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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
The combination of net zero needs and the Ukraine invasion has begun to drive exponential change in the chemicals manufacturing area. As in other industries – for example, the move from gasoline and diesel cars to electric vehicles – it will produce winners and losers.
In 2018, the UK government shared its 25 Year Plan[1], setting out the steps envisaged to tackle environmental issues, notably plastic waste. After several years and consultations, the plastic packaging tax (PPT) was developed to incentivise businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging as opposed to virgin plastic. It came into effect in April 2022 and – as of 1 April 2023 – charged at a rate of £210.82/t, rising to £217.85/t from 1 April 2024.
Overall demand for biologics is expected reach 4.4m L by 2027, up from 2.5m L in 2022, with a growth rate of 11.5%/year and capacity increasing during the same time to 8.4m L, up from 6.55m L in 2023.