European Commission

ASSOCIATIONS Tom Debusschere elected new president of EPPA / Pan-European PVC lobbying group	06.07.2015
INOVYN Chlorovinyls joint venture finally receives EC approval / Business starts up on 1 July / BASF sells 25% stake in SolVin to partner Solvay	03.07.2015
AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY Germany's Federal Cartel Office imposes EUR 75m fine on five acoustic insulation producers for alleged price fixing	30.06.2015
PACKAGING MARKET Follow-up: Silver Plastics plans legal steps against EU cartel fine / Groupe Guillin and Huhtamaki also weighing appeals	26.06.2015
PACKAGING MARKET European Commission fines group of eight plastic tray producers and two distributors EUR 116m for anticompetitive behaviour / Cartels spanned 16 countries / Accused referred to themselves as “Mafia”	25.06.2015
PLASTICS RECYCLERS EUROPE Annual meeting highlights circular economy / Study shows recycling can cut emissions / Investment in extra facilities needed to reach 2025 target	25.06.2015
PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT Circular Economy Resolution passes European Parliament's Environment Committee / PlasticsEurope welcomes landfill restriction plans but questions eco-design proposals / “Recycling difficult”	22.06.2015
AMUT Collaboration with Italian university for research projects / Focus on developing eco-friendly polymers	19.06.2015
INEOS / SOLVAY European Commission clears creation of Inovyn / Governance of chlorvinyls joint venture to be shared	10.06.2015
IDENTIPLAST Discussion on the role of plastics in a circular economy / End of life of plastic goods key to sustainable development / Dialogue on regulation is a prime duty / International conference in Rome	22.05.2015
PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS Restriction of lightweight bags passes European Parliament / Charges from end of 2018 / Commission expects cost savings of EUR 740m per year / EuPC “disappointed”	04.05.2015
ZF EC approves EUR 13.5 bn acquisition of TRW Automotive / Divestment of chassis component businesses to satisfy antitrust concerns	23.04.2015
KINGSPAN European Commission approves Joris Ide acquisition	26.03.2015
EVENTS “Helsinki Chemicals Forum” to take place in Finnish capital in May / Seminar held in conjunction with ECHA Stakeholders' Day	23.03.2015
INEOS / SOLVAY Last hurdle to Inovyn jv mounted / Remedy business to be divested to ICIG industrial holding	20.03.2015
GUEST COMMENT Plastics recycling – now is the time!	10.03.2015
RESEARCH EU-sponsored “BioBeauty” project plans to develop biomaterial packaging for organic cosmetics / PLA bionanocomposite with antioxidant properties	09.03.2015
RECTICEL Operating profit increases in 2014 despite polyols price pressure / Flexible foams gains driven by automotive market / Future "uncertain" in Europe	05.03.2015
PLASTICS PROCESSING European converters hope EU investment plan will stimulate their business / EuPC urges Brussels to revive its circular economy proposal	27.01.2015
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS Europe struggles to remain competitive amid US shale gas onslaught / Industry organisations call on EU to help / Oxford study analyses chances and risks	05.01.2015
RECYCLING EC withdraws Circular Economy plans to increase recycling levels / Package to be replaced with more ambitious legislation	19.12.2014
PLASTICS AND HEALTH EU committee finds DEHP as of “very high concern” for the environment / Health decision still due	17.12.2014
SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT French waste manager to double reyclate output / New PLAST'lab to seek custom solutions	17.12.2014
YEAR IN REVIEW 2014 Part 2 – Plastics Production: Shale gas revolution drives Europe into a corner / Ailing facilities are consolidated / Massive changes in PVC market / Shale oil reserves change the balance once again	12.12.2014
YEAR IN REVIEW 2014 Part 1 – Overview: European plastics industry ploughs on / High energy costs and bag bans still an issue / Realities of shale revolution start knocking on Brussels' doors	11.12.2014