There was a time when asbestos was commonly used in fiber cement products as a binder that served to strengthen the cement. Hardie Fibrolite was the first major fiber cement product to hit the market, quickly gaining popularity in the 1950s as an alternative to increasingly expensive timber and brick materials. Since then, fiber cement siding, roofing, and other products (like fencing) have become widely used in many parts of the world, with overall demand for fiber cement totaling $10 billion in 2018, according to data from The Freedonia Group.

However, while fiber cement’s worldwide popularity hasn’t diminished, the same can’t be said for asbestos.

Cannabis legalization is blazing across North America – from the 2018 Farm Bill freeing production and trade of industrial hemp in the US, to the 2018 Cannabis Act legalizing recreational marijuana in Canada. Additionally, eleven US states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana, and more are expected to try (or try again) in the months and years ahead.

Mixed in among posts about make-up and slime is a social media stalwart: plants. Social media is providing not only indirect marketing for the $10.7 billion dollar live goods market, but valuable insights on the latest consumer plant trends.

According to a recent report from The Freedonia group, global e-commerce packaging demand is forecast to reach $22.1 billion in 2023, spurred by robust growth in e-commerce sales worldwide.

The Freedonia Group’s series of lawn and garden and outdoor living studies analyze the impact of consumer outdoor living trends on a range of markets. Check out a few of the most promising areas to watch.

In July 2019, Amazon shuttered its online store in China  after failing to make headway with shoppers. The move indicates that the e-commerce titan is recalibrating its strategy in the Asia/Pacific, leaving China to entrenched local leaders Alibaba and JD.com – which together account for the vast majority of e-commerce sales in the country – while pursuing other opportunities in the region.

On Thursday, September 12, 2019, the Trump administration continued its series of environmental regulatory rollbacks with the repeal of the Obama-era Clean Water Rule (also known as the Waters of the United States rule, or WOTUS). How is this expected to impact the water treatment market and adjacent industries?

Windows and doors are an integral part of any home or commercial structure. They enable entry and egress, provide access to light and air, and, in many cases, can improve the exterior appearance of a property. Furthermore, they play a key role in improving a structure's energy efficiency.

Most of the school buses operating in the US and Canada today are diesel, compressed natural gas/liquefied natural gas, or conventional gas-powered types. Recently, however, this has begun to change, with several major manufacturers introducing and promoting new electric and hybrid school bus models.

On May 31, 2018, the US International Trade Commission announced that it had reason to believe the US quartz countertop industry had been materially injured by imported Chinese products being sold at less than fair value.

Following this ruling, a series of tariffs were levied against Chinese quartz slab imports, ranging from 311% to 528%. How is this expected to impact the global countertops market going forward?