#Ethylene Industry

[b2bbusiness]

Ethylene Industry: The Building Block of Our Modern World

Ethylene, often referred to as the world's most important chemical, plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. It's the foundation for countless products we rely on, from plastic packaging to clothing and building materials. This article delves into the fascinating world of ethylene, exploring its production, applications, and impact on various industries.

The Birth of Ethylene: Steam Cracking

Ethylene is primarily produced through a process called steam cracking. Here, hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, and naphtha are subjected to intense heat (750-950°C) along with steam. This high-temperature environment breaks down the larger hydrocarbon molecules, creating smaller ones, including ethylene. The resulting mixture then undergoes separation through processes like compression and distillation to isolate pure ethylene.

Ethylene: A Versatile Building Block

Ethylene's true strength lies in its versatility. It undergoes various chemical reactions to form a vast array of products. Here's a glimpse into some of its key applications:

Polyethylene (PE): The champion of ethylene derivatives, PE accounts for over half of global ethylene consumption. PE's flexibility, durability, and lightweight properties make it ideal for food packaging, bottles, bags, and various industrial applications.

Ethylene Oxide and Glycol: This duo paves the way for the creation of polyester, a prominent fiber used in textiles. Ethylene glycol also finds use as antifreeze, keeping our vehicles running smoothly.

Ethylene Dichloride (EDC): This vital intermediate transforms into PVC, a plastic extensively used in pipes, siding, medical devices, and even clothing.

Styrene: Ethylene's role in creating styrene is essential for the production of synthetic rubber, a key component in tires and foam insulation.

Beyond Industrial Applications: Ethylene in Agriculture

Interestingly, ethylene market plays a role beyond the realm of industry. It acts as a ripening agent for fruits and vegetables like citrus, tomatoes, and bananas. By mimicking the natural ripening process, ethylene helps regulate the shelf life and quality of these produce items.

The Ethylene Industry: A Global Powerhouse

The ethylene industry is a global giant, with a market size exceeding 150 million tonnes and a projected growth of over 4% annually. This growth is driven by the rising demand for plastics and other ethylene derivatives in developing economies. The industry leaders include major petrochemical companies across the globe.

Ethylene's Environmental Impact: A Cause for Consideration

The significant production and consumption of ethylene raise environmental concerns. The process of steam cracking generates greenhouse gases, and plastic waste from ethylene derivatives can pose challenges if not managed responsibly. The industry is constantly evolving, with research focused on cleaner production methods and improved plastic recycling technologies.

The Future of Ethylene: Innovation and Sustainability

As the world strives for a more sustainable future, the ethylene industry is embracing innovation. The exploration of alternative feedstocks like bio-based ethylene derived from renewable sources holds promise. Additionally, advancements in recycling technologies aim to create a more circular economy for ethylene-based plastics.

Buy the Full Report for More Insights into the Ethylene Industry Installed Capacity Forecast, Download A Free Report Sample

[constructioandchemicalblog]

Ethylene Market Comprehensive Study Explore Huge Growth in Future 2022-2030

According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global ethylene market is estimated to witness a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period (2022 - 2030). The report highlights the strengths, opportunities, challenges, and future market risks and offers an extensive overview of the global market situation with the effect of COVID-19.

Ethylene is a colorless gas with a faint, slightly sweet smell and is highly reactive and flammable. It does not dissolve in water but mixes fine with most organic (carbon-containing) solvents. Ethene is a component of a group of substances referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Market Segmentation:

The Global Ethylene Market has been segmented on the basis of Application and End-Users.

Based on Application, the Ethylene Market is segmented into polyethylene, ethylene oxide, ethylene benzene, and ethylene dichloride. Among these, the ethylene oxide segment accounts for the fastest growth in the global market due to its substantial application in the production of various ethylene derivatives which are used for manufacturing plastic.

Based on End-Users, the Ethylene Market is segmented into packaging, automotive, construction, agrochemical, textile, and others. Among these, the packaging segment is projecting significant growth owing to the increasing demand for linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in the manufacturing of packaging products.

Competitive Analysis:

The players in the Global Ethylene Market are focusing on strategic mergers and acquisitions and increasing research and development expenditure for new product launch in order to expand their businesses in the global market.

