Harnessing a Digitally-Optimized Business Model with Austin Nichols of ChemPoint - Ep 176

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Ep 179 Show Notes  Geopolitical shifts, economic challenges, and sustainability goals are reshaping the global chemical industry. John Richardson, senior consultant at ICIS, joins host Victoria Meyer to delve into the market's uncertainties and logistical issues affecting Europe, the repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war, and the potential of developing markets like India and Africa. John sheds light on critical issues such as the demand-supply imbalance for commodity chemicals, Europe's struggle with high energy costs, and China's evolving role from a dominant importer to a potential major exporter of synthetic resins. Victoria and John also explore the wider scope of sustainability within the chemical industry, examining Europe's pursuit of a circular economy amidst complex regulatory landscapes and fluctuating geopolitical risks. They discuss the impact of demographic changes on consumer behavior, and the shifting focus towards eco-friendly products. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of the forces shaping the chemical market's future, from rising sustainability efforts to adapting strategic decisions in a dynamically changing global landscape. Join us to gain insights on the following topics this week: Chemical markets in the 2nd half of 2024 and leading into 2025 Overcapacity and supply-demand imbalance China's economic slowdown and demographic changes have significantly impacted global chemical demand. The rising middle class in developing countries, including China, India, and others, has driven increased demand for chemicals and plastics Geopolitical tensions have disrupted supply chains, increased energy costs, and created uncertainty in the market Circularity struggles - infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, and feedstock availability 10 interconnected forces shaping the new global chemical landscape Big commodity chemicals winners and losers "China's historical impact on global polymer demand is profound, but with the shifting sands of demographics and geopolitics, the future may see other developing countries rising, albeit not at the breakneck pace we've witnessed. The global chemical industry must pivot and adapt to these emerging complexities and opportunities." – John Richardson ***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Ep 178 Show Notes - How Collaboration, Customers, and Community Contribute to Sustainability Uncover the impactful stories behind the winners of American Chemistry Council’s 2024 Sustainability Leadership Awards, as host Victoria Meyer dives into projects from Celanese, PPG, and DuPont. Kevin Norfleet from Celanese shares insights on their Carbon Capture and Utilization Project, a breakthrough in emissions reduction that won them the Circularity Award. Meanwhile, Garry Grant from PPG discusses their climate-friendly innovations in automotive coatings, a project that earned the Climate Award. Mary Reinthal from DuPont highlights their Clear Into the Future grant program, showcasing how DuPont is fostering community engagement and social responsibility across the globe. From land restoration in Michigan to urban forestry in Seoul, their initiatives reflect a deep commitment to societal and environmental betterment.   Join us to gain insights on the following topics this week: The why behind Celanese's CCU project, winner of ACC's Circularity Award Fitting into the circular space with CO2 circularity How PPG is reducing the energy intensity in the automotive paint shop with their new paint line, winning ACC's Climate award Opportunities to reduce power usage and CO2 production by taking it a different approach to paints and coatings and adhesives that go into automotive processes. Dupont's Clear into the Future project funding nonprofit organizations to work on sustainable development initiatives in the communities, winner of ACC's Social Responsibility and Community Engagement Award Creating community and local connection as employees of a Global company  Killer Quote: “There is an inherent circularity that exists within the chemical industry. If you just look at your business and your processes, you'll find that there's a lot of circularity because of efficiency, because we want to save money and save costs, and then save the environment." - Victoria Meyer, Host of The Chemical Show  Additional Links: ACC’s 2024 Sustainability Leadership Awards Episode Part 1: Driving Innovation in Recycling: Inside ACC’s Sustainability Awards with Cyclyx and EFC Gases Chris Jahn: Sustainability Starts with Chemistry with ACC CEO Chris Jahn Michael Heinz: BASF CEO Michael Heinz on Sustainability, Energy, and Leadership Bonny Tully: Achieving Success in Chemicals: Sustainability and Leadership with Bonnie Tully of Evonik Daryl Roberts: Careers, Care, and The Future of Chemicals with Daryl Roberts of DuPont Kevin Norfleet: Carbon Capture and Customer Value with Kevin Norfleet of Celanese ***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Discover how necessity is driving sustainable innovation in the chemical industry with host