Analyst Insight: Companies competing in the chemical and energy industries continue to place a high priority on sustainability and environmental responsibility. The high visibility of these factors in today's society certainly helps make the case for sustainability and environmental responsibility in terms of maintaining a positive brand image. However, leading firms are also recognizing that efforts to drive sustainability and protect the environment are also helping to deliver additional value beyond brand image. - John Santagate, Research Manager, IDC

The Specialty Chemicals Market Volume Index, a tool created by the American Chemistry Council, fell in January, dropping 0.5 percent on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis after a 0.1 percent decline in December.

Are consumers really willing to pay more for a product that's environmentally sustainable and socially responsible? Depends on whom you ask.

Insider lingo calls them post-consumer non-bottle rigid plastics. A bit of a mouthful. Average folks call them tubs and caps and lids and cups and the like.