European Commission

WORLD TRADE Trade war leads to plummeting US polymer exports to China / Imports to Europe continue to grow / EU considers imposing punitive tariffs on US plastics	24.05.2019
EU PLASTICS STRATEGY Formal adoption of single-use plastics directive by European Council	23.05.2019
GLASS FIBRE PRODUCTS GlassFibreEurope again takes action against dumping by Chinese producers / EU starts investigation / CPIC and Jushi concerned	21.05.2019
PLASTIC FANTASTIC Single-use populism	17.05.2019
PLASTICS WASTE European associations call for amendment of EU waste shipment regulation / Governments across the globe agree to improve plastics scrap trade / Basel Convention amended	14.05.2019
BIOPLASTICS EUBP disputes basis of UK plastic bag study / Results throw doubt on biodegradability performance / Need for clearer labelling and certification	09.05.2019
EVENTS Third "Plastics Recycling Show Europe" attracts record numbers in 2019	02.05.2019
RPC EU approves takeover by Berry / US decision pending	29.04.2019
TEKNI-PLEX Acquisition of three Amcor medical packaging plants in US / Deal to resolve US anti-trust concerns with proposed Amcor-Bemis merger	29.04.2019
PLASTICS RECYCLING EUROPE EuPC launches platform for monitoring recycled plastics usage / Available to plastics converters in six EU countries	26.04.2019
IDENTIPLAST Record attendance at 2019 conference / Waste management and plastics sustainability in focus	16.04.2019
CIRCULAR ECONOMY European Parliament changes rules of “Cohesion Fund” / Waste treatment plants no longer subsidised	11.04.2019
ITALY Slowdown impacts consumption of polymers / Solid growth for plastics machinery sales in 2018 / Agreement with China could lead to investments in Italian ports	10.04.2019
SPAIN Production value of plastics processing declines slightly / Employment now above the pre-crisis level / GDP growth loses dynamism / Political uncertainties continue	05.04.2019
EUMBC Annual conference 2019 in Brussels to focus on REACH, Brexit and titanium dioxide	04.04.2019
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