Bloomberg Law
May 1, 2020, 11:17 AM

Single-Use Plastics Make a Comeback on Pandemic Fears (1)

Andrew   Noel
Andrew Noel
Bloomberg News
Janice Kew
Janice Kew
Bloomberg News

A renewed commitment to hygiene is propping up sales of previously out-of-favor plastics like polystyrene, as consumers relegate environmental priorities while trying to stay clear of the coronavirus.

For a plastics industry that’s grappling with a drop in demand for household goods and cars, the resurgence is a welcome break. Germany’s Ineos Styrolution and U.S.-based Trinseo SA are both seeing double-digit percentage sales increases in the food packaging and health-care industries.

Kevin McQuade
Source: Styrolution

“We didn’t see this coming at all,” Kevin McQuade, chief executive officer of Styrolution, the world’s largest maker of polystyrene, said in an interview. “We really saw ...

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