Industry General

Part 3 – Packaging: M&A activity in the plastics packaging sector continues / Global competition changes the landscape / La Seda bankruptcy sale almost wrapped up / Coca Cola's sustainability drive hits a snag

Part 2 – Plastics Production: Shale gas revolution drives Europe into a corner / Ailing facilities are consolidated / Massive changes in PVC market / Shale oil reserves change the balance once again

Part 1 – Overview: European plastics industry ploughs on / High energy costs and bag bans still an issue / Realities of shale revolution start knocking on Brussels' doors

Survey finds slight rise in presence of littered plastic bags in England / Fee will not change social behaviour associated with littering, PAFA responds

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

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