ICIS Blogs : canada

Canada plans to ban phthalates

Green Chemicals — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:02:44 GMT

Last week Friday, Canada's Minister of Health announced their planned proposal to ban phthalates in soft vinyl toys and child-care articles as well as further reduction limits of lead in consumer products. Canada is proposing regulations to prevent...(read more)

China aims to reduce imports

Chemicals & The Economy — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:16:26 GMT

China has been a major beneficiary of the globalisation movement in recent years. In turn, it has become a tremendous importer of most chemicals. It accounts for up to 50% of total demand for many Asian chemical producers, and is a critical factor in...(read more)

Talking chemicals in Canada's Rockies

ICIS Chemicals Confidential — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:05:48 GMT

Even with scenery like this sometimes you have to think petrochemicals. The CERI (Canadian Energy Research Institute) annual petrochemicals conference has been held at the Delta Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, for the past few years. ICIS' Nigel Davis...(read more)

Cleaning up oil from tar sands

ICIS Chemicals Confidential — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:22:15 GMT

There's a good article in this week's New Scientist on " Can Oil from Tar Sands be Cleaned Up? " The answer it seems is yes. "Canadian tar sands contain an estimated 170 billion barrels of recoverable oil, second only to Saudi Arabia's...(read more)

Video testimonial to ICIS pricing reports

ICIS Chemicals Confidential — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:11:17 GMT

I've just seen this enthusiastic testimonial to ICIS pricing reports from Pete Harrison of DPL Services, which Justine filmed during last week's NPRA conference in San Antonio. Says Justine, "I met these great Canadian ICIS pricing customers...(read more)

Canada suspends Parliament

Chemicals & The Economy — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:23:34 GMT

The downturn is starting to impact politics all over the world. As an example, take the recent sequence of events in Canada : • In October, Prime Minister Harper increased his vote, but still ended 12 seats short of a majority, after calling an early...(read more)

Canada bans BPA-contained baby bottles

Green Chemicals — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:42:58 GMT

Canada's soon-to-enact BPA ban in baby bottles is another sign that maybe polycarbonate bottle manufacturers should look for alternatives now. The Government of Canada announced yesterday that it will immediately draft a regulation banning the importation...(read more)

Toronto looks hard at biofuels for busses

The Big Biofuels Blog — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:08:32 GMT

Rising prices and minimal benefts mean that Toronto's public transport commission will be looking hard at sticking with biofuels with its bus flee t in a meeting scheduled on 27 August, according to the Globe and Mail. Read More......(read more)

EU bans seal furs

Green Chemicals — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:47:40 GMT

I admit this news is not greatly connected to the chemical industry (except maybe a slight demand decline for dyes and other textile materials) but I can't resist posting it. The Fur Institute of Canada (FIC) is bristling at yesterday's European...(read more)

Green Canadian cash now available

Green Chemicals — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:29:46 GMT

The government of Alberta, Canada said yesterday that it is appropriating a total of C$4bn ($3.92bn) to reduce the province's greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). A C$2bn fund will be invested in carbon capture and storage projects while the rest will...(read more)

Carbon tax pains now in Canada

Green Chemicals — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:43:31 GMT

Should consumers directly pay for fossil fuel-based carbon emissions? Some Canadian officials seem to think so as drivers in British Columbia is now greeted with the tax with some gasoline stations raising their gasoline prices to cover the tax costs...(read more)

US natural gas prices rise 65%

Chemicals & The Economy — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:49:06 GMT

The US price for natural gas has risen faster than crude so far this year. It is already up almost 65%. Rising coal and oil prices have encouraged power generators to switch to gas, whilst lower Canadian exports and a tight global LNG market have helped...(read more)

A call to use waste for biofuels

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:45:43 GMT

There's a long reasoned piece of work by Biodiversist in Gristmill, which is worth looking at. The pay off for me is in the last line of the story... now don't just scroll down, read some on the way. Read More......(read more)

Plight of the Canadian ducks

Green Chemicals — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:06:05 GMT

The recent Canadian ducks' death need to be avenged and not just by mere apologies. Greenpeace Canada says big oil players are ducking (sorry, just can't help it!) their responsibility in the deaths of more than 500 migratory birds because of...(read more)

BPA ban heats up

Green Chemicals — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:35:51 GMT

Health Canada's decision last Friday (April 18) to possibly ban polycarbonate plastic baby bottles because of bisphenol A's (BPA) safety issues drove a flurry of announcements from consumer product manufacturers to phase out the use of BPA-contained...(read more)