products and services when we’re shopping. The supermarket shelves are no exception and no wonder; these claims paint a very positive picture in the eyes of consumers. What lies beneath them, however, is little more than greenwashing; confusing rather than clarifying for shoppers the environmental impact of their purchases.
Pharma jobs crisis
Recent research by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) suggests that the number of professionals applying for jobs in the pharmaceutical sector fell considerably in 2022, a concerning sign for a sector that has historically faced acute skills shortages.
eTextiles: The future
A shirt that can track a person’s heart rate, a shoe that can measure gait – the integration of electronic components with textiles to form e-textiles has been a significant research interest for several years.
Valuable information
Hospitals, pharmacies and healthcare providers are now realising the benefit of data to protect patient safety. Consequently, pharmaceutical manufacturers are under pressure to provide greater levels of granular information on products than current legislation requires.
Inspiring women in science
Statistics show that less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women and only 12% of members of national science academies are women. Leadership roles in the scientific industry, meanwhile, have historically been dominated by men and this continues to be a trend.
Light bulb moment
Most European consumers will remember the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs. At the time, replacement technologies were available but unpopular in the market place, with higher initial costs and perceived poorer performance. But this regulatory intervention precipitated a seismic shift in the development efforts of the lighting industry.
Lessons in value creation
The small and mid-cap sector of the chemical industry has undergone broad structural change over the last decade. We have witnessed significant consolidation, numerous mergers, spinoffs, active portfolio restructuring, and selected privatisations. All these actions have been designed to improve performance and reposition companies to succeed in a changing market environment.