Peter Vanacker

Attending the EPCA Conference in Berlin this week with a focus on sustainability and the environment, reinforced how corporate leadership today demands more than steering a company towards profitability. It calls for a profound understanding of our role in shaping the very fabric of society. Here's what I've learned: 1/ We must guide young leaders to look beyond just quarterly reports and immediate gains. The real challenge? Teaching them to consider long-term, multi-stakeholder impacts. Every decision we make ripples through time, affecting not just our bottom line, but our communities, environment, and future generations. 2/ The line between business and social impact is blurring—and that's challenging but also exciting. Our responsibility is to show emerging leaders how to leverage their business acumen for responsible growth and social good. 3/ There are no easy answers when balancing the need for short term profitability with long term sustainability. Knee jerk actions around sustainability will do more damage than good. It's critical to find bold but pragmatic and science based solutions to advance. 4/ As corporate leaders, we're uniquely positioned to influence more than just our sectors. We have the platform, resources, and networks to address society's most pressing challenges. This isn't just an opportunity—it's a responsibility. Last week's tributes to Ratan Tata and the man he was --- should make us question what kind of legacy we choose to co-create. Will we be remembered solely for our business achievements, or for how we used our influence to shape a better world? #business #legacy #service

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The Alliance to End Plastic Waste released its 2023 Progress Report, “Advancing Circularity: Solutions for Change,”— and the collective results showcase the power of innovation and collaboration to drive circular systems change. Much has been achieved since 2019, including: • 118,580 tons of unmanaged plastic waste reduced • 128,240 tons of value from unmanaged plastic waste captured primarily through recycling • US$271m of funding has been allocated towards mission-related activities At Dow, we share the Alliance’s vision and look forward to building on this momentum with our partners across the value chain. Learn more here: https://dow.inc/3A5zEaA #CircularEconomy #SolutionsForChange

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Shaping the Future of the Plastic Industry 🌍🌱 The plastics industry is at a turning point, poised for a transformative shift towards sustainability and innovation. As we witness the growing emphasis on sustainability, waste reduction, and alternative materials, it's evident that the industry's trajectory is evolving, offering a glimpse into what lies ahead. At this critical juncture, it's imperative to recognize the potential for groundbreaking advancements and the urgency of addressing environmental concerns. Advancements in sustainable manufacturing, waste reduction, and alternative materials are paving the way for a more circular plastics economy. The emergence of mechanical and chemical recycling technologies and the ongoing research into biodegradable polymers hold promise for a sustainable approach to plastic usage. Looking ahead, the industry's evolution hinges on adopting clean technologies, carbon capture, and transitioning to alternative raw materials. The future of the plastics industry is intrinsically linked to technological advancements, regulatory changes, and heightened public awareness. By aligning efforts and embracing sustainable practices, the industry can chart a course towards a more environmentally conscious and responsible future, setting the standard for sustainability and innovation. Now is the time for the industry to spearhead the charge in shaping a future where plastics coexist harmoniously with sustainability, innovation, and environmental stewardship. Together, we can drive meaningful change and pave the way for a future where the plastics industry thrives in tandem with global sustainability goals. #PlasticsIndustry #Sustainability #Innovation #CircularEconomy #TeamRenolit https://lnkd.in/g4nbCs8E https://lnkd.in/guXivepb

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They tackled resin costs head-on with a targeted approach. Like many plastics manufacturers, the majority of their materials were customer directed. Only $8M resins spend was addressable. Within the 30+ addressable materials, eight were identified as likely overpriced by a resins expert. These made up $4.5M of the $8M addressable spend. Click to learn the steps they took to achieve 5.6% savings on the $8M spend by focusing on their eight target resins. Are you a manufacturing leader looking to start saving in 2024? DM me, and let's discuss your untapped opportunities. You could implement $200k - $500k in savings in as little as 14 weeks, with fees based on the savings achieved. #CostReduction #Sourcing #Procurement

