Canada has added bisphenol A (BPA) to its register of toxic substances, making it the first country in the world to make the move. The decision follows research that showed that 91% of Canadians has the plastics additive in their urine. ...more

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Belgian polyurethane foam, bedding and insulation producer Recticel Group said its consolidation efforts in 2009 have paid off as sales and ebitda both increased during the first half of the year. ...more

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US demand for degradable plastics is set to grow 16.6% per year to 325 million pounds (147.7 million kilos) by 2014, giving the market a value of $380m, according to a new Freedonia report. ...more

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Increasing demand for coatings that protect composites against the effects of wear and abrasion has led Italian motorsport specialists CRP Technology to become the first reseller of Zircotec’s ceramic and metallic protective coatings for its own mouldings. ...more

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Solvay is to increase the production capacity for peroxide curable fluoroelastomers, under the trademark Tecnoflon, at its Solexis plant at Spinetta Marengo, Italy. Solvay is investing €10m in the capacity increase, which is expected to start producing in the first half of 2012. ...more

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A Schulman is streamlining manufacturing operations at its Crumlin, South Wales, production facility and moving part of the plant's capacity to two other, larger plants in Europe. ...more

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