The major players of the Global Ethylene Market are SABIC (Saudi Arabia), DowDuPont (U.S), Exxon Mobil Corporation (U.S.), Royal Dutch Shell plc (the Netherlands), China Petrochemical Corporation (China), Total SA (Italy), Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (U.S.), LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. (the Netherlands), National Petrochemical Company (Iran), and INEOS (Switzerland), and others.

Regional Analysis:

The Global Ethylene Market is segmented across five major regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these, the Asia Pacific region accounts for the largest market share in the Global Ethylene Market owing to the increased demand for ethylene in automotive, construction, packaging and other industries.

The North America region is projecting significant growth in the Global Ethylene Market due to the increasing investment for the expansion of the end-use industries. The growing innovation and incorporation of advanced technology in thermoplastics and other products are propelling the growth of the Ethylene Market in the Europe region. The increasing utilization of low-density materials in the electronics industry is driving the ethylene market in the Middle East and Africa region. Whereas, the increasing demand for thermoplastics in the end-use industries is fueling the expansion of the ethylene market in the Latin America region.

companies' growth potential in the future.

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[indizombie]

Nurdles have a significant impact on the environment long before they are formed, as well. The vast majority of the plastics plants in the United States are located alongside communities of color, which are disproportionately impacted by industrial pollution. Those plants emit a toxic mixture of pollutants including ethylene oxide, styrene, and benzene; there are so many petrochemical plants located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans that the area has become known as “cancer alley.”

Neel Dhanesha, ‘The massive, unregulated source of plastic pollution you’ve probably never heard of’, Vox

[pritam169]

Vinyl Acetate - Ethylene Copolymer Emulsion Market Report: 2023-2029 Vinyl Acetate - Ethylene Copolymer Emulsion Market (Newly published report) which covers Market Overview, Future Economic Impact, Competition by Manufacturers, Supply (Production), and Consumption Analysis Get

[newtownpentacle]

Plastic Beaver

Monday – photo by Mitch Waxman One came upon the fact that there’s a town called “Industry” about a half hour’s drive from where one dwells, and it’s found in Western Pennsylvania’s Beaver County. Most of Beaver County, which also offers a fairly invisible but lively border with the State of Ohio, is considered to be a part of what I’ve read several references to as “Greater Metropolitan…

[reasonsforhope]

"The sleeping giant of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stirred.

In the past month, an avalanche of anti-pollution rules, targeting everything from toxic drinking water to planet-heating gases in the atmosphere, have been issued by the agency. Belatedly, the sizable weight of the US federal government is being thrown at longstanding environmental crises, including the climate emergency.

On Thursday [May 18, 2023], the EPA’s month of frenzied activity was crowned by the toughest ever limits upon carbon pollution from America’s power sector, with large, existing coal and gas plants told they must slash their emissions by 90% or face being shut down.

The measure will, the EPA says, wipe out more than 600m tons of carbon emissions over the next two decades, about double what the entire UK emits each year. But even this wasn’t the biggest pollution reduction announced in recent weeks.

In April, new emissions standards for cars and trucks will eliminate an expected 9bn tons of CO2 by the mid-point of the century, while separate rules issued late last year aim to slash hydrofluorocarbons, planet-heating gases used widely in refrigeration and air conditioning, by 4.6bn tons in the same timeframe. Methane, another highly potent greenhouse gas, will be curtailed by 810m tons over the next decade in another EPA edict.

In just a few short months the EPA, diminished and demoralized under Donald Trump, has flexed its regulatory muscles to the extent that 15bn tons of greenhouse gases – equivalent to about three times the US’s carbon pollution, or nearly half of the entire world’s annual fossil fuel emissions – are set to be prevented, transforming the power basis of Americans’ cars and homes in the process...

If last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with its $370bn in clean energy subsidies and enticements for electric car buyers, was the carrot to reducing emissions, the EPA now appears to be bringing a hefty stick.

The IRA should help reduce US emissions by about 40% this decade but the cut needs to be deeper, up to half of 2005 levels, to give the world a chance of avoiding catastrophic heatwaves, wildfires, drought and other climate calamities. The new rules suddenly put America, after years of delay and political rancor, tantalizingly within reach of this...

