Use of plastics in agriculture increasing worldwide / Reaction to shortage of land area and water / Biodegradable mulch films included in EU fertilisers regulation for first time / Biopolymers and recycling associations have conflicting opinions

Global sales to reach USD 13 bn by 2025 / Strong demand for EPS food containers and lightweight automotive components / Grand View Research report

Scotland embeds fracking ban in planning framework / “No social licence”

Government in favour of material recycling of PE film / Voluntary collection to begin with

Exports up in H1 2017 / Decline in machinery going to EU / Injection moulding machine exports rose

Polyolefins: Borealis declares force majeure on individual PE and PP grades from Schwechat

110,000 t of EPS and XPS waste in Germany / Recovery rate of 98% / Study commissioned by BKV

Antitrust lawsuit in France ends / Huge fines for Tarkett, Forbo and Gerflor / Manufacturers' association also convicted

European market for thermoforms applications reaches 1.1m t / Further growth / Recyclates are important / Petcore Europe report

Important socio-economic benefits / Transport, chemicals and power key drivers / EU manufacturers invested EUR 43m in R&D in 2015 / PlasticsEurope report

Over 500,000 t of plastic packaging collected from UK households in 2016 / Cash-strapped local authorities need help to spread recycling message

ARA substantially increases license fees for plastic packaging

New environmental tax will affect enterprises throughout the country / Small cost impact for plastics producers / Facilities require less polluting technologies

Increase in machine sales / "Equiplast" attendance points to economic upswing of Spanish plastics sector

Consumers want drinks packaging that is recyclable / YouGov poll