December 2008 - ICIS Blogs

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LyondellBasell considers bankruptcy

2008 has not ended well for the chemical industry. First there was the collapse in demand , as the various value chains destocked in response to slowing consumer demand and lower oil prices. Then INEOS, the world's 3rd largest chemical company, had...

Published 31 Dec 2008 13:02 by Chemicals & The Economy

Filed under: Economic growth, Oil markets, central banks, Financial Events, M & A, Leverage, recession, Ineos, LyondellBasell, credit downgrades
2009 welcomes green chems

The incoming year could be a big year for Green chemistry. US president-elect Obama promises to boost the green energy market while industry talks of more chemical restriction from Congress will also boost development of alternative "green"...

Published 31 Dec 2008 11:18 by Green Chemicals

Filed under: 2009, Regulation, Investments, General, R&D, Government, green chemistry, outlook
Green chem wiki

California's Environmental Protection Agency created a wiki website inviting anybody and everybody who has interests in the agency's ongoing Green chemistry rule making process. The agency says it will spur discussions and new ideas as the state's...

Published 30 Dec 2008 16:22 by Green Chemicals

Filed under: Regulation, California, Government, green chemistry, rules, internet
Check your kids' gifts

The holiday season again brought more toy safety issues from consumer advocates and although this advice is probably late (since most already threw out tons of ripped boxes that house their kids' gifts), it might still be worthwhile checking in the...

Published 30 Dec 2008 9:21 by Green Chemicals

Filed under: chemicals, Regulation, toys, General, studies and reports, Government, kids, PVC, Health and safety, phthalates, holidays, lead
Kuwait "scraps" K-Dow JV

2008 has not been a good year for M&A in the chemical sector. First, there was the collapse of Hexion's Huntsman acquisition. Today, the Kuwait government has signalled its intention to "scrap" its $17.4bn deal with Dow to form K-Dow...

Published 29 Dec 2008 12:35 by Chemicals & The Economy

Filed under: Economic growth, Oil markets, Financial Events, M & A, Leverage, Dow Chemical, PIC, Kuwait Petroleum, Huntsman, Hexion
Hydrogen car available at Amazon.com

I wonder if any kids (or adults) got this cool hydrogen racing car for their holiday present? According to Amazon.com, this 3-pound H-Racer uses a real fuel cell and has its own on-board hydrogen storage system. I saw this car in Liberty Science Center...

Published 29 Dec 2008 9:54 by Green Chemicals

Filed under: Products, General, hydrogen, car, fuel cell, Amazon.com, toy
Holiday green gifts

Christmas is over, school is out (at least temporarily) and I am finally able to get a few moments to access the internet and wish the green blog readers a very Happy Holidays! I've been compiling news announcements of several green consumer products...

Published 28 Dec 2008 19:53 by Green Chemicals

Filed under: green, General, holidays, shopping, gifts
The impact of banking crises

The blog has been searching the websites of the major central banks, such as the IMF, World Bank, Federal Reserve and Bank of England, for research on the history of credit crises. Several readers, including Paul Noble of Parsons Brinckerhoff, have also...

Published 28 Dec 2008 10:51 by Chemicals & The Economy

Filed under: Economic growth, Currencies, Financial Events, Bank of England, credit crunch, M & A, Leverage, Federal Reserve, IMF, World Bank, Pension funds
Top Chemical Xmas Cards 2009

Does anyone send business Xmas cards any more? Apparently so, but they're just not very good at doing it. The Blog's top tip for the sending of business Season's Greetings cards: for hard copy cards, make an effort and post them on time! What...

Published 24 Dec 2008 12:15 by ICIS Chemicals Confidential

Filed under: trivia, ICIS, corporate life, International eChem, Arkema, LyondellBasell, AOT, greetings cards, ECEM, e-cards
A Short Essay on Biofuels and Related Matters

This is a guest post from Professor David B. Benson (retired), who is a regular commenter on The Big Biofuels Blog. David's contact details: dbenson@eecs.wsu.edu Biofuel ------- Photosynthesis uses only a very small fraction of the available sunlight...

Published 24 Dec 2008 9:34 by The Big Biofuels Blog

Filed under: ethanol, Policy, biofuel, Agriculture, biofuels, Biodiesel, Food, waste, Benson, methane, Bioethanol, algae, butanol, biochar, bioagasse, torrefaction, fertlizer
EPCA Berlin 2009 Opening Party at Mercedes World

With perfect timing, EPCA has announced today that the 2009 conference will showcase the abiding links between the chemical business and the automotive industry . " EPCA EXHIBITON AT MERCEDES WORLD - BERLIN - 4 TO 7 OCTOBER 2008 EPCA will organize...

Published 23 Dec 2008 14:03 by ICIS Chemicals Confidential

Filed under: conferences, parties, BASF, hi-tech, automotive, cars, Berlin, Mercedes, EPCA 2009, CEFIC
Photos, flowers and chemicals

It's the last day in the office and there is a light smattering of festive cards on desks and cupboards - fewer and fewer of them every year ( Demise of the Chemicals Xmas Card ), and even the e-cards have been paltry this year. Amongst them there...

Published 23 Dec 2008 12:56 by ICIS Chemicals Confidential

Filed under: chemicals, corporate life, media life, Climate, Kew Gardens, International Garden Photographer of the Year, IGPOTY, photography, gardens
Alert: Kids in the Office

In the last few days before the holidays, office buildings are strangely full of small children. They are brushed and clean and curiously similar to people you work with, only shorter and cuter and more fresh-faced. In the mornings they are bashful and...

Published 23 Dec 2008 11:15 by ICIS Chemicals Confidential

Filed under: trivia, mothers, kids, corporate life, children, Reed Business Information, office life, fathers
A time to look back and a time to look forward

As 2008 draws to a close it is time to look back and assess how well I did in my predictions for 2008 , at the start of the year, and let you know about a couple of guest bloggers who have very kindly agreed to guest post for me while I'm on holiday...

Published 22 Dec 2008 14:48 by The Big Biofuels Blog

Filed under: ethanol, 2009, biofuels, Biodiesel, Oil, 2008, automotive, cellulosic, Bioethanol, predictions, Hostage to Fortune
As this is the season of goodwill.....

...why not forgive debts as Nail Ferguson suggested in his article in the Financial Times last Friday . His suggestion about giving those in mortgage arrears a break by converting their loans to longer term durations with fixed interest rates is backed...

Published 22 Dec 2008 13:46 by Asian Chemical Connections

Filed under: US, Economics, Business, Singapore, Financial Times, Company Strategy, global property slump, debt forgiveness, Nail Ferguson, rescheduling mortgages

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December 2008 - ICIS Blogs

Syndication

Recent Posts

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LyondellBasell considers bankruptcy

2009 welcomes green chems

Green chem wiki

Check your kids' gifts

Kuwait "scraps" K-Dow JV

Hydrogen car available at Amazon.com

Holiday green gifts

The impact of banking crises

Top Chemical Xmas Cards 2009

A Short Essay on Biofuels and Related Matters

EPCA Berlin 2009 Opening Party at Mercedes World

Photos, flowers and chemicals

Alert: Kids in the Office

A time to look back and a time to look forward

As this is the season of goodwill.....