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More data show how far we still have to go to solve the climate and plastic waste crises

JOHN RICHARDSON | June 27, 2021

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SEE THE END section of this blog post for a dystopian version of our environmental future. In a follow-up post – which I will publish on Thursday, 1 July – I will offer some suggestions about how we can avoid an outcome that nobody of course wants.Both posts are meant to be provocative, challenging and controversial because only through debate, and sometimes outright argument, will we get to the answers.

If you disagree after either or both posts have been published, great, that would be good. In fact, I would love to hear from you whatever your views at john.richardson@icis.com.  The petrochemicals industry can do this; we can fix this if we create the right forums for ideas and then solutions.

Let me provide the background first. Let me start by examining developments in the refinery industry and the implications for petrochemicals as important background.  Then I will look at a sample of ICIS petrochemicals demand growth forecasts for 2020-2040. I will conclude by providing the bleakest of bleak outcomes for the world in 2025

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PREVOR

The PREVOR group, market leader in the prevention of chemical and toxicological risks is present in 48 countries. Very innovative company with strong growth, we sell patented products worldwide: emergency treatments, absorbents, decontaminants, chemical neutralizers, anti-shock and anti-vibration materials. Established in Europe, America, Asia and Oceania, we are the daily partners of economic actors: industrialists, governments, universities, hospitals ... through our network of sales subsidiaries and distributors. For 60 years, our scientific teams have been putting their research in chemistry, biology and human physiology at the service of understanding toxicology and chemical risks.

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