“It’s clear we’ve reached a pivotal point in human history and it’s on all of us to act right now to protect our future,” said Michael Regan, the administrator of the EPA, in a speech last week at the University of Maryland. The venue was chosen in a nod to the young, climate-concerned voters Joe Biden hopes to court in next year’s presidential election, and who have been dismayed by Biden’s acquiescence to large-scale oil and gas drilling.

“Folks, this is our future we are talking about, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real climate action,” [Michael Regan, the administrator of the EPA], added. “Failure is not an option, indifference is not an option, inaction is not an option.” ...

It’s not just climate the EPA has acted upon in recent months. There are new standards for chemical plants, such as those that blight the so-called "Cancer Alley" the US, from emitting cancer-causing toxins such as benzene, ethylene oxide and vinyl chloride. New rules curbing mercury, arsenic and lead from industrial facilities have been released, as have tighter limits on emissions of soot and the first ever regulations targeting the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkylsubstances (or PFAS) in drinking water.” ...

For those inside the agency, the breakneck pace has been enervating. “It’s definitely a race against time,” said one senior EPA official, who asked not to be named. “The clock is ticking. It is a sprint through a marathon and it is exhausting.” ...

“We know the work to confront the climate crisis doesn’t stop at strong carbon pollution standards,” said Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club.

“The continued use or expansion of fossil power plants is incompatible with a livable future. Simply put, we must not merely limit the use of fossil fuel electricity – we must end it entirely.”"

-via The Guardian (US), 5/16/23

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Polyethylene waste could be a thing of the past

An international team of experts undertaking fundamental research has developed a way of using polyethylene waste (PE) as a feedstock and converted it into valuable chemicals, via light-driven photocatalysis. The University of Adelaide's Professor Shizhang Qiao, Chair of Nanotechnology, and Director, Center for Materials in Energy and Catalysis, at the School of Chemical Engineering, led the team that published their findings in the journal Science Advances. "We have upcycled polyethylene plastic waste into ethylene and propionic acid with high selectivity using atomically dispersed metal catalysts," said Professor Qiao. "An oxidation-coupled room-temperature photocatalysis method was used to convert the waste into valuable products with high selectivity. Nearly 99% of the liquid product is propionic acid, alleviating the problems associated with complex products that then require separation. Renewable solar energy was used rather than industrial processes that consume fossil fuel and emit greenhouse gases."

Read more.

[allthegeopolitics]

More than 200 chemical plants in the U.S. will be required to reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer under a new rule issued Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The rule advances President Joe Biden's commitment to environmental justice by delivering critical health protections for communities burdened by industrial pollution from ethylene oxide, chloroprene and other dangerous chemicals, officials said.  Areas that will benefit from the new rule include majority-Black neighbourhoods outside New Orleans that EPA administrator Michael Regan visited as part of his 2021 Journey to Justice tour.

Continue Reading

[reality-detective]

Let's investigate the 4 chemicals in Palestine Ohio's train derailment and their so-called slow burn operation that our government said was safe.👇

1. VINYL CHLORIDE

A chemical warfare agent in WWII ☠️

Is vinyl chloride harmful to human health?

⚠️Exposure to vinyl chloride may increase a person's risk of developing cancer. Human and animal studies show higher rates of liver, lung and several other types of cancer. Being exposed to vinyl chloride can affect a person's liver, kidney, lung, spleen, nervous system and blood.

How much vinyl chloride cause cancer?

Studies of long-term exposure in animals showed that cancer of the liver and mammary gland may increase at very low levels of vinyl chloride in the air (50 ppm). Lab animals fed low levels of vinyl chloride each day (2 mg/kg/day) during their lifetime had an increased risk of getting liver cancer.

Is vinyl chloride a hazardous waste?

⚠️Vinyl Chloride is hazardous to the environment.

2. ETHYLENE GLYCOL

What is ethylene glycol used in?

DESCRIPTION: Ethylene glycol is a useful industrial compound found in many consumer products. Examples include antifreeze, hydraulic brake fluids, some stamp pad inks, ballpoint pens, solvents, paints, plastics, films, and cosmetics.

How is ethylene glycol harmful to humans?

An overdose of ethylene glycol can damage the brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys. The poisoning causes disturbances in the body's chemistry, including metabolic acidosis (increased acids in the bloodstream and tissues). The disturbances may be severe enough to cause profound shock, organ failure, and death.

How does ethylene glycol affect the brain?

