Industry General

PlasticsEurope and EuPC launch “Manifesto on the competitiveness of the plastics industry in Europe” / Identify challenges to European industry and issue recommendations / "PolyTalk" event in Brussels

2013 production levels slightly up year-on-year / Processing also shows positive trend / Still shy of 2011 levels / E&E usage down / Rise in medical applications / New records for plastics recycling / Latest Consultic study

Organiser SPI extends fair's 3D pavilion by eight more booths / Rising demand

German plastics fair sees record number of visitors / Rising internationality

German plastics fair opens its doors in Friedrichshafen / Close to 1,800 exhibitors / Organiser extends show opening times / Injection moulders still dominate

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

Plastics processors desperately looking for trainees / Hopes that mobile campaign will help ameliorate the situation

European studies on bisphenol A nearing conclusion / Dutch report complements EU assessments

"Placard" project: Consortium to investigate development of safer plasticiser for soft PVC / Focus on process based on cashew nut shells

Several raw material suppliers book space for "Customer Service Centres" in Orlando / Fair at 94% of total capacity

New report examines total natural capital cost of plastic in the consumer goods industry / Marine pollution has largest downstream impact, greenhouse gas biggest factor upstream

Government must tackle barriers to circular economy / PRN and recycling schemes need reform / House of Commons report

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

EC launches EUR 3.7 bn programme to develop bioeconomy / Targets include doubling share of bio-based chemicals produced in EU / Partnership with private sector

Record visitor and exhibitor numbers at “fip solution plastique” in Lyon

Sweden identifies phthalates suspected of being endocrine disruptors

Global plastics associations issue latest progress report on initiative against marine litter / More than 185 projects to date

New Canadian study finds no higher BPA, phthalate exposure among pregnant women / BPA used in food packaging not deemed risky to the general public

"PackTheFuture" winners announced / Initial sustainable packaging competition at "Interpack" well received

VinylPlus: Record of more than 440,000 t PVC recycled in 2013 / 81% decrease in the use of lead-based stabilisers in the EU-27

German plastics converters association GKV cements its ties with China's CSRA at "Chinaplas" / More than 40 European representatives join business delegation to Shanghai

More than 130,000 visitors flock to four-day plastics fair / Foreign attendees make up 28% / Economic slowdown not felt in high-quality segment / Preparations for 2015 event in Guangzhou already underway

World's second largest plastics fair opens its doors / Exhibition space fully booked / Key theme of “Greenovation” / Trend towards fully automated processes to ensure competitive edge amid rising labour costs

Danish report says most phthalate-free plasticisers safe for PVC medical devices