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This article by Beatriz Santos in Plastics News illustrates the challenges facing the chemical recycling industry: there are still many uncertainties involved in developing and scaling up such technologies, and this is only to be expected. But in this case, there are also regulatory uncertainties, which I believe are partly caused by pressure from anti-plastics lobbies. In my opinion, the greatest difficulty remains finding the right sources of plastic, without dipping into the sources destined for mechanical recycling, and to do this we need to improve the collection of plastics... because the material to be recycled does exist somewhere, doesn't it? #flexiblepackaging #circularity #recycling #chemicalrecycling

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📢 A new episode of the Circular Plastics Podcast is now live, featuring Inari Seppä, Eastman's leader in circular advocacy. With over three decades of experience at Eastman, Inari joined me to discuss their journey toward sustainability and how circularity is reshaping plastics.   This episode dives into Eastman’s pioneering carbon renewal and polyester renewal technologies—innovations that break down plastic waste at a molecular level, transforming it into valuable resources. Learn about Eastman’s strategic investments and how they’re working towards an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.   🎧 Tune in here: https://lnkd.in/eCBiW8y3   #CircularEconomy #PlasticsRecycling

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China continues to lead by example, showcasing the power of action over words! With over 40% of global CO2 emissions and a dominant market share in high-energy-intensive industries like Cement, Steel, Aluminum, and Chemicals, their ambitious decarbonization efforts are crucial. This serves as a compelling call to action for others. Time is of the essence - commendable to witness China's significant strides post COP28! #ClimateAction #Decarbonization #GlobalLeadership

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Truly sustainable plastic use is an ecosystem thinking and approach - it goes from designing for recyclability, having infrastructure and behavior for collection and sorting of used plastics, the right technology to process and retain the most value of the used material, and circularity targets that provide a virtuous context for the cycle to thrive. Belgium has shown that recycling works. Read this blog post by our CEO Jim Fitterling for more on Dow's position. #globalplasticstreaty #endplasticpollution #inc5

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As the CEO of IGL Coatings, I spent a lot of my time focused on the technical aspect of things — how our products perform, how they are produced, and how we can innovate. But I’ve also come to appreciate how something as subtle as fragrance can play a powerful role in shaping how people experience a product. It’s not just about what a product does—it’s about how it makes you feel. For us, fragrance isn’t an afterthought. It’s part of the design process, engineered to create a clean, fresh impression while aligning with sustainability and safety standards. From refining the scent with R&D to ensuring eco-friendly compliance, we focus on delivering products that enhance both performance and experience. Fragrance has the unique ability to: 🟢 Elevate a product’s perceived value 🟢 Build emotional connections with users 🟢 Reinforce our commitment to sustainability and safe innovation. Over here at IGL, fragrance is an essential part of our design process. It’s a challenge to engineer scents that are effective, long lasting and compatible with our formulations - all while staying true to our environmental commitment. For me, it’s always fascinating to see how fragrance fits into the bigger picture—how a subtle detail can elevate the entire product experience. It’s science and creativity coming together in a way that just works. I’ curious if there had been a product scent that’s stayed with you over time? #Fragrance #iglcoatings #carcare #autodetailing

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Check this out if you want to learn about pyrolysis, chemical or advanced recycling. https://lnkd.in/gHTimWW2 Pyrolysis is a thermal conversion which turns plastic waste into a type of oil, and the oil is then used to make new plastic products. And every drop of oil we make from waste, is a drop less of oil we need to pull from the ground. It's an exciting innovation for our industry and #LYB. When the technology is deployed at scale, it will go a long way toward addressing plastic pollution. This short article does a great job of explaining how it all works. To learn even more, feel free to reach out to anyone at LYB including me. #teamlyb

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Are you aware of your Scope 3 emissions? It's time to take action and engage with your packaging suppliers to reduce them. Check out this article on how Henkel is working with their suppliers to understand their impact and take steps towards sustainability. Let's all do our part in reducing our carbon footprint. #sustainability #supplychain #Scope3emissions #packagingsuppliers #Cpgbrands

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Companies need to thoroughly analyze and plan based on what is achievable within existing infrastructures, and along the value chain - and then scale up. It's a balancing act between defining ambitious business targets and implementable sustainability strategies. As for your customers, transparency is key to earn trust and credibility. You need to continuously reassess your goals and ask - do your goals still make business sense?  Check out what Nestlé is doing here #Sustainability #Recycling #CorporateResponsibility #Transparency https://lnkd.in/d-CBpnnV