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a toxic alcohol that causes central nervous system depression and multiple metabolic abnormalities including a high anion gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA), elevated osmolal gap (OG), and acute kidney injury. Few case reports of EG intoxication report brain MRI findings.

Is ethylene glycol a carcinogen?

🚩EPA has not classified ethylene glycol for carcinogenicity. Chronic Effects (Noncancer): The only effects were noted in a study of individuals exposed to low levels of ethylene glycol by inhalation for about a month were throat and upper respiratory tract irritation.

Is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether harmful to humans?

The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system, blood, kidneys and liver. A harmful contamination of the air will be reached rather slowly on evaporation of this substance at 20°C.

3. MONOBUTYL ETHER

What is the use of monobutyl ether?

It is used as a solvent in surface coatings in paints; as a coupling agent in metal and household cleaners; as an intermediate in chemical production; and is also found in brake fluids and in printing ink.

Is butyl ether toxic?

⚠️Acute Health Effects☠️

The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Butyl Ether: * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. * Repeated or prolonged skin contact may cause rash. Breathing Butyl Ether can irritate the nose and throat causing coughing and wheezing.

Is ether toxic to humans?

⚠️Breathing Diethyl Ether can cause drowsiness, excitement, dizziness, vomiting, irregular breathing, and increased saliva. High exposure can cause unconsciousness and even death.

Is ether a carcinogen?

► Bis(Chloromethyl) Ether is a CARCINOGEN in humans. There may be NO safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level.

Combustible. Above 60°C explosive vapour/air mixtures may be formed. NO open flames. Above 60°C use a closed system and ventilation.

4. ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE

Is ethylhexyl acrylate toxic?

Like any reactive chemical, 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate can be hazardous if not handled properly. May be harmful if swallowed. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal irritation or ulceration. Limited dermal contact or vapour concentrations attainable at room temperature are not hazardous on single short duration exposures.

Is Ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer safe?

Although the monomers may be toxic, the levels that would be found in cosmetic formulations are not considered to present a safety risk. Accordingly, these Acrylate Copolymers are considered safe for use in cosmetic formulations when formulated to avoid irritation.

Are acrylates safe?

The International Agency of Research on Cancer as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have classified acrylates as a possible human carcinogen. Exposure to acrylates has been linked to skin, eye, and throat reactions [1] as well as more serious health consequences such as: Cancer.

Is ethylhexyl harmful for skin?

Ethylhexylglycerin is not safe due to its performance as a contact allergen.

Is ethyl acrylate carcinogenic?

⚠️Cancer Hazard☠️

* Ethyl Acrylate may be a CARCINOGEN in humans since it has been shown to cause stomach cancer in animals.

🚩Spoiler Alert⚠️ It's NOT safe and in fact it is highly toxic☠️

This will affect millions of people and it may flow into the Mississippi river as well. 🤔

[greatwyrmgold]

More Factorio speculation!

Vulcanus's metallurgic science introduces the Foundry, a sort of super-smelter that can make metal plates, gears, wire, etc with an inherent +50% production bonus and five module slots.

Fulgora's electromagnetic science introduces the Electromagnetic Plant, a sort of specialized assembler that can make circuits, electrical equipment, modules, etc with an inherent +50% production bonus and five module slots.

I expect that a building like that will be present on every planet in the Space Age expansion. So what's left?

The only big category of resources that isn't touched by either the electromagnetic plant or foundry is oil/chemical stuff; plastic, sulfur, lubricant, fuel, etc. So I feel confident that the third planet's special building will be some kind of enhanced chemical plant.

Which probably means we'll be getting a novel oil processing process on planet #3. Maybe the reverse of what Fulgora's oil sands have? Something that makes heavy oil important for more things than lubricant, some resource type that gives lots of petroleum gas, and a reverse cracking recipe?

If that's true, maybe planet #3 will be something like Titan, or like Titan crossed with Europa. A barren world, cold enough that ethylene condenses into pools on the surface.

But that's just a guess built on a foundation of more guesses. It could be something completely different, like a planet whose industry focuses on weapon stuff or uranium processing or something.

We'll find out eventually. We found out about Vulcanus three months ago, and Wube estimated a release date "about a year" after almost exactly six months from now. So I'm guessing we'll see a FFF about planet #3 some time around late May, and the final frontier either right before or right after the August release. Or at least, that's what I'm guessing Wube has scheduled; time will tell whether that works out!

