Auto mechanic Mike Morris turned to insulated concrete forms to build his house in Bowman, S.C., in part for the material's protection against hurricanes and storms.

Seventy-nine percent of chemical and refining firms see the value of an operational excellence mindset, but only 25% have a clear vision for achieving it, according to a KBC and IQPC survey. BASF and Lanxess are finding success using an operational excellence approach.

Total, Borealis and NOVA Chemicals' joint venture, Bayport Polymers, has broken ground on a $1.7 billion ethane cracker in Texas. The cracker is located at a Total refinery.

DowDuPont has found success in its Sadara joint venture with Saudi Aramco while being shielded from trade disputes by its global manufacturing presence, says Jim Fitterling, who will become CEO of the materials science spinoff of DowDuPont.

Orangeburg County, S.C., has sufficient biomass resources to become a major producer of cellulosic biofuels, according to Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson. "What makes the most sense is cellulosic biomass," Robinson said. "We have the available resource that lends itself to a successful biomass company," he added.