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Have you invested in digital marketing for specialty chemicals or materials, only to find that few, if any, of the leads converted into actual sales? It's arguably the top concern for chemical suppliers when starting their digital journey. We can help you to avoid that..... SpecialChem - The Material Selection Platform #leadsmanagement #chemicalindustry #digitalmarketing

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In a world grappling with environmental challenges, the urgency to transition towards sustainable solutions has never been clearer. Among the most pressing issues is the accumulation of plastic waste, posing threats to ecosystems, human health, and wildlife. However, within this crisis lies a remarkable opportunity: the adoption of circularity principles for all materials, with plastics at the forefront. In this blog, we'll delve into the compelling case for embracing circularity, its transformative potential, and the key steps needed to realize this vision. https://lnkd.in/gBsW-dCY #circularity #sustainability #circularplastics #conservation

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The World Plastics Council proudly brought together thought leaders and experts from across the global plastics ecosystem at #INC4 in Ottawa. The event fostered an insightful discussion on the essential policy enablers required to effectively address plastic pollution and pave the way for a Global Plastics Treaty. Here are the key takeaways:  ✅ Legislative frameworks  ✅ Placing value on plastic waste  ✅ Circular design  ✅ Robust waste management  ✅ Sustainable financing  ✅ Behavioral change  ✅ Support for emerging economies Find out more in our executive summary. https://lnkd.in/ecD_8We4 Together we can accelerate our progress towards a sustainable future! #CircularEconomy #PlasticPollution #WPC #INC4 

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A big thank you to Congressmen Dr. Larry Buschon from Indiana and Don Davis from North Carolina for introducing a comprehensive #plastics recycling bill. The lack of national plastic #recycling standards has been a major challenge for a very long time. Did you know that there are more than 9,000 recycling jurisdictions in the United States with differing recycling practices? It’s very hard to make sustainable progress toward a circular economy for plastics if we can’t even agree on recycling standards. Learn more about why the American Chemistry Council (and BASF as a member company) supports this important bipartisan bill here: https://ow.ly/PfXC50Trn8b #circulareconomy #ourplasticsjourney #congress

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FEEDSTOCK FOR CHEMICAL RECYCLING The material to be recycled definitely exists "somewhere". There's billions of tons of waste dumped in landfills. So #landfillmining is one source. In addition let's take a look at the regions which are densely populated, the various #megacities in emerging countries for instance. Therefore material availability can't be the problem. The real issue is that up until now #chemicalrecycling was too much focusing on the low hanging fruits such as separately collected plastic waste. It's possible to generate #feedstock also from #mixedwaste sorting. The giant cooperations who jumped into #chemicalrecycling did it with little or no understanding of the complexity of #wastemanagement. Good news is that profound #expertise is available next to remarkable improvements in the various #separationtechnologies which are required. In conclusion, let's take #action towards turning waste into #feedstock.

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Transparency in Plastic Additives PLEASE READ! I’m proud to announce a major milestone for the chemical industry: the release of version 1 of a new Plastics Additives Database from the INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHEMICAL ASSOCIATIONS (ICCA). This is game changing and a first-of-its-kind resource will help advance sound chemicals management by providing essential science-based information, including: • Verified data on additive use; • Global regulatory insights; and • Information on functions, properties, and hazard classifications. This is a significant step in our industry’s commitment to transparency and responsible management of chemicals. By working together, we can help lead smarter, science-based decision-making for generations to come. #PlasticAdditives #ChemicalManagement #Innovation #CircularEconomy https://ow.ly/juZj50UfMuj

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Great to see community led initiatives driving plastic circularity at the source of plastic waste. At Resynergi we believe in this decentralized approach and their "in-house" Material Recovery Facility (MRF) collaboration is key. https://lnkd.in/e3gBF2ad #resynergi #circularity #advancedrecycling #circulareconomy #plasticcircularity #plasticrecycling #cleaner #recycling #sustainability #chemicalrecycling

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