ASSOCIATIONS

Italian and Thai bioplastics associations sign MoU for knowledge sharing, joint research and development

ITALY

One of the weakest links in the European industrial chain / Plastics machinery performs below average / Polymer production shrinking / Company formerly known as Polimeri to move more into specialities

POLIMERI EUROPA

Eni subsidiary changes name to Versalis / Part of strategic realignment

NOVAMONT

Acquisition of Bioitalia's amino acid plant / Facility to be converted into “Mater-Bi” production site

VINYLS ITALIA

Eni in supply agreement for Ravenna PVC / Sale said to be imminent / Vegetable oils at Porto Marghera?

POLIMERI EUROPA

Realignment towards higher-value products / Plans to invest EUR 1.6 bn up to 2016 / Huge reconstruction in Sicily

BIOME TECHNOLOGIES

Much improved performance in H1 2011 / Bioplastic unit sales reach nearly EUR 10m / Confidence in successful future

BIOAMBER

Ontario picked as location for first North American succinic acid plant / Facility to turn out biobased butanediol as well

GENOMATICA

Cooperating with Novamont on bio-based butanediol / Commercial production scheduled to kick off in late 2012 / Inroads into renewable butadiene

PLASTIC BAGS

Rome's legal push forces Brussels' hand / Italy is Europe's leading plastic bag consumer / Some 2.5m t of polyethylene were processed into bags and pouches in 2009 / 15,000 respond to EU bag ban survey

VINYLS ITALIA

Prospects dim for preserving PVC chain at Porto Marghera and Porto Torres / Hope for Ravenna

ASSOCIATIONS

Daniele Ferrari appointed new president of PlasticsEurope Italia

ASSOCIATIONS

European Bioplastics elects new board / Andy Sweetman confirmed as chairman

ENI

Follow-up: Polimeri Europa and Novamont establish new bio-based chemical complex / EUR 500m investment

ENI

Polimeri Europa subsidiary creates bioplastics joint venture with Novamont / New EUR 500m hub to be built in ailing Porto Torres / A new global plastics player in the making?

NOVAMONT

Increase in biopolymer capacity / Additional 50,000 t/y to come on stream in March

NOVAMONT

First North American subsidiary established

CEREPLAST

Distribution agreement with Polish company

ITALY

Controversial ban on non-degradable plastic bags in force since 1 January / Producers face retooling

NOVAMONT

Mater-Bi distribution agreement with Thailand's Thantawan

BIOTEC

New bioplastic based on potato starch

NOVAMONT

International patent quarrel with Biotec shows no signs of letting up

NOVAMONT

“Mater-Bi” selected for compostable bags

NOVAMONT

“Mater-bi” helps soak up disposable nappy market