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New York Times
12-03-2025
- General
- New York Times
The Artifacts of New York's Pandemic Era
The vintage aura of Sevilla Restaurant — the servers in bow ties, the leather booths, the glow of lanterns — reflects a bygone era of the West Village in Manhattan, where the establishment was founded almost a century ago. But alongside those period details, there is one dissonant design element that evokes a far more recent moment in time: clear plastic screens dividing the restaurant's rear tables. 'The partitions came up during the pandemic,' said Miguel Lloves, 47, whose family took over the business in the 1960s. 'I did ask my dad if we'd want to take them down. He didn't let me. Somehow, in his mind, he thinks it's going to come back.' Scan your eyes around New York City, and you'll spot them everywhere, these artifacts of the pandemic, lingering through intent or indifference. These remnants of that anxious time now serve as some of the only public reminders of those deadly years. Weathered signs mandating mask use, QR codes posted around restaurant tabletops, faded social distancing stickers plastered on the ground — taken together, they form an urban fossil record of a place that has otherwise largely moved on. 'Forget removing the gum on the sidewalk,' said Patrick Willingham, the executive director of the Public Theater in Manhattan. 'The stickers are permanent. They'll never get them off the ground.' Take a walk through the Queens neighborhoods surrounding Elmhurst Hospital — the epicenter of the city's pandemic response — where a 'Stop the Spread' sign still hangs prominently near the entrance of the emergency room. At Hector Escobar Hair Studio, a salon nearby on 37th Avenue, a 'Certificate of Disinfection' is centrally displayed on the door. To the south, at Fay Da, a Chinese bakery on Broadway, an 'Affirmation of Compliance With Workplace Vaccination Requirements' is posted on the storefront glass. And at Khao Kang, a Thai restaurant on Woodside Avenue, plump bottles of Purell rest on each of the six dining tables inside. 'I think it's a good reminder for people,' said Joe Secanky, a nurse from Milwaukee, who pumped sanitizer onto his hands one recent afternoon before sharing a fiery spread of food with his wife, Edna. Like the bottles of sanitizer, certain remnants of the pandemic have maintained some utility in the present day. Mighty Oak Roasters, in Astoria, Queens, is one of many businesses around the city that has continued to operate a sidewalk window for takeout orders. 'It's great for people with dogs or strollers and people who ride their bikes,' said Peter Moses, a co-founder of the coffee shop, which keeps a small sign out front telling customers that masks are still appreciated. (At least one staffer, Mr. Moses said, is immunocompromised.) New Yorkers can also unearth traces of the pandemic in their homes. Alongside the typical detritus — stacks of Covid tests, boxes of gloves, Pelotons — are often things imbued with more meaning. Mr. Moses, for example, has kept a half-used bottle of hand sanitizer from his friends' wedding in 2021 on a living room shelf. Its label has a timely message: 'Share love, not germs.' He thought it was an object worth remembering. Likewise, some New Yorkers have tried to turn the vestiges of Covid into something beautiful. Those ordering from the bar these days at Night of Joy, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, face a decorative latticework spanning the length of the counter. During the height of the pandemic, the structure had a huge plastic sheet stretched across it. 'I agonized for weeks back then about how to make the most beautiful sneeze guard I could,' said Jen Armstrong, the owner of the bar. With the help of a local artist, Alexander Barton, she realized her vision, purchasing gardening trellises made of willow from Home Depot and painting them gold. As the worst of the pandemic wound down, Ms. Armstrong removed the plastic sheets, but kept the barriers. She realized they had become a part of her bar's aesthetic and a conversation starter. She had received compliments from customers. And though the trellises have worn down over the years — 'Drunk people like to touch fragile things,' she said — she would now rather renovate or replace them than remove them altogether. 'It became a happy accident,' she said. 'I'm proud of myself for taking such a horrible object and making it into something that, you know, means something else.' The most visible traces of the pandemic across the city, though, may be the masks that still dangle from some peoples' faces. The days of mandates and widespread usage are, of course, long over. A sign that remains posted near the entrance of the subway at 40th Street and Broadway in Manhattan — 'Face coverings are required' — goes entirely ignored by the throngs of riders who pass by each day. And yet it has remained relatively common to see a few people wearing masks in a crowded train car or indoor space — a practice that was basically nonexistent in the city before the pandemic, aside from the occasional tourist. A number of the city's performance spaces — including the Public Theater, where Mr. Willingham is the executive director — have even continued to offer occasional shows where masks are required. And when they are not, Mr. Willingham said, there are still always some mask users in the audience. 'It's become part of the landscape,' he said. They've become a subtle part of the landscape, too, at Sevilla Restaurant. Since the end of the pandemic, the restaurant's in-house guitar player, a musician in his 70s, has continued wearing his mask while singing songs around the dining room. He does it for his safety, Mr. Lloves said, but it has caused occasional displeasure among certain outspoken guests. 'He's a constant reminder, and some people don't like that,' Mr. Lloves said. 'I think it disturbs them. They almost don't want to be reminded. They'd rather not think about it.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Polypropylene Market to Reach USD 139.15 Billion by 2032
