Recent developments
Europe competitiveness and energy
At the European Industry Summit 2026, leaders reported stagnant competitiveness indicators and capacity/job losses; they urged regulatory reforms on energy, carbon, and trade. To secure supply and grid stability, RWE and ADNOC outlined long-term LNG supply, and RWE and Masdar agreed to invest in BESS in Germany, while Phase 2 of the Congo LNG project reached 3 MTPA. Decarbonized private power advanced via the Naos-1 Hybrid Solar and Battery Project and wheeling to private end-users in South Africa for Sasol and Air Liquide.
Bio-based building blocks
Commercial routes for bio-based polymers progressed: Avantium and Will & Co moved FDCA into CASE markets using YXY Technology and a Delfzijl plant; NEXTCHEM’s NX CONSER PolyFlex technology enables PTMEG from bio-THF for spandex; the Pragati sustainable castor program reported yield, water, and income gains across Indian farms; and a global supply chain for renewable plastics was established for high-performance electronics using a mass balance approach and GHG data tracking.
Sustainable formulations, targets
In consumer and industrial formulations, Henkel Consumer Brands recognized degradable, hard water detergent ingredients from an innovation partner; Neste ReNew line expanded renewable and re-refined lubricants in Sweden. Companies detailed climate progress: Stora Enso's climate resilience plan showed >60% Scope 1–2 cuts vs 2019, and EcoVadis Platinum Medal recognition went to WuXi Biologics alongside SBTi-approved targets and ISO 20400 procurement.
Materials for electrification
Advanced materials targeted electrification and thermal management: Toray unveiled a PFAS-free flexible PPS resin with UL94 V-0 performance; Evonik expanded hydroxyl-terminated polybutadienes (HTPB) capacity in Europe and Asia; DOMO started an Asia Application Development Center focused on TECHNYL engineering polymers and on-site PV; and Sinopec Capital backed Zhejiang Jushi New Material’s Shanghai listing to scale glass fiber composites for wind and EV applications.
Circularity and waste
Plastics circularity initiatives scaled regionally: Borealis and partners launched a circular waste management ecosystem in Indonesia via a feasibility study for mixed polyolefin-to-repolyolefin recycling; Neste optimized regional logistics with a new Jönköping warehouse to speed deliveries of lubricants designed for northern conditions.