While I'm here I'm guessing the final planet's Special Building is either some kind of super-rocket-silo, or a way to use science packs for purposes other than science. I think it would make sense for some of the last (non-infinite) technologies unlocked to be things that make linking planets together easier—a way to get resources from planetside to space platforms more easily, or upgrades for space platforms, or maybe something wild like interplanetary teleportation.

[khalid-albeshri]

Key sectors in KSA manufacturing market:

Here’s a concise overview of the key sectors in Saudi Arabia's manufacturing market:

1. Petrochemicals

- Central to Saudi Arabia's manufacturing, leveraging vast oil and gas reserves to produce chemicals like ethylene and polypropylene.

- Major players include SABIC and Saudi Aramco.

2. Pharmaceuticals

- Rapidly expanding with a focus on local production of generics, vaccines, and biotech products.

- Supported by government initiatives to reduce import dependency.

3. Food and Beverage

- Vital for food security and economic growth, focusing on dairy, processed foods, beverages, and halal products.

- Expanding into regional and international markets.

4. Automotive

- Developing sector with a focus on assembling vehicles, manufacturing parts, and electric vehicles (EVs).

- Growing interest from global manufacturers.

5. Construction Materials

- Driven by mega-projects, producing cement, steel, aluminum, and sustainable materials.

- Key to supporting infrastructure development.

6. Metals and Mining

- Emerging sector with significant resources like gold, phosphate, and bauxite.

- Focus on extraction, processing, and downstream industries like aluminum smelting.

7. Textiles and Apparel

- Small but growing, with potential in high-quality textiles and traditional clothing.

- Opportunities in fashion and design.

8. Renewable Energy Equipment

- Focused on producing solar panels, wind turbines, and related components to support renewable energy projects.

- Significant growth potential aligned with sustainability goals.

9. Packaging

- Expanding due to growth in food, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce.

- Innovation in sustainable packaging solutions is on the rise.

10. Defense and Aerospace

- Strategic priority with efforts to localize military equipment production.

- Supported by GAMI, focusing on parts manufacturing and maintenance services.

These sectors highlight Saudi Arabia's drive toward economic diversification, with strong government support and strategic investments fostering growth across the manufacturing industry.

#KhalidAlbeshri #خالدالبشري

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from DeSmog Blog:

Environmental groups are teeing up a legal challenge to new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules on pollution from chemical and plastics plants, citing concerns the EPA relied too heavily on lowball industry estimates as it sized up the risks to people’s health posed by ethylene oxide (EtO), chloroprene, and other toxic air pollution.

The EPA just announced the new rules in April, saying they’re intended to “significantly reduce” dangerous pollution from chemical plants and some plastics plants.

But the Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, California Communities Against Toxics, Air Alliance Houston, and others filed suit this week in the federal D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, with attorneys for the groups telling DeSmog they believe the EPA’s rules remain too weak.

“The EPA’s underestimation of the risks posed by chemical facilities puts nearby communities in grave danger,” Earthjustice attorney Deena Tumeh said in a statement announcing the litigation. “By downplaying ethylene oxide emissions, the EPA fails to protect public health adequately.”

When contacted by DeSmog, the EPA declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

Roughly 200 plants, dotted across the country but heavily clustered along the Gulf Coast, are covered by the new rules. Those plants primarily make chemicals and “polymers and resins,” or plastics — and they release dangerous chemicals into the air in the process.

The new rules, years in the making, update Clean Air Act standards on a half dozen pollutants from those plants, including the highly carcinogenic EtO and benzene, chloroprene (used to make the neoprene that’s found in wetsuits), vinyl chloride (which was notoriously burnt off in the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment), a vinyl chloride precursor known as ethylene dichloride, and 1,3 butadiene (used to make synthetic rubber).

The EPA has said its rule “will provide critical health protections to hundreds of thousands of people living near chemical plants.”

The environmental groups’ lawsuit comes shortly after Denka Performance Elastomers asked the D.C. Circuit to block the rules from going into effect in May. Denka, a Japanese company, alleged that the EPA allowed too little time for the company to slash chloroprene emissions from its LaPlace, Louisiana, operations, giving the company just 90 days, while other chemical manufacturers would be allowed two years to curb their emissions. 