Rising demand for lightweight, durable materials in automotive & packaging, coupled with advancements in recycling & bio-based PP, drives the polypropylene market. Austin, Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The SNS Insider report indicates that, 'The Polypropylene Market Size was valued at 85.40 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 139.15 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.57% over the forecast period of 2024-2032.' Polypropylene (PP) is in high demand in various end-use sectors such as packaging, automotive, and construction, due to its lightweight, durability, and recyclability. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, polymer recycling rates rose 12% in 2023, with polypropylene leading the charge. In yet another sustainability-oriented development, in April 2023, LyondellBasell revealed further expansion of its PP recycling capabilities. The automotive sector is also driving growth with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) stating that lightweight materials like PP are progressively replacing metal components, thereby enhancing fuel efficiency. The application of the food-grade PP resins was also broadened in 2022, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new ones for use. The industry is shifting and is ready to grow due to innovations in bio-based PP and rising investments in sustainable plastic solutions. In 2023, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported that PP production in China grew 15% year on year, elevating the country to a pivotal position. Also, ExxonMobil's 2024 update to our advanced PP catalyst technology will improve production efficiency and ensure the growth of the PDF Sample of Polypropylene Market @ Key Players: LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. (Purell, Moplen) SABIC (Eltex, Vestolen) ExxonMobil Corporation (Achieve, Exxtral) Borealis AG (Borclear, Bormed) Braskem (I'm Green, Inspire) TotalEnergies (Lumicene, TotalE) Reliance Industries Limited (Repol, Relene) INEOS Group (Eltex, Repsol) Formosa Plastics Corporation (Formolene, Homopolymer PP) Sinopec (Yansab PP, SECCO) LG Chem (LUPOY, Lupolen) Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Beaulon, TPX) Sumitomo Chemical (Tafmer, TPV) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Proppylene, Marlex) China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC PP, PetroChina PP) Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (Haldia PP, Raffia) Hyosung Corporation (Hyosung PP, Topilene) Braskem Idesa (Green PE, Polipropileno) Chevron Phillips Chemical (Marlex, K-Resin) Repsol (Repol, Impact PP) Polypropylene Market Report Scope: Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 USD 85.40 Billion Market Size by 2032 USD 139.15 Billion CAGR CAGR of 5.57% From 2024 to 2032 Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024-2032 Historical Data 2020-2022 Report Scope & Coverage Market Size, Segments Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Regional Analysis, DROC & SWOT Analysis, Forecast Outlook Key Segments • By Type (Homopolymer, Copolymer)• By End Use (Automotive, Building & Construction, Packaging, Medical, Electrical & Electronics, Others) Key Drivers • Growing demand from the packaging industry fuels market growth, which drives the market growth. If You Need Any Customization on Polypropylene Market Report, Inquire Now @ By Product, Copolymer dominated the Polypropylene market in 2023, accounting for approximately 65%. Copolymer polypropylene offers greater impact resistance and flexibility than homopolymers, and its dominance is because of its suitability in applications that demand better toughness properties. By way of example, in the automobile sector, copolymer PP is most commonly used to fabricate parts like bumpers and interior trims that provide high impact strength. In the packaging sector likewise, its strength makes it the best material for the manufacture of containers and packaging films that would be resistant to rough handling and stresses during transportation. By End-Use, Packaging segment dominated the Polypropylene in 2023, holding a 32% market share. The properties of lightweight, moisture resistance and versatility of polypropylene make it an essential material in the field of packaging. Polypropylene is widely used in the food and beverage industry for packaging owing to its capability of maintaining product freshness and increasing shelf life. In addition, the increasing preference toward online shopping has driven the market requirement for robust packaging raw materials such as polypropylene for protective packaging solutions. Leading companies such as Amcor have developed new polypropylene packaging to meet demand, which indicates the importance of this material within the industry. Asia Pacific dominated the global Polypropylene market in 2023, holding a 46 % market share. The region's growth is fueled by China and India's growing manufacturing base, rising urbanization and rapid industrialization. China's polypropylene output increased by 15% in 2023, according to the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. Moreover, the packaging industry in India is growing at an unprecedented rate, with demand for PP-based materials up by 10%, according to the Packaging Industry Association of India. Also, increase adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the region majorly fuelled the growth of the automotive lightweight PP components market. North America emerged as the fastest-growing market region, with a significant CAGR in the forecast period. The region's dominance is driven by growing adoption of polypropylene in sustainable packaging and medical applications. In 2023, several polypropylene-based medical devices were approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which in turn is fueling the material in the healthcare sector. Moreover, more recent investments in recycling have focused on securing the circular economy for polypropylene in North America, and a good example of this is the new polypropylene purification process from PureCycle Technologies, which started operation in 2024. Recent Highlights February 2025: Genpak unveils the 'Grab-A-Bowl,' a new line of microwave-safe, recyclable polypropylene bowls in response to growing consumer interest in convenient, sustainable packaging. August 2024: Lummus Technology was awarded a contract from Petronet LNG to provide its Novolen polyurethane technology to a new 500 KTA plant in Dahej, India. This megaproject is expected to ramp up domestic polypropylene production to support India's packaging and consumer goods industries. November 2024: W. R. Grace & Co. reported the successful startup of Nayara Energy's 450 KTA polypropylene plant located in Vadinar, Gujarat, India. The facility is designed to manufacture a number of polypropylene grades for use in the pharmaceutical, health and hygiene fields using Grace's UNIPOL PP process technology. Table of Contents – Major Key Points 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis 5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting 6. Competitive Landscape 7. Polypropylene Market Segmentation, by Type 8. Polypropylene Market Segmentation, by End-Use Industry 9. Regional Analysis 10. Company Profiles 11. Use Cases and Best Practices 12. ConclusionBuy Full Research Report on Polypropylene Market 2024-2032 @ Buying Options 5 Reports Pack (USD 7500) 10 Report Pack (USD 12000) Vertical Subscription (150 Reports Pack Valid for 1 Year) Use this link to Purchase above packs @ [For more information or need any customization research mail us at info@ About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. CONTACT: Jagney Dave - Vice President of Client Engagement Phone: +1-315 636 4242 (US) | +44- 20 3290 5010 (UK)Sign in to access your portfolio
