Global trends toward energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and customization of personal devices are driving the future of the global silicones demand as these materials find a place in new markets and unconventional applications. Nevertheless, traditional markets still account for a large share of silicones use worldwide.
June 20, 2017Hydrocolloids are used in a wide variety of applications in the food and beverage industry, primarily as thickening or gelling agents. But many new applications for hydrocolloids are still being developed, including one that could alleviate the environmental impact of single-use bottle packaging.
May 18, 2017If there’s one thing that DIY wood coaters value above all else, it’s simplicity. For this reason, products that combine two functions, like stain-and-sealer and self-priming paints, will gain further popularity. Find out how these trends will influence the wood coating market in the US.
April 14, 2017Several major pesticide adjuvant producers are using technological innovations to make their products more environmentally friendly. Find out about innovations at Huntsman, Clariant International, and Croda International.
April 5, 2017As competitors in the architectural paint market lost ground during the Great Recession, Valspar boldly revamped its branding, making it one of the most popular DIY paint brands in just a few years. However, sinking sales in 2015 and 2016 led market leader Sherwin-Williams to acquire the company. A Freedonia analyst explains what this means for the overall market.
March 1, 2017In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized the new Nutrition Facts label, including specific information on “added sugars.” In response to this change, as well as growing consumer concern, food and beverage producers have instituted sweeping programs to reduce sugar in their products, with rippling impacts in the alternative sweetener industry.
February 27, 2017Weak demand for bromine-based flame retardants is generating new merger and acquisition activity. Concerns about the environmental risk associated with bromide flame retardant compounds have triggered regulatory and consumer backlash, while the ever-shrinking size of consumer electronics -- the leading outlet for brominated retardants -- limits volume demand growth. What do these shifts mean for the market?
February 21, 2017Although biopesticides account for just a fraction of the massive agricultural pesticide market, human health and environmental protection interests have boosted their use and encouraged new product innovations. Learn more about why biopesticides are used and how several new products fit into the overall market.
February 9, 2017The API’s gasoline engine oil specifications are created through an immense collaborative process between automakers and lubricant manufacturers. A new update of the standards was recently pushed back from 2017 to 2019. Learn about the update approval process, the goals for the new standards, and what this means for the synthetic lubricants market.
January 30, 2017The much maligned and scrutinized antimicrobial, triclosan, may soon be off the market. However, the chemical’s disappearance has been slow and has left the wary consumer skeptical that regulatory changes on a federal level would ever happen.
January 26, 2017