European Commission

PRE issues new strategy paper at 20th anniversary meeting / Current market structure “highly unsustainable” / Calls for more holistic approach to recycling / Need for standardisation

EU Commission finally presents proposals for regulating endocrine disruptors / Trade associations critical / Forward strategy based on WHO criteria

PIE talks to World Plastics Council chairman Abdulrahman al-Fageeh and PlasticsEurope executive director Karl H. Foerster / WPC as platform for sharing best practices / Localising global solutions / Focus on marine debris / Increasingly global scope

European Parliament seeks more ambitious targets for waste sorting and recycling / Bioplastics producers pleased with proposals

German environmental group calls for BPA replacement in cashier receipts / ECHA study ongoing

European Composites, Plastics and Polymer Processing Platform ECP4 says EU funding is key to sector's success / Members invited to join “New Plastics Economy Initiative”

TEPPFA commits to doubling recycling in Europe by 2020 / Campaign at EU level for special status under REACH and WFD to relax treatment of “legacy substances”

European plastics converters alliance calls on EU to suspend tariffs on polymer imports / Processors increasingly anxious in the face of tighter PP and PE availability

European “Dibbiopack” research project yields new functionalities in bioplastics packaging / Focus on pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food

Proposed takeover of Faurecia's Exterior Systems unit enters round two / EUR 665m deal expected to close in H2

European Parliament draws attention to dangers of plastic microbeads in cosmetics / Bans being pursued worldwide / Report for Commission analyses the problem

Two-day high-level conference on “Zero Plastics Waste to the Oceans” draws industry, government and private sector together / Need for collaborative efforts across the chain / Design for end of life / Calls for system change

Industry on solid course for growth / Both exports and imports of plastics on the rise / Plastics processing activities continue to increase / Automotive segment a key driver / Political impasse in Madrid slows economic dynamics

EU initiates expiry review of anti-dumping measures on Chinese goods

Demand for recyclate made-in-Europe unaffected by oil plunge / PRE cancels conference in Brussels

Solvay to exit vinyls jv early / Ineos to take full control / Ratcliffe “comfortable” with deal

Experts from entire value chain gather at “Petcore Europe Conference” / 160 attendees gain latest insights into sustainability, circular economy, innovation and globalisation

“Vinyl Sustainability Forum 2016” to take place in Vienna / Focus on “Smart Vinyl for Our Cities”

Plastics industry in strong recovery mode in 2015 / Thermoplastics consumption rises by 3% to 5.5m t / Strong acceleration in Q4 / Demand from automotive segment particularly high / Biotechnology continues to play an important role

European project to valorise co- and by-products of legumes in plastics production / Work brings research facilities together with industry associations, food and plastics companies

PIE talks to European Commission spokesperson Enrico Brivio about the latest Circular Economy Package / Landfill goal "very ambitious" / Marine litter to be addressed in 2017 plastic strategy / "Innovative plastic should come from the EU"

EU close to classifying BPA as category 1 reprotoxin / REACH Committee approves draft

New study points to ways of “triggering a revolution” in the plastics industrial ecosystem / Strategies for improving material flow, recycling and reuse / Part of “Project Mainstream” / Release at WEF in Davos

5th “Packaged – Global Packaging Summit” in Brussels

Restructuring of German refinery assets okayed by boards / EU approval expected soon