Industry

Bio-based additives support sustainable plastics, but cost premiums, feedstock volatility, and compliance pressure complicate adoption.

Bio-based and biodegradable plastics are not the same. A new framework separates feedstock, polymer chemistry, and degradation to improve material decisions.

Research into optimizing the pyrolysis of automotive plastic waste demonstrates the potential to produce oils with properties approaching those of commercial diesel.

Measuring microplastics requires reliable detection, contamination control, validated methods, and reproducible analytical results.

Automotive composites demand is rising, but high CAPEX, carbon fiber costs, and labor shortages limit who can scale lightweighting.

Many medical devices rely on fluoropolymers, and evolving PFAS regulations are creating new compliance and supply-chain challenges.

Back and side panels combine storytelling, regulatory information, and design to strengthen packaging communication and build brand loyalty.

A double-layer liquid crystal polymer film reduces ghost images in automotive AR-HUDs while improving reflectivity and maintaining windshield transparency.

Mechanical recycling can change the color response, surface quality, and mechanical performance of thermochromic polypropylene used in smart packaging.

Polymeric membranes improve gas separation efficiency through tailored permeability, selectivity, and resistance to aging and plasticization.

Apoorva Kulkarni’s doctoral research helped shape ASTM D8646-26, which estimates temperature-dependent biodegradation behavior in aquatic environments.

The SPE Microplastics Forum takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, on Oct. 20–21, 2026, covering detection, regulation, and solutions.