UP FRONT 01
EDITOR’S LETTER
This is the time of year I like the best. It’s not the impending
‘sustainability’ and the ‘circular economy’ have been on the
over-consumerised glut-fest of Christmas, nor the early nights
lips of almost all speakers (well, outside the US at least).
and a roaring fire that do it for me, though. No, what I look
The European Petrochemical Association (EPCA), during its
forward to is receiving the December issue of HCB back
Annual Meeting, went so far as to consider whether the
from the printers and being able to close the book on
fourth industrial revolution – aka ‘Industry 4.0’ or simply the
another year.
‘digital revolution’ – has a part to play in helping industry to
And it has been quite a year. Not only has it been HCB’s 40th
meet those sustainability goals. For those who want to know
year of continuous publication, but also a year of massive
more – and our report on the EPCA Annual Meeting begins
uncertainty and volatility, both political and economic. Businesses
in this issue on page 7 – the answer is: “the jury is out”.
in industrial sectors all around the world have had to find ways
One of the most important tools if the world is to improve
to meet that volatility head-on, although many executives have
its performance in terms of sustainability will be the drive to
mentioned the financial ‘headwinds’ they have faced as a result
decarbonise human activity. And in a world that is wedded to
of that strategy.
affordable, hydrocarbon-based energy forms (and in my book
This has also been the year when the growing calls for action
that includes biofuels just as much as fossil fuels) that
on climate change and the despoilation of the natural
suggests there are some massive changes in human
environment have become a clamour. The public outcry when it
behaviour just around the corner.
was made clear just how badly the world’s oceans have been
The need to move away from hydrocarbon fuels is, of
– and continue to be – polluted with plastics waste and other
course, a major concern for those who make a living out of
detritus arising from human activity has made it impossible
producing, manufacturing and supplying those fuels; and
for governments and supra-national bodies to stand idly by.
many of those who will be affected are (or should be) HCB
Some attitudes that formerly were widely regarded as being the
readers. We will, therefore, continue to keep an eye on what
reserve of extremist tree-huggers have become mainstream.
is happening in this area and report back, as we have done
The UN and EU have set out deadlines for action and targets for improving the sustainability of economic activity and, with the notable exception of the US, the world seems to be coming
this month, with a number of articles helpfully corralled in the ‘Sustainability’ section. One thing is clear: ‘business as usual’ is over, and the
round to the idea that we cannot carry on the way we have been
future will be very different - although in what way is
doing ever since the first industrial revolution.
impossible to tell. When it comes to volatility, you ain’t seen
That much has been apparent from nearly all the industry conferences we have attended this year, where ideas such as
nothing yet. Peter Mackay
WWW.HCBLIVE.COM