Denka’s claims have drawn public support from the state’s governor, Jeff Landry, and Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill, who also filed a D.C. Circuit challenge, citing concerns that the Denka plant could be shut down.

Back in April, DeSmog first reported on concerns that loopholes in the rules, combined with plans from companies like Koch Industries to expand their operations, could mean Louisiana’s Cancer Alley won’t see a decrease in total toxic air pollution.

A July 16, E&E News investigation found that tightened EPA regulations governing hazardous air pollution from oil refineries – a similar set of rules to the ones covering chemical and plastics plants – successfully tamped down dangerous emissions from most of the 130 refineries reviewed. Dozens of other refineries, however – mostly located in communities of color – saw emissions rise. Troy Abel, a Western Washington University professor of environmental policy, faulted “less stringent rules enforcement in some states versus others.”

This week’s legal challenge to the rules for plastics and chemical plants doesn’t specify what criticisms the groups intend to raise before the court.

But attorneys for environmental groups behind the new lawsuit filed July 16 said that while EPA’s rule marks an improvement in many ways, it also contains some dangerous flaws. 

“The basic structure of the rule is good, we just don’t think it runs far enough,” Abel Russ, a senior attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project, told DeSmog.

[astraphel]

The EPA announced three additional carcinogenic chemicals have been detected in the Ohio trail derailment.

Vinyl chloride: a colorless gas that is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics and is highly flammable and decomposes to make toxic fumes. According to the National Library of Medicine, it is also carcinogenic and can cause other health issues.

Butyl acrylate: a clear liquid that is used for making paints, sealants and adhesives. It is flammable and can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation.

Ethylhexyl acrylate: a colorless liquid used to make paints and plastics. It can cause skin and respiratory irritation and, under moderate heat, can produce hazardous vapor.

Ethylene glycol monobutyl: a colorless liquid used as a solvent for paint and inks, as well as some dry cleaning solutions. It is classed as acutely toxic, able to cause serious or permanent injury, and highly flammable. Vapors can irritate the eyes and nose, and ingestion can cause headaches and vomiting.

Vinyl chloride turns into hydrogen chloride when burned (which is what Norfolk did). When hydrogen chloride mixes with water (think the upper atmosphere), it turns into hydrochloric acid. This was the primary chemical in this spill.

The chemicals have, at this point, on February 13th, 2023, reached the Ohio River, which then flows into the Mississippi. Wildlife everywhere in Ohio and Pennsylvania are dying, and people are being told that it's okay to go home.

This tragedy happened because Norfolk Southern Railway has been cutting operation costs to a dangerous level. This is one of the things, in addition to NO SICK LEAVE for rail workers, that was being brought up when the rail unions were threatening to strike before Joe Blow busted it.

The Carmen, who have their own union and are responsible for safety checks, have had their inspection times reduced from the industry standard of three minutes per car to 90 seconds. Going over that time risks termination.

There was another derailment on December 2022 ALSO in East Ohio and ALSO with Norfolk Southern Railway, only that was just candle wax. 7 weeks later and this happens.

[cathkaesque]

There’s a lot of research on banana production out there, especially from this great organisation called Bananalink which supports banana workers’ unions in the UK supply chain. Most the facts here are from these two pages on their website. I just wanted to ground some of the discussion around bananas in the production process, labour and environmental conditions, and who benefits from this process.  The above diagram might not be very clear so I've reproduced the text below:

1. Banana production takes approximately nine months. It starts with the preparation of the soil including the clearing of land, drainage, installation and fertiliser application. Then planting and field work, such as weeding, pest and disease control, and irrigation, take place. Bananas are harvested while still green [you can watch a video of this process here]

2. The harvested bunches are transported to a packing shed where they are divided into smaller market-friendly bunches, inspected, sorted, washed, treated, labelled, and boxed for export. Bananas that do not meet the quality standard are usually sold locally at a much lower price or used for livestock feed.

3. Some bananas are pre-packed into bags according to the specifications of individual retailers. Pre-packing is used to differentiate bananas such as Fairtrade organics or small bananas from the bulk supply of loose bananas. It can be an opportunity for the grower to add value, but it also offers advantages in controlling quality and reducing wastage.

