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President’s Message: Building Tomorrow Together

President’s Message: Building Tomorrow Together

This year’s Industry Lunch embraces the theme of Building Tomorrow Together—a message that could not be more timely. Our industry and the communities we call home are facing challenges both global and domestic: economic uncertainty, workforce needs, and an evolving policy landscape. In times like these, one truth remains clear—when industry and community partners work side by side, we are stronger.

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Capitol Chemistry with Mia

Capitol Chemistry with Mia

The 2nd Special Session of the 89th Legislature adjourned “Sine Die” on late on Wednesday, September 3rd. After an 18-day standoff in which Texas House Democrats left the state to block redistricting, the first Special Session ended on August 15th.

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Logan’s Legal & Regulatory Corner

Logan’s Legal & Regulatory Corner

This month, our legal and regulatory update is focused on sustainability. Sustainability remains a key fixture within our industry. Not only has industry made commitments to increasing efficiencies, reducing emissions, and minimizing waste, but the products of industry are necessary to support the world’s sustainability efforts.

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More Than 800 New Laws Will Go into Effect in Texas on Sept. 1. Here Are Some of the Significant Ones.

More Than 800 New Laws Will Go into Effect in Texas on Sept. 1. Here Are Some of the Significant Ones.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed 1,155 bills that came out of the regular legislative session, including over 200 laws that went into effect immediately such as the school cellphone ban, the abortion ban clarification, property tax cut and increased oversight over the energy grid. Meanwhile, some won’t activate until next year or until voters approve constitutional amendments in November, such as stricter bail policies and a $3 billion dementia research fund. In addition, there are 140 bills that the governor didn’t take action on, including 34 that took effect immediately.

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City Council Votes to Stop Work on Inner Harbor Desal Project at Tumultuous Council Meeting Tuesday

City Council Votes to Stop Work on Inner Harbor Desal Project at Tumultuous Council Meeting Tuesday

City Council voted to stop work on the Inner Harbor Desalination project aroiund 1 a.m. on Wednesday. 6 voted against, 3 voted for. Councilmembers Hernandez, Campos, Vaughn, Cantu, Paxson, and Roy voted to stop work while Councilmembers Scott, Barerra, and Mayor Guajardo voted to keep work going. Moving forward, City Council voted to ask the Texas Water Commission if they can repurpose funds from the cancelled project for other water source projects.

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Texas Power Plants and Chemical Companies Benefit as Trump Eases Pollution Rules, Experts Say

Texas Power Plants and Chemical Companies Benefit as Trump Eases Pollution Rules, Experts Say

For Donna Thomas, smokestacks are a typical sight from her home in Fort Bend County. Since she was a child, she has seen the coal and natural gas-powered W.A. Parish Generating Station puff clouds of haze during the day and light up brightly at night. The facility — which has been around since 1958 — is both part of the background and all she thinks about.

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Exxon and California Spar in Dueling Lawsuits Over Plastics

Exxon and California Spar in Dueling Lawsuits Over Plastics

Did California’s attorney general and several other groups defame Exxon Mobil when they sued the oil giant last year over its role in widespread plastic pollution? That was the question looming over a recent hearing in federal court in Beaumont, Texas, where Exxon Mobil has countersued Attorney General Rob Bonta of California and the nonprofit groups, accusing them of mounting a conspiracy to destroy its recycling business. Exxon’s aggressive move signaled a sharp escalation by the oil giant as it tries to ward off similar suits in the future.

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Trump Tariffs Force Much-Needed Petrochemicals Contraction

Trump Tariffs Force Much-Needed Petrochemicals Contraction

U.S. President Donald Trump's trade wars are nudging the global plastics industry toward a painful but necessary restructuring to address acute overcapacity that has kept the industry’s profits in a prolonged slump. Demand for plastics – from packaging and manufactured goods to solar panels and car parts – is expected to grow sharply in the coming decades as middle classes grow in large economies, particularly in Asia. This means more oil demand.

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The Hidden Network that Makes Packaging Recycling Work

The Hidden Network that Makes Packaging Recycling Work

An efficient packaging recycling infrastructure underpins a circular economy, enabling materials like cardboard, glass, plastic and metal to be collected, sorted and transformed into new products. By shaping sustainable waste systems, well-designed recycling networks reduce landfill, cut resource waste and support long-term environmental health.

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US Companies Launch Initiative to Improve Flexible Packaging Recycling

US Companies Launch Initiative to Improve Flexible Packaging Recycling

A coalition of companies has launched the US Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI), which aims to advance scalable solutions for recycling flexible packaging. A 13 August statement from USFFI said that while its members are developing designs for recyclability and increasing the use of recycled content, they recognise investment is needed to accelerate end-of-life solutions for flexible packaging such as bags, wraps and pouches.

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Advanced Recycling Transforms Automotive Plastic Waste into a Valuable Resource

Advanced Recycling Transforms Automotive Plastic Waste into a Valuable Resource

End-of-life plastics generated by the automotive industry present a complex challenge for recycling and waste management systems. Modern vehicles are composed of approximately 10% plastic by mass, a figure that continues to rise according to the American Chemistry Council. With each vehicle containing over 400 pounds of plastic on average, the global industry generates an estimated 5.6 million tonnes of plastic waste annually.

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New Research Shows Promise of Recycled Plastic Use in Pavement

New Research Shows Promise of Recycled Plastic Use in Pavement

New research for the state of Minnesota regarding the use of recycled plastic in both asphalt and concrete road construction shows promise for that approach. "The increasing demand for sustainable infrastructure solutions has increased interest in using recycled plastics in road construction," a new report from the Minnesota Department of Transportation states.

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