Sustainability

  • A worker dismantles an electric vehicle battery for recycling.
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    Courtesy of Toyota Motor Corp
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    Lithium-ion battery recyclers see challenges, opportunities under Trump

    While the administration has moved to strip electric vehicle incentives and cancel some grants, it’s still focused on lithium’s value as a critical mineral for manufacturers.

    By April Reese • Aug. 18, 2025
  • Aerial view of the Li-Cycle facilities in Rochester, New York.
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    Courtesy of Li-Cycle
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    Glencore completes takeover of Li-Cycle battery recycling assets

    Li-Cycle filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and was down to a skeleton staff in North America. European commodities firm Glencore submitted a bid of approximately $40 million to acquire the assets.

    By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 8, 2025
  • A white room full of pipes and water purification equipment
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    Permission granted by Gradiant
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    Semiconductor industry faces water, sustainability challenges

    The boom in chip manufacturing has also increased demand for ultrapure water. Fabrication plant operators are investing in ways to mitigate water usage, but are still reclaiming a small percentage of it in their operations.

    By Michelle No • Aug. 5, 2025
  • Stacks of black plastic food containers being packaged
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    sergeyryzhov via Getty Images
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    Policy shifts keep chemical footprint efforts in pendulum swing

    Following pushes to reduce certain chemicals in packaging and Trump administration changes, industry and advocates ponder what’s next. Limitations remain, including around high-performance materials.

    By April Reese • Aug. 4, 2025
  • President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the US Steel-Irvin Works on May 30, 2025 in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
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    Jeff Swensen via Getty Images
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    Advances in ‘green steel’ production could stall under the Trump administration

    Federal efforts to lower emissions in steel manufacturing, the world’s largest industrial carbon emitter, are now in question. Cleveland-Cliffs recently confirmed plans to drop a hydrogen furnace project in Ohio.

    By Austyn Gaffney • Aug. 4, 2025
  • An exterior view of the Redwood Materials corporate office and Tahoe Campus in Storey, County, Nevada.
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    Courtesy of Redwood Materials
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    GM, Redwood Materials sign deal to deploy energy-storage batteries

    The deal will accelerate the setup of building stationary energy storage systems using both new modules and second-life batteries from General Motors’ electric vehicles.

    By • July 25, 2025
  • An outdoor chemical facility with a white smoke emitting from one of the units.
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    Courtesy of BASF
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    Trump approves emissions exemptions for some chemical, taconite iron ore facilities

    Dow, BASF, U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs are some of the companies that received two-year delays from complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s air pollutants regulations.

    By • July 23, 2025
  • A large white building and a white hangar next to it
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    Courtesy of Joby Aviation
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    Joby scales up manufacturing in California, Ohio

    The electric air taxi maker recently closed a $250 million tranche of investment from automaker Toyota.

    By • July 21, 2025
  • An MP Materials rare earth magnet plant
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    Courtesy of Apple
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    Apple, MP Materials sign $500M magnet supply deal

    The two companies will build a series of manufacturing lines specifically designed for the electronics giant’s products at MP’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

    By Antone Gonsalves • July 15, 2025
  • An arm reaches out of a gray car to collect a bag of food while an employee with blue gloves hands off the bag.
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    NewSaetiew via Getty Images
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    Packaging suppliers respond to QSR diners hungry for a better experience

    Manufacturers are working with their restaurant customers to improve takeout, as well as sustainability opportunities for food service ware.

    By Shefali Kapadia • July 9, 2025
  • Two people in white lab coats work in Braskem's Renewable Innovation Center in Lexington, Massachusetts
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    Permission granted by Braskem
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    Inside Braskem’s push to scale biopolymer production for packaging and more

    The Brazilian chemical company’s recently opened $20 million research facility in Massachusetts is part of the company’s broader network of R&D sites and interest in alternatives to fossil-based plastics.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • A plane looking like a silver bullet in the sky with the words "Phantom 3500" on it's rudder.
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    Courtesy of Otto Aviation
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    Otto Aviation to establish $430M manufacturing plant in Florida

    The aerospace startup plans to build its Phantom 3500, a fuel-efficient new jet, at the Cecil Airport in Jacksonville.

