At CHINAPLAS 2023, BASF will showcase a cold molding technology for manufacturing footwear components using Elastopan® polyurethane (PU). According to a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of the footwear component by Total Quality Assurance Service provider Intertek, cold molding technology significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and energy consumption during the production process.

Spanish energy and petrochemical company Repsol has announced an investment of €26 million to launch a new recycled plastic production line (Reciclex line) at its Puertollano Industrial Park in Spain.

Shiming Recycling is headquartered in Suzhou, Jiangsu, focusing on the research and development, modification and brand building of high-quality recycled PCR plastics. The R&D team is led by Professor Ding Peng of Shanghai University, a scientist of the National 973 Program. 80% of the employees have a bachelor's degree or above, and 40% are R&D personnel. The main professional fields are polymer materials, chemical materials, etc. The team is young and has rich experience in the fields of plastic recycling economy, polymer materials, R&D modification, etc.

Recently, a German Sustainable Automotive Materials Alliance consisting of 19 leading industrial companies and research institutions including BMW Group, Evonik, ThyssenKrupp, Fraunhofer Institute and Technical University of Munich was officially established. The purpose of the alliance is to develop new processes in the automotive materials industry chain and achieve the recycling of automotive components through the use of sustainable materials.

Sumitomo Chemical has completed the construction of a PMMA chemical recycling facility at its plant in Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, which will be used to produce samples of chemically recycled methyl methacrylate or MMA monomer. Acrylic resin made from this monomer will be available in the spring of 2023.

As people pay more and more attention to sustainable development, more and more food and beverage manufacturers and brand owners around the world, including in Asia, prefer to use recycled PET (r-PET) to enhance the recycling and reuse of plastic packaging and promote the development of the circular economy.

Panasonic announced its "Take Back for Tomorrow" initiative at CES 2023 to promote the recycling of electronic personal care devices such as shavers and trimmers.

Belkin, a mobile phone and computer accessories manufacturer headquartered in California, USA, announced that on the occasion of the company's 40th anniversary, it will increase its use of environmentally friendly materials. Its best-selling wireless chargers, power banks, wall chargers and car chargers will use 73%-75% post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) and plastic-free packaging.