Supply chain resiliency
The past 18-24 months have seen seismic challenges to global supply chains. From a scarcity of ocean freight, a proliferation of force majeures and a blocked Suez Canal – we have often seen the ‘unprecedented’ in recent times. As a result, procurement strategies have become a growing focus for many businesses, and it is vital robust, effective, and efficient supply chains can be relied upon.
Navigating sustainability
The European chemical industry showed remarkable resilience amid the economic turbulence and supply chain disruptions of the post-pandemic period, cushioning the impacts of global crises such as the Ukraine war and energy security issues. Yet, inevitably, growth has been impacted.
CO2-derived e-fuels milestone
On 28 November 2023, a plane flew from London to New York. For the first time in history, this transatlantic flight was 100% powered by sustainable alternative fuels. This rounded off a promising year for sustainable fuels in aviation. Earlier in 2023, the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation was adopted by the European Union, mandating a 70% sustainable aviation fuel blending obligation by 2050.
The human element
In the ever-changing landscape of human resources, 2024 presents a new array of challenges and opportunities. From the spread of new technologies to bold new attitudes towards upskilling and work-life balance, the key aspect of 2024 trends will be how they affect the ‘human element’ of the company. This attitude will be shaped by three pivotal trends.
Making AI work
Artificial intelligence (AI) is anything but new, but the past year has seen the discipline gain significant traction, spearheaded by the launch of Open AI’s generative AI platform, ChatGPT, in November 2022.
Plastics recycling
The waste plastics value chain is complex and dynamic. The negative image of plastics is becoming increasingly global, driving the need for new legislation to increase recycling and the development of higher value applications for recyclate. Read the comment by Elizabeth Carroll, Recycling & Sustainability Consultant, AMI Consulting.
Biotech R&D
A recent ICON survey of over 130 biotech executives shows that 60% expected to increase R&D spending, while only 2% planned to reduce funding. While confident in their outlook with regards to investment milestones and product success, significantly, 32% of respondents cited clinical trials as one of the biggest challenges in bringing novel therapies to market.
Overlooked element
In the ongoing global discourse surrounding environmental sustainability, the focus has predominantly been on carbon, largely spurred by the Paris Agreement and heightened climate change concerns. Surprisingly, nitrogen, a crucial yet often overlooked element, has not attracted the attention it deserves.
Bridging the skills gap for tech-savvy staff
The manufacturing sector is responsible for producing goods for consumption around the globe. However, the industry is under threat. A November 2023 survey by Eurobarometer discovered that skills shortages are a serious problem for small and medium-sized enterprises across the EU.
Environmental justice
Environmental justice is not a new concept[1]. The first calls for this were in the 1980s when protesters tried to block the construction of a landfill for toxic waste in Afton, North Carolina, US[2]. That effort failed, but the ideals have spread to the halls of power. However, the adoption of environmental justice principles has done little to slow the progress of climate change, or to tackle the hazards (and opportunities) of sustainable innovation.