    By • June 18, 2025
  • Aerial view of an industrial facility near trees and a waterway.
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    Courtesy of Green Bay Packaging
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    Green Bay Packaging to invest $1B in Arkansas paper mill

    The multiyear kraft linerboard project in central Arkansas involves purchasing 300 acres of land for potential future expansion.

    By Katie Pyzyk • June 6, 2025
  • Statues of a person and a dog facing a gray and red factory.
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    Courtesy of Mars
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    Mars opens $450M Ohio facility

    The Royal Canin dry pet food plant is part of the Snicker maker’s $6 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing over the past five years.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • A glass building with palm trees, sidewalks and green grass in front of it.
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    Courtesy of Carrier Global Corp.
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    Carrier to spend $1B on US manufacturing

    The investment will create 4,000 jobs in production, research, development and field services over the next five years.

    By • May 19, 2025
  • Pepsi and Walmart are collaborating on a $120M investment in regenerative agriculture.
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Why HowGood thinks food industry climate goals will withstand Trump rollback

    The emissions tracking platform company said businesses are still looking for new ESG tools, even as regulatory pressures shift.

    By Chris Casey • May 7, 2025
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    (Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images) via Getty Images
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    TSMC looks to reach net-zero emissions by 2050

    The chipmaker is pushing to reach peak emissions this year as part of its sustainability pledge. 

    By • April 28, 2025
  • A visual rendering of Kore Power's battery cell facility in Buckeye, Arizona.
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    Courtesy of Kore Power, Inc.
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    Clean energy manufacturers cancel projects as Trump-era policies take hold

    Companies canceled, closed or downsized nearly $8 billion in projects in Q1.

    By • April 23, 2025
  • donald trump signs an executive order at his desk
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Trump administration ordered to resume IRA funding

    A federal judge’s decision, which stated agencies lacked authority to pause funding, follows the president’s executive order to freeze the money on his first day in office. 

    By • April 16, 2025
  • Four people in four boxes.
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    Sara Samora/Manufacturing Dive, data from Screenshot of the virtual event panel
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    Food manufacturers leverage AI for innovation

    Conagra and others are using artificial intelligence to sift through behavioral data to find emerging consumer trends, experts said during a recent virtual event.

    By • April 11, 2025
  • The American Battery Technology Company facility in McCarran, Nevada, with a parking lot at the front, and a road next to the facility under the sun. Snow-covered mountains are in the background.
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    Courtesy of American Battery Technology Company.

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    American Battery reports production milestone, land sale

    American Battery said it has reached key recycling milestones and plans to sell 12 acres of property for $6.75 million to help fund the next phase of producing battery-grade critical minerals. 

    By Megan Quinn • April 7, 2025
  • A light-duty Isuzu truck with Elf EV on the cargo.
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    Courtesy of Isuzu Motors Limited
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    Redwood Materials, Isuzu to collaborate on recycled EV batteries

    The partnership builds on the auto manufacturer’s plans to localize its supply chain in North America.

    By • April 2, 2025
  • A large black and orange Mission Solar Energy logo on a building.
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    Courtesy of Mission Solar Energy
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    OCI Holdings plans $235M solar plant expansion in San Antonio

    The company's subsidiary, Mission Solar Energy, is planning to make the new facility eligible for manufacturing tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act.

    By • March 26, 2025
  • Two people with protective eye glasses and gloves working on a solar panel in a factory.
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    Authentic Images via Getty Images
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    Trump repeals Biden-era clean energy manufacturing orders

    The move cuts funding for electric heat pump manufacturing, as well as solar production and biomanufacturing research and development.

    By • March 25, 2025
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sign on a tan building and glass double-doors on the right side.
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    Sara Samora/Manufacturing Dive
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    EPA deregulation efforts could take months or years, experts say

    The federal agency will have to undergo a rigorous process to modify or dismantle the rules as well as potentially face a legal battle.

    By • March 24, 2025