Australia advanced chemical recycling as Viva Energy and Nestlé completed a proof‑of‑concept converting soft plastics to food‑grade polypropylene via mass balance and an ISCC PLUS‑certified chain, while calling for domestic feedstock and EPR. PureCycle Technologies grew branded conversions, commissioned on‑site compounding and cited regulation‑driven demand. Automotive circularity R&D progressed as Covestro joins KOLLEKT to design recyclable lighting and AI‑assisted disassembly for high‑purity polymer recovery.
Bio‑based packaging saw selective moves. Happy Cups injection‑molded a cup from locally produced Caleyda PHA, with food‑contact work beginning. Metsä’s Muoto fibre‑based packaging will add over 100 million units/year at Äänekoski, while the Kuura textile‑fiber mill plan was halted amid overcapacity and weaker premiums.
Energy‑transition metals advanced. Boliden's Laver concession was upheld, enabling progression toward environmental permitting of a large‑tonnage copper resource. In the U.S., Worley wins engineering contract for a multi‑metallic processing hub covering cobalt refining and black‑mass recycling. Aurubis raises full‑year outlook on stronger copper, sulfuric acid and recycling earnings, and reported progress on Complex Recycling Hamburg, Richmond, and a Bulgarian tankhouse expansion.
Green ammonia and hydrogen projects moved forward. Topsoe’s dynamic ammonia synthesis technology was selected for First Ammonia’s Victoria, Texas project, enabling 10–100% ramping with variable renewables. A 320 MW hydrogen plant in Germany was among Bilfinger’s reported orders, while ORLEN opened a hydrogen hub in Gdynia.
Water‑treatment upgrades featured membranes. Icon Water’s Lower Molonglo expansion will add 97 MLD via a MemCor membrane bioreactor system, positioning the plant as Australia’s largest MBR. For industrial reuse, DuPont’s FilmTec Fortilife XC220 Element was recognized for addressing difficult brines and resource recovery.
Portfolios tilted to specialty and bio. PTT Global Chemical starts new growth chapter toward a 70:30 commodity:specialty mix by 2030 and strengthens petrochemicals, accelerates Specialty and Green & Bio using allnex expansions and PLA, oleochemical and recycling platforms at Map Ta Phut. BASF Agricultural Solutions invests in a Climate Center at Limburgerhof for GLP‑compliant ecotox and insecticide research supporting crop‑protection registrations.
