Talks to reach a global treaty on plastic waste ended on Friday without an agreement, despite three years of negotiations and an all-night session that went beyond the Aug. 14 deadline. "Plastics are fundamental for modern life - they go in everything," said Ross Eisenberg of the American Chemistry Council. "Focusing on ending plastic pollution should be the priority here, not ending plastic production." Even though a deal was not reached, manufacturers remain "committed to supporting a treaty that keeps plastics in the economy and out of the environment by advancing a circular economy," said Marco Mensink of the International Council of Chemical Associations.

The Trump administration has proposed nearly $1 billion in funding to accelerate the development of US critical minerals and materials in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign sources, particularly China. The Energy Department plans to allocate up to $500 million for processing and manufacturing, $135 million for rare earth element supply chains, and $250 million for mineral byproducts from industrial processes.

A federal appeals court has ruled that only the Government Accountability Office can sue over President Trump's decision to withhold congressionally approved funds, handing the White House a significant legal victory. The decision overturns a lower court order to release frozen foreign aid and strips cities, states, and nonprofits of standing to challenge similar funding freezes.

US wholesale prices increased 0.9% in July and 3.3% year over year, according to the Labor Department. The month-to-month gain in the producer price index was the largest in over three years, while the annual rise in prices was the highest since February. Core PPI, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, also increased by 0.9% last month. Price hikes were driven by a 1.1% rise in services and a 3.8% increase in machinery and equipment wholesaling. The soaring PPI signals that inflationary pressures are building as companies pass higher costs, partly related to tariffs, along the supply chain.

Texas A&M researchers have unveiled Aromatic Thermosetting Copolyester, an advanced smart plastic that is ultra-durable, recyclable and capable of self-healing and reshaping. ATSP uses bond-exchange chemistry to enable shape recovery and damage repair, even after multiple stress and heat cycles. As part of the vitrimer family, it combines the flexibility of thermoplastics with the strength and stability of thermosets. When reinforced with carbon fibers, ATSP becomes much stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum, offering potential for use in aerospace, automotive and defense markets.

Instead of focusing on specific types of disasters, companies should use all-hazards planning for supply chain disaster preparedness to create a consistent approach that prioritizes business continuity regardless of the event, writes Kathy Fulton, the executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network. Combine this strategy with risk-informed planning where appropriate to ensure disaster response plans are both broad and tailored to likely threats, Fulton notes.

Managers should encourage all employees to pursue development, even the ones who decline opportunities because they're content with their roles, writes Julie Winkle Giulioni, a leadership speaker and author. "Leaders must also engage the quietly content, the cautiously hesitant and even the seemingly unmotivated," Winkle Guilioni writes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing for the risk management phase of its formaldehyde regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The final risk evaluation for formaldehyde that EPA is relying on unjustifiably puts many critical industries in jeopardy that rely on this essential building block chemistry. Read more.