Mitsubishi Corporation, is pleased to announce that MC, Suntory Holdings Limited and ENEOS Corporation have reached an agreement to build a supply chain for sustainable PET bottles derived from biomass(1) such as used cooking oil applying a mass balance approach(2) to allocate bio-based materials .
The supply chain is as follows, and bio-based feedstock supplied by NESTE Corporation (President: Matti Lehmus, hereinafter “NESTE”) will be used as a raw material to replace fossil naphtha. 1. NESTE will supply bio-based feedstock produced from to replace fossil naphtha. manufactures bio-naphtha from biomass resources such as used cooking oil. Neste uses 100% renewable raw materials such as waste and residue oils and fats, e.g. used cooking oil. 2. ENEOS manufactures bio-paraxylene (PX)(3) derived from bio-naphtha at its Mizushima Refinery (Using the mass balance method in the production of Bio PX) 3. Production of bio-high purity terephthalic acid (PTA)(4) and resin for bio-PET bottles (PET resin) using bio-PX 4. Suntory utilizes the bio-PET resin to produce sustainable PET bottles for its products MC is responsible for the management of the entire supply chain mentioned above.
This is the world’s first(5) production of sustainable PET bottles using bio-PX derived from bio-naphtha on a commercial scale. By the end of 2023, Bio PX equivalent to approximately 35 million PET bottles will be produced, which will be used as a raw material for Suntory’s sustainable PET bottles in 2024.
MC believes the usage of biomass for PET bottles, together with further development of the recycling system, will play an important role in the realization of a low-carbon and decarbonized society as well as in reducing dependency on fossil resources.
For PET bottles, ethylene glycol (MEG), which accounts for about 30% of the main raw material of PET resin used for PET bottles, has been produced from biomass since the past, while the remaining approximately 70% high-purity terephthalic acid (PTA) derived from paraxylene (PX) had not been converted to biomass on a commercial scale.
Through the development of this supply chain, MC will contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions in comparison with conventional petroleum-derived products(6) by introducing PET resin produced from bio-PX.
MC will continue its efforts to convert various fossil fuel-derived plastics to bio-based plastics for the realization of a low-carbon and decarbonized society.
(1) A concept that expresses the quantity (mass) of biological resources (bio), i.e., organic resources (excluding fossil resources such as oil and coal) derived from animals and plants that can be recycled into energy and materials. Specifically, used cooking oil, etc. (2) A process that tracks the amount and sustainability characteristics of biomass and enables allocation of such to a specific portion of the product in proportion to the input of the biomass raw materials, when biomass and non-biomass are mixed within the manufacturing and distribution of products. (3) Paraxylene (PX) is used as a raw material for high-purity terephthalic acid (PTA), a raw material for polyester fibers and PET bottle resin conventionally manufactured from petroleum-derived naphtha. (4) Purified terephthalic acid (PTA), a raw material for PET bottle resin, produced by oxidizing paraxylene (PX). PET bottle resin is produced by reacting PTA with ethylene glycol (MEG). (5) As of July 31, 2023, on a commercial scale basis (according to our research). (6) Based on a joint survey by ENEOS and Wastebox Co., Ltd. Using data from 2021 and information received from the biomass manufacturer.
The Buildings Department approved 20 building plans in April, with six on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.
Of the approved plans, 12 were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, two were for commercial developments, three were for factory and industrial developments, and three were for community services development.
In the same month, consent was given for works to start on 11 building projects which, when completed, will provide 66 918 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 2 326 units, and 63 105 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for 10 building projects.
The department also issued 18 occupation permits, with seven on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.
Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 19 815 sq m involving 416 units, and 7 198 sq m was for non-domestic use.
The declared cost of new buildings completed in April totalled about $1.3 billion.
In addition, eight demolition consents involving eight building structures were issued.
The department received 2 254 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in April and issued 799 removal orders on UBWs.
The full version of the Monthly Digest for April can be viewed on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).
As a part of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s approach of ‘neighbourhood first’ policy, India is building capacities of civil servants of neighbouring countries to meet the emerging challenges in governance and assured public service delivery to improve the quality of life of people.
