European Union

Launch of revised commercialisation strategy for "YXY" process / Site decision due H2 2019 / EUR 1.3m grant from EU

Petrochemicals and plastics: Following earlier rise, former tiger state increasingly under pressure / Expansions in China limit sales outlets / Government-initiated restructuring / Quality over volume / Feedstock partnerships with foreign players

Italian recycler purchased by waste management specialist Hera / Piecemeal acquisition

Installing third metal soaps reactor in US / Rising regional demand for polyolefin and PVC additives

Hungarian PVC film producer invests in new stretching line

EU-sponsored research project on new multilayer food packaging structures wraps up / Valuable insights into developments needed for use of non-authorised recyclate materials

Collection and recycling consortiums Corepla and Carpi join hands to set up national packaging waste disposal network / Entire value chain involved

Between fear and opportunity / Key industry stakeholders comment on raw material market shifts and impacts on the plastics industry / Second session of KI Group's exclusive summit during “K 2016”

“Second European Food & Beverage Plastic Packaging” to be held in Berlin in February 2017

New UK energy minister calls shale gas “an exciting opportunity not to be missed” / YouGov poll shows strong opposition to fracking among those who voted against “Brexit” / Men more likely to be in favour of exploration than women

PET June 2016: Notations increasingly under pressure / Imports pick up again / Few impulses from cost angle / Already muted demand dampened further by "Brexit"

Mulling price hike for UK / Exchange rate changes blamed

Stable uptrend / USA overtakes China as main export market / VDMA industry association predicts 2% growth in 2016 and 2017

More than 50% of respondents to PIE poll say “Brexit” will not impact their business / More than a third fear negative repercussions / “Not the decision our sector wanted,” says UK chemicals association / Linpac does not expect any change

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

Israel introduces plastic bag charge / New law to go into effect on 1 January 2017 / Critics say 2-cent levy is too low

“Placard” project on cashew nut shell-based PVC plasticiser continues to progress / Last phase of EU-funded research underway

EU approves reinforcing hollow glass beads for food contact

Dutch ban on complimentary bags at check-out counters in effect since 1 January / Ultra-thin bags exempted / Effort aimed at meeting EU guidelines for reduced consumption

Giant's appetite satiated for now / 13th Five-Year Plan calls for more competition, prosperity and environmental protection / State monopoly in petchem sector to be reduced / Investments in Europe skyrocket

First Polymark results of PET marker technology / Coating-based approach / Next phase to focus on detection and sorting equipment

EPDA calls on resin suppliers to comply with new regulations for restricted substances / Registration hoped to improve European plastics industry's competitiveness

“Everyday Colour” range of masterbatches introduced / Approved for food contact

“Chemical Safety Assessment under REACH” course held at Utrecht University in June

Fuel cell vehicles on the advance / Strong growth forecast for composite-made pressure tanks in the automotive industry / Many approaches seen at JEC 2015 / Carbon fibres and thermoplastics still have to make their mark