European Commission

EVENTS Plastics Recyclers Europe's annual meeting to take place in Portugal in October / Focus on plastics waste collection	13.06.2018
STYRENE SM-purchasing firms suspected of violating EU antitrust rules / European Commission confirms unannounced inspections in several countries	11.06.2018
PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT “Material is not the issue” / UNEP publishes report on tackling single-use plastic waste / European Commission and PlasticsEurope add their voices on “World Environment Day”	07.06.2018
PVC RECYCLING Nearly 640,000 t recycled via Europe's VinylPlus scheme in 2017 / Growth in France and Italy but stable in Germany	07.06.2018
EDITORIAL The seaside cleaners from the EU	01.06.2018
INTERVIEW “We have to take care not only of the low hanging fruits such as PET bottles” / EuPC managing director Alexandre Dangis on the EU plastics policy and industry actions preoccupying Europe's converters	30.05.2018
SINGLE-USE PLASTICS European Commission publishes regulations on disposable plastic products / Collection rate for bottles set / Sharp criticism from PlasticsEurope and EuPC	29.05.2018
EU PLASTICS STRATEGY Commission draft contains far-reaching bans on single-use plastic products	28.05.2018
FRANCE Nation-wide circular economy plan released / Aim to recycle all plastics by 2025 / Elipso remains highly engaged	24.05.2018
EU POLICY Long-term EU budget rejects idea of plastics tax / Levy on packaging waste more efficient / Commission seeking new own resources / Single-use product bans still subject of environmental policy discussions	14.05.2018
PLASTIC PACKAGING Packaging not preventing food waste, say NGOs / Small format, convenience food packaging linked to higher waste levels / Packaging design and recyclability crucial	11.05.2018
COVESTRO Bayer sells most of its remaining shares / Exit from plastics sector imminent	09.05.2018
MARINE LITTER Global environmental initiatives presented at PlasticsEurope's "PolyTalk" conference in Malta / EU commissioner Vella stresses importance of partnering with plastic industry / Need for better recycling quality	08.05.2018
CIRCULAR ECONOMY EU parliament nods off on commission's plans / Farther-reaching rules ahead	24.04.2018
PLASTICS RECYCLING EU waste exports to China plummet / Southeast Asia takes up some slack / Strong Chinese demand for high-quality recyclates drives prices up	20.04.2018
PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT – FEATURE French scientist François Galgani on current marine litter situation / Upcoming "PolyTalk 2018" speaker	18.04.2018
CELANESE Acetate tow merger with Rhodia Acetow abandoned / EU said to have demanded extensive divestitures	03.04.2018
ITALY Plastics sector looks back on good year / Growth above industry average with stellar prospects / Machinery manufacturing, “Industry 4.0” and digitalisation drive investments	29.03.2018
PLASTICS AND HEALTH ECHA proposes EU occupational exposure limits for benzene and ACN	27.03.2018
PLASTICS AND HEALTH EU will not classify DINP as reprotoxic / Industry sees its position confirmed	26.03.2018
PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS Study finds lightweight LDPE bags have lowest environmental impact / Independent life cycle assessment in Denmark	22.03.2018
CIRCULAR ECONOMY Far-reaching EU packaging directives poised for adoption / Lengthy transition periods for recycling	13.03.2018
TRONOX Cristal acquisition postponed? / EU closely reviews titanium dioxide merger	09.03.2018
PLASTICS AND HEALTH Initial results of long-awaited US study says BPA safe for consumers at low doses / PlasticsEurope and BPF satisfied / EFSA will continue assessments until 2019	08.03.2018
PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT Oxo-biodegradables industry slams EU drive to restrict usage / Conventional polymers seen as the “bigger risk” in microplastics generation	06.03.2018