Industry

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

More than 50% of respondents to PIE poll say “Brexit” will not impact their business / More than a third fear negative repercussions / “Not the decision our sector wanted,” says UK chemicals association / Linpac does not expect any change

German cabinet finally agrees fracking rules / Federal states to decide on test drills

"Brexit is stupid" / 52% of British population votes to leave the EU / Plastics industry reacts calmly / Important market in Europe / Many corporate headquarters likely to relocate to the continent

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

Mock Recoup poll finds 65% of UK recycling industry players prefer to remain in the EU / Upcoming referendum will directly affect UK industry

Progress report shows 260 projects underway to deal with the threat / Largest share in Americas and Europe / Plastics industry plays an important role

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

PIE talks to World Plastics Council chairman Abdulrahman al-Fageeh and PlasticsEurope executive director Karl H. Foerster / WPC as platform for sharing best practices / Localising global solutions / Focus on marine debris / Increasingly global scope

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

Voluntary agreement in Austria sets goal of halving plastic bag consumption by 2019

First materials tested in Aitiip's mulching technology development in Spain / Biodegradable film also improves soil and crop properties

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

Ukraine imposes anti-dumping duties on semi-finished PU materials

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

Leading global industry players and cities join to form The New Plastics Economy initiative / Ellen MacArthur report serves as blueprint / Three-year project aimed at achieving a system-wide transformation

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”