Page 166 - CW E-Magazine (2-7-2024)

News from Abroad

SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES
Cost and quality issues hindering consumer shift

to reusable products: Survey

A new survey commissioned by intent to adopt sustainable practices citing cost and 21% citing durabi-
Austrian plastics packaging firm, ALP- remains high, practical barriers such lity; maintenance and availability
LA, has highlighted critical barriers as affordability and perceived quality follow closely behind.
to the adoption of reusable products, must be addressed. * Store incentives are 2.5 times more
pointing to a significant disconnect effective than state mandates in
between consumer intent and action. Highlights from the report include: encouraging the use of reusable shop-
Despite a widespread desire to incorpo- * 69% of Americans are willing to ping bags, showing a preference for
rate reusable items into their daily rou- buy reusable products, but 66% positive reinforcement over regula-
tines, many are held back by cost and have refrained due to high costs, tory measures.
quality concerns, the company said. highlighting a major obstacle in
price sensitivity. “We’re seeing a significant gap
The ‘2024 Reusability Survey’, * 68% of consumers would increase between consumers’ willingness to use
conducted for ALPLA by the third-party their use of reusable goods if cost more eco-friendly products and their
platform Pollfish, surveyed 600 US were not a factor, with 36% indicat- actual purchasing behaviour. This pre-
adults. ing significant increases, suggesting sents a strong market opportunity for
that affordability could greatly en- manufacturers to innovate and deliver
The survey builds on ALPLA’s pre- hance sustainable practices. safe, affordable solutions for sustain-
vious research highlighting a strong * Cost and durability are the primary able living worldwide,” said Mr. Billy
generational shift in favour of sustain- barriers to purchasing reusable Rice, sustainability manager at
able packaging, showing that while the products, with 28% of respondents ALPLA.
FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical begins making bio-methanol

from digester gas in Japan

Japan’s Mitsubishi Gas Chemical in global supply chains. In addition,
Company (MGC) announced that it Niigata Prefecture has obtained ISCC
has begun producing bio-methanol at a PLUS certification for digester gas at the
just-completed facility within the com- Niigogawa Sewage Treatment Centre.
pany’s Niigata Plant, becoming first As a result, MGC will offer bio-methanol
producer of bio-methanol from digester produced from ISCC PLUS digester gas
gas in Japan. as an ISCC PLUS-certified product.

Last year, MGC concluded a basic bio-methanol using existing facilities at The bio-methanol is expected to play
agreement with Niigata Prefecture to the plant. key roles as both a carbon-neutral fuel
purchase and sell digester gas generated and a sustainable chemical feedstock. In
at the Niigogawa Sewage Treatment MGC’s production of bio-methanol addition, this initiative will contribute
Centre, which is owned by Niigata Pre- and its derivative dimethyl ether (DME) to the decarbonisation of Niigata Prefec-
fecture. In order to effectively utilise in Niigata has obtained International ture by using local biomass, which
the centre’s unused digester gas, MGC Sustainability and Carbon Certification accords with the prefecture’s vision of
installed shipping facilities at the centre (ISCC) PLUS certification, an inter- developing carbon-neutral industries
and receiving facilities at the com- national system for managing and ensur- and its goal of becoming a carbon-neutral
pany’s Niigata plant to begin producing ing the sustainability of raw materials prefecture by 2050.

166 Chemical Weekly July 2, 2024

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