Victoria Meyer and guests Robert Dishman of Cyclx and Matt Adams of EFC Gases & Advanced Materials, winners of American Chemistry Council’s 2024 Sustainability Leadership Awards. Learn about Cyclyx’s pioneering partnership with industry giants like ExxonMobil and the opening of the world’s first chemical composition analysis centers (CCCs) to revolutionize recycling efforts. Robert Dishman delves into Cyclyx's mission to increase plastic collection and eliminate landfill-bound plastics, while also encouraging municipal and consumer engagement. Meanwhile, Matt Adams introduces EFC Gases’ award-winning Neon Gas Recycling System, which enhances supply chain stability and promotes circularity in semiconductor manufacturing. Victoria explores the environmental and cost-saving benefits of EFC’s technologies along with their long-term goal of sustainable pricing for rare gases.  Gain insights on the following topics this week: Recognizing ACC's 2024 Sustainability Leadership Awards An introduction to EFC Gases and the importance of Neon in semi-conductors How a supply-chain crisis inspired EFC's Neon Gas Recycling System The role of Collaboration in plastics recycling and circularity Cyclyx's formation by ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell and subsequent growth Local communities are critical to success Killer Quote: "Necessity drives innovation, and nowhere is that more evident than in our efforts to combat plastic waste and stabilize supply chains through advanced recycling and sustainable solutions." - Victoria Meyer, Host of The Chemical Show Additional Links: Chris Jahn: Sustainability Starts with Chemistry with ACC CEO Chris Jahn  Michael Heinz: BASF CEO Michael Heinz on Sustainability, Energy, and Leadership  Bonny Tully: Achieving Success in Chemicals: Sustainability and Leadership with Bonnie Tully of Evonik  Daryl Roberts: Careers, Care, and The Future of Chemicals with Daryl Roberts of DuPont  Kevin Norfleet: Carbon Capture and Customer Value with Kevin Norfleet of Celanese    ***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com   ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Explore the intersection of digital innovation and chemical distribution with host Victoria Meyer and Austin Nichols, CEO of ChemPoint, on The Chemical Show. Austin shares his insights on the critical role of digital solutions in scaling business operations. Victoria and Austin discuss the difference between ChemPoint's supplier-centric model and Univar's broader approach, detailing how ChemPoint leverages digital marketing and inside sales to enhance efficiency and supply chain management. Discover how ChemPoint's unique value proposition targets strategic supplier relationships and digital optimization. Austin discusses the ongoing digital progression in the plastics industry, the impact of AI on distribution, and how remote work during the pandemic brought about transformative changes in company culture. Gain valuable perspectives on leadership, customer focus, and the significance of creating a culture of accountability in business success. Gain insights on the following topics this week: The evolution of ChemPoint: from Univar's digital platform to standalone chemical distributor Striking a balance in being "wholly owned" yet a stand-alone distributor  Right-sizing digital resources Digitization and the future of chemical industry distribution How is the chemical industry utilizing AI in business?  The evolution of work models: Facing challenges and strategies in remote work What is critical in leadership today?  Killer Quote: "At ChemPoint, we're not just focused on distributing chemicals; we're pioneering a digital transformation in the industry. By combining frugality with cutting-edge digital solutions, we're able to redefine efficiency and reshape how suppliers and customers interact. It's about creating a seamless, innovative experience that keeps us ahead of the curve." - Austin Nichols ***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  Wondering how we produce our podcast? We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria We use CastMagic.io to create Show Notes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1 We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Exploring the crucial role of resilience in both personal and professional contexts, host Victoria Meyer delves into how businesses and individuals can adapt, recover, and ultimately thrive amid unexpected challenges.  Victoria breaks down the concept of resilience, distinguishing it from business continuity planning and emphasizing its emotional and adaptive components. She shares practical tips on building resilience, such as embracing mistakes, fostering accountability, and planning responses to potential setbacks.  