4. Bannas are then transported by truck to ports, placed in sheds, and packed in refrigerated ships or refridgerated containers. Bananas take between six to 12 days to get to the UK/Europe. They are shipped at a controlled temperature of 13.3 centigrade in order to increase their shelf life. Humidity and ventilation are carefully monitored to maintain quality.

5. When the bananas arrive at their destinaation port they are first trucked to warehouses where they can be kept in cool conditions and then ripened - using ethylene - when they are needed for delivery to retailers. Bananas may also be bagged at this stage. They are then delivered to retailers' regional distribution centres before final delivery to individual stores.

The local population eat different varieties of bananas grown primarily by small farmers. The ones for the Americans and the Europeans, Cavendish variety bananas, are grown in huge, monoculture plantations that are susceptible to disease. The banana industry consumes more agrichemicals than any other in the world, asides from cotton. Most plantations will spend more on pesticides than on wages. Pesticides are sprayed by plane, 85% of which does not land on the bananas and instead lands on the homes of workers in the surrounding area and seeps into the groundwater. The results are cancers, stillbirths, and dead rivers.

The supermarkets dominate the banana trade and force the price of bananas down. Plantations resolve this issue by intensifying and degrading working conditions. Banana workers will work for up to 14 hours a day in tropical heat, without overtime pay, for 6 days a week. Their wages will not cover their cost of housing, food, and education for their children. On most plantations independent trade unions are, of course, suppressed. Contracts are insecure, or workers are hired through intermediaries, and troublemakers are not invited back.

Who benefits most from this arrangement? The export value of bananas is worth $8bn - the retail value of these bananas is worth $25bn. Here's a breakdown of who gets what from the sale of banana in the EU.

On average, the banana workers get between 5 and 9% of the total value, while the retailers capture between 36 to 43% of the value. So if you got a bunch of bananas at Tesco (the majority of UK bananas come from Costa Rica) for 95p, 6.65p would go to the banana workers, and 38p would go to Tesco.

Furthermore, when it comes to calculating a country's GDP (the total sum of the value of economic activity going on in a country, which is used to measure how rich or poor a country is, how fast its economy is 'growing' and therefore how valuable their currency is on the world market, how valuable its government bonds, its claim on resources internationally…etc), the worker wages, production, export numbers count towards the country producing the banana, while retail, ripening, tariffs, and shipping & import will count towards the importing country. A country like Costa Rica will participate has to participate in this arrangement as it needs ‘hard’ (i.e. Western) currencies in order to import essential commodities on the world market.

So for the example above of a bunch of Costa Rican bananas sold in a UK supermarket, 20.7p will be added to Costa Rica’s GDP while 74.3p will be added to the UK’s GDP. Therefore, the consumption of a banana in the UK will add more to the UK’s wealth than growing it will to Costa Rica’s. The same holds for Bangladeshi t-shirts, iPhones assembled in China, chocolate made with cocoa from Ghana…it’s the heart of how the capitalism of the ‘developed’ economy functions. Never ending consumption to fuel the appearance of wealth, fuelled by the exploitation of both land and people in the global south.

[tanyaadsad]

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Why Choose FEP Cables?

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Key Advantages of Tanya Enterprises' FEP Cables:

High Temperature Resistance: FEP cables can withstand extreme temperatures without degrading, ensuring long-lasting performance.

Chemical Resistance: FEP cables are resistant to an array of chemicals, which makes them suitable for very harsh industries. Durability: FEP cables are strong and offer excellent moisture, wear and mechanical stress protection. Flexibility: They are flexible, hence easy to install, even in complex or tight spaces. Safety: FEP cables achieve high insulation properties with minimal chances for electrical faults or short circuits.

Applications of FEP Cable FEP cables are widely used in applications requiring reliable and safe wiring, like in electronics, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and industrial machinery, which demand extremely high performance and durability. Tanya Enterprises ensures that its FEP cables are of the highest quality, safe, and reliable for use in all wiring. Use Tanya Enterprises for your FEP cables and get top-level performance anywhere.

visit- https://www.insulatedwires.com/assignment/9/fep-wires-manufacturers-etfe-wires-pfa-wires-insulated-wires-and-cables-manufacturer-supplier Address- Factory 46-Vedvyaspuri industrial Area,Sector-8 Meerut Pin-250103, INDIA