Markets Applications Packaging

Scotland's retailers now charging 5p for all single-trip bags of all materials / England to follow suit in 2015 / Northern Ireland to extend levies to cheap reusable bags from January

Expanding commitment to plastics recycling in packaging / 20% packaging reduction targeted for 2020

Goal of sourcing 25% of PET from recycled or renewable materials by 2015 likely to fail / High recyclate prices, regulatory restrictions blamed / 7.5 bn "PlantBottles" sold in 2013 / "2013/2014 Sustainability Report"

Takeover of US injection moulder C+N Packaging complete

Rising international competition / “Reserved” outlook for Q4 / Suffering from high energy costs / Sector meets sustainability goals / Latest IK industry association poll

German manufacturer loses second PLA-based carrier bag lawsuit / Appeal to federal court

Swiss Environment Office life-cycle analysis says existing collection and recycling systems ecologically sound / No such thing as "good" and "bad" packaging / PE pouches enable significant weight savings / PET bottles best suited for carbonated drinks

Plastic accounted for 30% of packaging shipments in financial year 2013 / Japan Packaging Institute data

Additional waste bag orders from Nanjing take annual requirement to over EUR 700,000 / Other city districts undertaking trial programmes

Northern Ireland reduces consumption by nearly 72% in first year of 5p levy / Proceeds fund community projects

Acquisition by private equity firm Oak Hill for USD 1.4 bn / Secondary buyout / Specialist in rigid packaging

Purchase of Germany's Weidenhammer Packaging creates "global leader in rigid paper packaging" / EUR 286m deal

Acquisition of flexographic print specialist Learoyd Packaging for an undisclosed sum

First Latin American “PacXpert” license awarded to Colombia's Darplas

Global market growth driven by rising demand for simultaneous stretching technology

New office opened in Argentina / PET has greatest packaging potential

US market to grow by 4.9% per year to 2018 / Led by strong demand for parenteral containers and blister packaging / Freedonia report

European market growth slows to 1.3% in 2013 / Large national differences in value and volume demand / Germany leads the segment / Share of private equity-controlled companies rising / PCI Films report

Increasing use in UK supermarkets / Overall tonnage of bags continues to drop / Mandatory charges affect use in Wales and Northern Ireland

French packaging producer acquires US perfume bottle specialist C+N Packaging

Fédération de la Plasturgie sees 3,000 jobs threatened by proposed plastic bag ban / Calls for low-priced bioplastics

First five months of 2014 see solid growth / Economy stable / Rising pressure on margins / IK industry association posts detailed figures for 2013

US consumption to reach USD 10 bn in 2018 / Lid demand growth to outpace cups / Foodservice market will remain largest application sector / Freedonia report

Polish blow moulder commissions new packaging plant in Lodz

Possible divestment of films business / Focus on food packaging / EBIT improves in Q2 2014