Have you ever met someone who exuded enthusiasm? The really infectious kind that makes you feel enthusiastic in response? About PVC compounds? Stay with me.

I got to talk with Bridget Confait-Smith at Westlake Global Compounds Group in Madison, Mississippi. Bridget leads really interesting research  — figuring out how to make materials that perform better, and are more sustainable.

We shot a short video advertisement with her (see below), and recorded a Q&A about her research and all things PVC, which I put at the top of this week’s reading list below. I hope you enjoy as much as I did!

-Charlie and the AFPM EMPOWER team

Have ideas for content, comments or questions? You can reach us at empower@afpm.org.

What we’re reading this week

Q&A: Making more sustainable plastics - AFPM
We spoke with Westlake’s Associate Director of Research, Innovation, Technology and Global Sustainability, Bridget Confait-Smith, whose passion for this work could make anyone excited about polymers and PVC.

Enabling the EV Market - AFPM
Narratives that pit the refining and petrochemical industries against electric vehicles (EVs) ignore the symbiotic relationship of these industries. If you review the history of EVs, you will see that refining and petrochemical companies have been foundational to the EV market all along and will continue to be far into the future.

Oil prices drop as OPEC+ accelerates output hikes, surplus looms - Reuters
Oil prices fell by more than $1 a barrel on Monday after OPEC+ decided to accelerate its output hikes, causing concerns about more supply coming into a market clouded by an uncertain demand outlook.

The Politics of EVs Have Changed - The Wall Street Journal
The times they are a changin’, especially on progressive climate dogma. On Thursday the House voted in strong bipartisan fashion to overturn the EV mandate the Biden Administration let California impose on the rest of America.

Delaware Gov. Meyer says he will eliminate state’s ‘electric vehicle mandate’ - WHYY
“I’m not a strong believer in government mandates on consumers,” Meyer said during an interview. “The mechanism we take has yet to be determined, but I’m assuring Delawareans that the electric vehicle mandate will not go into effect.”