AlEn Monitoring
CORPORATE
USA. iServe, the fourth reseller of products on Amazon, is to manage e-commerce sales for Starco Brands including its line of household cleaning products powered by Breathe-Safe technology
Spain. Ercros is launching an investment plan for 2016-2020 with an input of US$ 91.31 Bln. to raise competitiveness, capacity of production and profitability
USA. Method Soap launched a brand campaign, called "There’s Good Inside", to celebrate the environmental and community-related benefits of its LEED-Platinum certified Chicago factory aimed at highlighting the positive things about the brand beyond its products
Argentina. Cleaning products companies, including Unilever and Procter and Gamble, raised prices at retail stores due to increased inflation and devaluation rates
Global. Olin reported a net income of US$195.1 Mln. in 3Q:2018. The company announced a profit of $1.16 per share while earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were 75 cents per share
USA. Clorox Professional Products Company launched the CloroxPro unifying new brand encompassing its industry-leading healthcare and commercial cleaning products
TECHNOLOGY
COMPETITIVE DINAMYC
Oman. Oman Chlorine's Board approved the project to expand production capacity to 25,550 tons per year with an estimated investment of US$16.37 Mln.
Pakistan. Punjab State Industries Development Corporation dismissed plans to disinvest its stake in Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited after the company reported profits after years in 1Q:FY2018 attributed to increasing caustic soda prices
SUSTAINABILITY
Global. SC Johnson announced a series of initiatives to reduce its plastic footprint by boosting recycled plastic content in its packaging, supporting reuse of plastic bottles through concentrated refills, and making Ziploc bags recyclable at curbside as the company aims for a 100% of its plastic packaging to be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025
Indonesia. SC Johnson, in collaboration with Plastic Bank, will open eight blockchain-based plastic recycling centers where citizens will receive cryptocurrency money in exchange of waste
Belgium. Ecover is opening a new store in Antwerp where costumers can throw away plastic bottles in return of money and dishwashers made of recycled plastic. Ecover wants to make people realize that plastic is still valuable after use
Global. Henkel is aiming to create sustainable value for its products, make a responsible use of raw materials and to reduce enviromental impacts by using more recycling materials, saying that costumers are willing to pay more in favor of sustainability
Global. Henkel pledged to use 100% recycled and reusable materials by 2025 and to use 35% of recycled plastic in its articles for Europe
PESC
Germany. Coal exit commission adopted first major policy recommendations for regions affected by a future coal power phase-out including proposals for better transport and internet infrastructure as well as for the establishment of federal agencies in affected regions in order to create jobs
Global. Romania plans to push "price and accessibility" of energy as the guiding principles of its European Union presidency in 2019 favoring nuclear as a low-carbon energy source
Global. Eurozone inflation rose 2.2% in October, moving further from the European Central Bank's target of near to or lower than 2%
UAE. Securities and Commodities Authority is developing guidelines to regulate cryptocurrencies as they announced their recognition of digital tokens as financial products
Egypt. Cairo launched an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on release of US$2.0 Bln. loan installment, the fifth under the country's three-year aid program
Egypt. President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi signed a protocol of economic cooperation worth US$146.47 Mln. with Germany
Philippines. A landslide was triggered by Typhoon Yutu in the northern region of Natonin. So far the incident has caused four deaths and left at least 19 people trapped
Brazil. Jair Bolsonaro won the presidential election with 55.54% of votes for the right-wing Social Liberal Party. Bolsonaro's victory caps ones of the most polarizing and violent political campaigns in country's history, amid a prolonged recession, rising crime rates and widespread corruption scandals
Argentina. IMF increased the standby financing agreement for the country to US$56.3 Bln. toughening previously agreed fiscal measures
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RETAIL
USA. Shopify opened its first physical store in Los Angeles, California designed as a hub for entrepreneurs who want advice on how to get a company off the ground, and presumably convert them into Shopify customers in the process