Industry Associations/Institutions

Broad decline in plastics industry sales in 2015 / Rise in Swiss franc's value leads to 7.5% fall in revenues / Minimal headcount reduction / Plastics waste exports down / Optimistic outlook for 2016

Benoît Leclère appointed as executive director

EFSA approves Polisan Hellas' PET recycling process for food contact applications

German producers optimistic about global business environment / Carbon fibre-reinforced plastics still main driver, but growth slows / More than half of respondents to latest Composites Germany poll plan machinery investments

“VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2017” to take place in Berlin next May

Biodegradable packaging developed for cheese and pasta / Reduced cost and environmental impact

Eighth “EPSE Awards” for best polycarbonate projects / Public voting opens in September / Winner to be announced at “K 2016”

Recycling routes developed to tackle growing FRP waste / Composites UK report

Marcus Wittmann becomes new EPPA president

Lari Hahtonen elected new president of EPDA

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

PRE issues new strategy paper at 20th anniversary meeting / Current market structure “highly unsustainable” / Calls for more holistic approach to recycling / Need for standardisation

IK industry association says 37 members have been certified under “Zero Pellet Loss” initiative to date / Combating marine litter

EU Commission finally presents proposals for regulating endocrine disruptors / Trade associations critical / Forward strategy based on WHO criteria

Marcus Gover appointed new CEO of UK's Waste and Resources Action Programme

PIE talks to Ulf Kelterborn, head of German plastic packaging industry association IK, about the economic situation, feedstocks and the Renewable Energy Act

European converters remain a competitive force / Sector increasingly threatened by insecure raw material supply, high costs and foreign players / Innovation and client proximity strongpoints for continental companies / New study by EuPC and Wieselhuber

European Parliament seeks more ambitious targets for waste sorting and recycling / Bioplastics producers pleased with proposals

Awards for best polymer supplier presented at EuPC annual meeting in Lyon / Repsol takes prizes for innovation and HDPE / “Unique insight” into supply chain dynamics

“MedPharmPlast Europe conference” to take place in Strasbourg later this month

Renolit CEO Michael Kundel unanimously re-elected as EuPC president / European plastics processors must work together to defend their interests

Switzerland to lift recycling fee for PET bottles on 1 July

German environmental group calls for BPA replacement in cashier receipts / ECHA study ongoing

Two new members join trade body Composites UK's board of directors

European Composites, Plastics and Polymer Processing Platform ECP4 says EU funding is key to sector's success / Members invited to join “New Plastics Economy Initiative”