Tune in to gain insights on nurturing resilience within yourself and your team as you navigate the unpredictable landscape of today's business world. Victoria discusses the following topics this week: Why business resilience matters Current events causing upheaval Can Resilience be taught? The importance of a Growth Mindset 3 Strategies to Enhance Business Resilience What can leaders do to instill resilience Killer Quote: "Resilience is really the ability to adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of various challenges. It's not just about bouncing back—it's about bouncing forward, embracing mistakes, and learning from them to become stronger and more adaptable." -- Victoria Meyer ***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  Wondering how we produce our podcast? We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria We use CastMagic.io to create Show Notes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1 We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Discover how hiring for character and training for skills can cultivate a thriving company culture with Kris Maynard, executive chairman of Essential Ingredients. Kris joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show this week to share insights on the importance of long-term sustainability, reflecting on his company’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming an employee-owned business. Kris discusses the transformative power of trusting relationships, transparent communication, and the strategic advantages of remaining privately owned. Additionally, Victoria and Kris explore the concept of a 100-year company, drawing parallels with historical craftsmanship in cathedrals, and discuss how Essential Ingredients' ESOP model has driven employee retention and engagement. Gain valuable advice for those entering the industry and understand how a purpose-driven approach can navigate modern challenges like supply chain issues and regulatory hurdles.  Join us this week as Victoria and Kris discuss the following topics: Essential Ingredients' origin story: Humble beginnings in a server closet What makes Essential Ingredients different? Partnership Alignment in one-to-one relationships Essential Ingredients as a privately owned company - a rarity in the chemical industry Building a 100-year company Customer Experience at Essential Ingredients Kris Maynard's leadership advice  Killer Quote: "A hundred-year company isn’t just about surviving; it's about flourishing, creating a legacy, and paving the way for future generations. It's about hiring for character, training for skills, and building a culture that values trust, transparency, and long-term sustainability." – Kris Maynard Other Links: April Yeager, Senior Vice President of Operations for Essential Ingredients, Episode 41: Moving Up the Corporate Ladder For Professional And Personal Growth With April Yeager***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  Wondering how we produce our podcast? We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria We use CastMagic.io to create Show Notes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1 We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Sharing valuable insights on strategic partnerships, Rob van der Meij, a partner at Capricorn Partners joins host Victoria Meyer for the final installment of this series, citing successful collaborations like Econic’s partnership with Unilever and Monument Chemical, and the significance of balanced, non-competing alliances.  Gain a deeper understanding of the venture capital process in green chemistry and how startups drive innovation where large corporates might hesitate. Discover the essential steps for assessing potential investments and the importance of diverse perspectives on boards to foster long-term success and sustainability in the industry. Join us this week as Victoria and Rob discuss the following topics: Partnering criteria in chemical industry VC Board Diversity and Corporate Vision Capricorn Partners' Investment Strategy and their approach to VC The role of leadership in driving success Next steps for investors and investment funds: how to get involved with VC  Killer Quote: "It’s not just about being a shark; in the chemicals and energy world, you need to be the right kind of matchmaker. Balancing between enabling innovation and ensuring sustainability can make a real difference in this industry." — Rob van der Meij Other Links: Tom van Aken, Avantium: Commercializing New Technologies For A Sustainable World With Tom Van Aken Of Avantium Corey Tyre of Trillium: Scaling Up Sustainable Chemistry: Trillium’s Path to Green Acrylonitrile Technology with Corey Tyree James Gibson, Void Technologies: Neil Burns, James Gibson, And Jon Timbers On Creating A Greener Planet With Sustainable Innovation Keith Wiggins Econic Technologies: From Carbon Emissions To Valuable Raw Material With Keith Wiggins of Econic Technologies  ***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  Wondering how we produce our podcast? We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria We use CastMagic.io to create ShowNotes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1 We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Wondering how venture capital firms support the clean tech startup ecosystem? Explore the intricacies of sustainable investing and leadership dynamics in the chemical industry with Rob van der Meij, a partner at Capricorn Partners in part 1 of this 2 part series. Host Victoria Meyer delves into Rob's expertise on ESG and impact investing, the vital role of leadership throughout a company's life cycle, and the emotional