WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF CHEMICALS, SPEAKERS AND FUTURIST CONSULTANTS ASK

Things are rapidly changing note top future of chemicals speakers, who anticipate big shifts in industrial products in the months to come. We asked top names in the field to offer up an idea of what’s coming next.

Shift Towards Renewable Raw Materials
Future of chemicals speakers can’t help but touch on the growing industry shift from reliance on fossil fuel-based feedstocks to renewable raw materials like bio-based chemicals from agricultural waste, gases fermented from sustainably sourced biomass, and plant oils. More manufacturers will create sustainable chemicals/plastics amid environmental concerns.

Explosion of Bioplastics Usage
Bio-based, biodegradable plastics created from biological sources rather than oil and gas will experience a major boom. Consultants detail how plant-based bioplastics align with corporate sustainability goals, environmental regulations, and consumer demand. Manufacturers will increasingly integrate bioplastics like PHA into packaging, textiles, automotive components and consumer goods.

Advanced Recycling Technologies Go Mainstream
Chemical recycling technologies that convert hard-to-recycle plastics into raw materials for making new chemicals and polymers will likely scale up. Future of chemicals speakers are sure to discuss how advanced recycling via chemical depolymerization, pyrolysis, and other innovations could revolutionize waste reduction and circular production methods.

Digitalization and Process Optimization
To enhance R&D productivity, operational efficiency, cost savings and data insights across the chemical product lifecycle, increased digitalization and next-gen process optimization will develop. Presumed predictions point towards investments in simulation software, IoT sensors, industrial AI, machine learning algorithms, augmented manufacturing platforms and more integrated IT infrastructure.

Increasing Personalization and Customization
And of course futurists are set to explain how product customization, flexibility in production quantities and specialty chemicals tailored to individual customer specifications will emerge as a major trend. Advances in modular, decentralized manufacturing and precision blending could allow increased personalization and on-demand output.