The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) has entered into an MoU with the Civil Service Commission of Maldives for capacity building of 1,000 Maldives civil servants by 2024. The agreement was signed during the state visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to Male on 8th June 2019. As part of the agreement, NCGG is the nodal institution for designing customized training modules after considering the requirements of the countries and their implementation. So far, more than 550 officers of Maldives Civil Service including the Permanent Secretaries of the Govt of Maldives have been imparted training in India. The 18th capacity building programme started in Delhi from the 5th of December for the Secretary Generals of various atolls councils of Maldives.
Bharat Lal, Director General, NCGG in his inaugural address, emphasized the role of civil servants in improving the quality of life of people and underlined the need to strengthen women’s role in decision-making. He gave examples of various programmes in India wherein the indomitable spirit of women has been tapped to bring transformation. He shared numerous examples of how with opportunities and an enabling environment, women have brought profound changes in the public service delivery and governance, ensuring transparency and quality in works, water, sanitation, public health and waste management in villages.
He urged the Secretary Generals of various councils of atolls to continue focussing on protecting the environment, improving sanitation and carrying out waste management in a big way, saving energy and promoting circular economy. He said that Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘LIFE – Lifestyle for Environment’ is the way forward. Highlighting that in a true sense this is a reorientation and sensitization programme, he also urged the participants that in next one week, in the context of new learnings and exposure in India, they should think about how to further improve and bring change in administration of atolls to tackle emerging challenges.
The training module includes lessons from various initiatives taken in India such as e-governance, digital India, CPGRAMS, approach to sustainable development goals, public health initiatives, water security on islands among other important areas. It also includes exposure visits to prominent places like the Pradhan Mantri Sanghralaya, the office of UIDAI, the Parliament, etc. where participants will see the best practices in e-governance.
The inaugural session commenced with a briefing on the structure of the capacity building programme by Prof. Poonam Singh, the Nodal officer (training) and the ways to emulate the learnings. In addition to the civil servants of Maldives, the programme was also attended by other senior officials of the NCGG.
The Labour Department (LD) is holding the Building a Multicultural Workplace Job Fair at Southorn Stadium today and tomorrow (November 24 and 25) to enhance employment opportunities for job seekers, including those from ethnic minorities (EM). More than 50 participating organisations and training bodies will participate in the job fair.
The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, together with representatives from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong Ethnic Minorities Service Centre and local ethnic minority leaders, attended the kick-off ceremony of the job fair this morning to express their support to build an inclusive workplace.
Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, Mr Ho said the Policy Address delivered last month clearly pointed out that the Government will further enhance the support for EM, including recruiting more EM members for appointment as Employment Assistants in the LD. He noted that the job fair for EM job seekers is a dedicated measure by the Government to facilitate their employment and integration into the community. He appealed to all sectors of the community to provide more employment opportunities for EM and make a concerted effort to build a caring and inclusive city.
The job fair offers around 3 400 vacancies spanning a wide variety of positions, including telesales representatives, room attendants, surveillance assistants, laboratory technicians, receptionists, shop assistants, theme park attendants, aero engine repair trainees, security guards, bus captains, storekeepers, technicians, bartenders, cooks, waiters/waitresses and packers. Job seekers of different cultural backgrounds are welcome to apply. For more information on these vacancies, job seekers may visit the LD’s Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk).
The LD launched the Racial Diversity Employment Programme (RDEP) in 2020 to provide one-stop employment services for EM job seekers on a case management approach. The LD will regularise the RDEP and also recruit more EM members as Employment Assistants and General Assistants starting from the first half of 2023 to enhance their employment opportunities.
The Buildings Department approved 23 building plans in September, with nine on Hong Kong Island, eight in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.
Of the approved plans, 14 were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial developments, three were for factory and industrial developments, and two were for community services developments.
In the same month, consent was given for works to start on six building projects which, when completed, will provide 70 486 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 791 units, and 4 126 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for five building projects.
The department also issued 30 occupation permits, with five on Hong Kong Island, 12 in Kowloon and 13 in the New Territories.
Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 189 023 sq m involving 3 453 units, and 244 256 sq m was for non-domestic use.
The declared cost of new buildings completed in September totalled about $48.8 billion.
In addition, six demolition consents involving six building structures were issued.
The department received 2 859 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in September and issued 2 062 removal orders on UBWs.
The full version of the Monthly Digest for September can be viewed on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).