challenges founders face in relinquishing control. Hear about Capricorn Partners' unique approach to venture capital investment in cleantech and chemistry sectors, highlighting the importance of diversified investments and the innovation hurdles startups encounter.Join us this week as Victoria and Rob discuss the following topics:Sustainable InvestingTransitioning skills from big to small companiesThe role of venture capital in chemicals and clean techVenture capital versus private equityDerisking and business developmentKiller Quote: "In business development for a new venture, it's crucial to find customers who understand that our product is still evolving and who are willing to accept that it's not yet perfect." — Rob van der Meij, Capricorn Partners***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Behavioral economics is revolutionizing the business world with Melina Palmer, CEO of The Brainy Business, and Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show®. Melina delves into the importance of social proof in influencing consumer decisions, showcasing how psychological principles can dramatically shape pricing strategies. Highlighting examples from luxury goods like the Birkin bag to New York City's $214 grilled cheese sandwich, she explains how scarcity, identity, and well-framed messaging can alter purchasing behavior irrespective of functionality.Melina will be a speaker at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 in Spring, Texas.   For details and tickets, visit thechemicalsummit.com.Victoria and Melina discuss the profound impact language and framing have on decision-making, emphasizing the value of thoughtful communication in reducing stress and improving organizational efficiency. They share actionable insights on leveraging behavioral economics principles in B2B settings, experimenting with small focused tests, and leading teams with an openness to change and human-centric strategies. Tune in to hear Victoria and Eric discuss the following topics:Life as a series of micro moments and micro decisionsCommunicating with customers and getting them to buy your productsThe Truth About Pricing and the rest of the storyApplying behavioral economics to B2B marketsLinguistics as a part of value, pricing, and negotiationsAligning your business' communication and messagingEffective leadership in turning the tide more toward behavior centricityKiller Quote: "Pricing is not just about the numbers; it's about the psychology and the framing of the message. The way you present your product's value can turn a simple sandwich into an exclusive, $214 experience." — Melina Palmer, The Brainy Business***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com 

Join us at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 to engage with great leaders, including many guests of The Chemical Show.Visit thechemicalsummit.com for more information and to register. Discover why methanol has become the number one alternative fuel for ships ordered in 2023 and how the race for environmentally improved methanol is shaping the future of the chemical industry. Eric Bober, Senior VP at NexantECA, joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show® to dive into the evolution of green chemicals, the urgent demand for sustainable methanol as marine fuel, and the gap between innovation and infrastructure. Victoria and Eric explore the groundbreaking advancements and the hurdles companies face in project development and market segmentation, all while highlighting the critical role of consortiums and government incentives in driving progress. Further discussing the importance of balancing traditional technology with innovative solutions, Victoria and Eric shed light on carbon capture and the strategies to mitigate risks and propel the industry forward. As the push for decarbonization intensifies, hear how methanol’s journey from commodity to green powerhouse is poised to reshape the chemical and shipping industries.Tune in to hear Victoria and Eric discuss the following topics:Green Methanol: the revolution continues and the evolution is currently "bogged down"Methanol as a shipping fuelDecarbonization: Who's paying for it? Leveraging the strengths and advantages of methanolSolutions to speeding up environmentally improved methanolMethanol's future outlookKiller Quote: "If you build it, they will come. And I think in this case, they're coming, so we need to build it. The ships are coming. They're going to come starting next year. And if we can have environmentally improved methanol, the ships will use it." - Eric Bober***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  ***Thank you to our sponsor Veson Nautical:From multi-jurisdictional regulations to geopolitics and decarbonization, the maritime ecosystem is more complex than ever. This is creating unprecedented levels of risk exposure. With trusted maritime data and built-for-purpose workflows from Veson Nautical, you can confidently make decisions to better manage risk and maximize profit.For over twenty years, Veson has been co-innovating with the world’s largest buyers and sellers of bulk marine freight.  Join their client community and find your decision advantage. Learn more at veson.com