European Commission

EU PLASTICS STRATEGY Oxo-biodegradable Plastics Association accuses EU of maladministration	03.04.2019
EU PLASTICS STRATEGY European Parliament votes overwhelmingly to ban single-use plastics by 2021 / EU "paving the way for the rest of the world" / EuPC and PlasticsEurope criticise outcome	28.03.2019
RECYCLED PACKAGING Recycled plastic packaging to grow at 5.2% per year to 2023 / Growth spurred by sustainability shift / Smithers Pira report	28.03.2019
INEOS Purchase of Cristal's US titanium dioxide assets for USD 700m / Tronox seeks to gain FTC approval for acquisition of Saudi player	22.03.2019
TITANIUM DIOXIDE Jury remains out on EU's carcinogen classification / German plastics industry sees “no reason” for stricter rules / Conversio study	21.03.2019
PLASTICS RECYCLING EUROPE European Commission reports on 70 voluntary pledges for 2025 recycling targets / Relative lack of chemical recycling inclusion	15.03.2019
CIRCULAR ECONOMY March through the institutions to sustainability makes strides / EU delivering on 54 action plan points	13.03.2019
FRANCE National pact on plastic packaging / Government, NGOs and retailers commit to ambitious recycling targets	13.03.2019
PET TO PET RECYCLING ÖSTERREICH Austrian recycler increases capacity / More PET bottles recovered in 2018 than previous year	11.03.2019
ATTERO Start-up of new recycling plant / Dutch waste disposal company due to begin regrind production	08.03.2019
INEOS VAM plant to be built at Hull / Over EUR 1.1 bn spending package for UK	04.03.2019
KEM ONE PVC producer to receive EUR 50m loan from EU / Aim to safeguard supply of raw materials and develop new products	01.03.2019
BASF EBIT hit by effects of low water on the river Rhine / Sales rise only marginally over 2018 as a whole	27.02.2019
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS Ineos chairman Jim Ratcliffe hits out at EU “green” taxes and shale disadvantage / Open letter to the commission / “Nobody seriously invests in Europe”	15.02.2019
PET Petcore conference has over 280 attendees / EU's SUP directive to drive PET developments / Upgrades for Belgium's collection and sorting / More countries to add deposit schemes	14.02.2019
AMCOR European Commission approves takeover of Bemis / Divestment of three plants in Ireland and UK required	13.02.2019
MICROPLASTICS ECHA proposes restricting intentionally added microplastics in household cleaners / Minuscule particles one of the worst types of plastics pollution	01.02.2019
BREXIT European Commission adopts "no deal" plans / Lack of REACH regulation provisions / Major supply chain disruptions foreseen	01.02.2019
EVENTS EuPC's "European Food Contact Plastics Seminar" to be held in Brussels	31.01.2019
SOLVAY Belgian chemicals group unveils new polymer grades / Corrosion and risk of fire reduced	23.01.2019
BASF / SOLVAY EU greenlights polyamide deal / Required conditions outlined for the first time	18.01.2019
SINGLE-USE PLASTICS Italy bans sale of plastic cotton swabs at the start of 2019 / More initiatives in other EU countries / Planned and enforced prohibitions and regulations across the globe	09.01.2019
PLASTICS STRATEGY EU deal to ban certain single-use plastics clears another legislative hurdle / Measures against marine litter / Industry associations register complaints	03.01.2019
LOGISTICS Massive increase in road freight costs in Germany	02.01.2019
PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT European beverage associations criticise EU draft directive on bottle caps / PwC study reveals high costs / Better collection systems called for	21.12.2018