European Commission

PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS Study finds lightweight LDPE bags have lowest environmental impact / Independent life cycle assessment in Denmark	22.03.2018
CIRCULAR ECONOMY Far-reaching EU packaging directives poised for adoption / Lengthy transition periods for recycling	13.03.2018
TRONOX Cristal acquisition postponed? / EU closely reviews titanium dioxide merger	09.03.2018
PLASTICS AND HEALTH Initial results of long-awaited US study says BPA safe for consumers at low doses / PlasticsEurope and BPF satisfied / EFSA will continue assessments until 2019	08.03.2018
PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT Oxo-biodegradables industry slams EU drive to restrict usage / Conventional polymers seen as the “bigger risk” in microplastics generation	06.03.2018
ROMANIA Plastic carrier bag ban to come into effect 1 July / Packaging deposit scheme under discussion / National waste programme not yet up to EU standards	28.02.2018
ASSOCIATIONS EuPC annual meeting to be held in Milan / Polymer producers awards ceremony	27.02.2018
GREECE Environmental fee on plastic carrier bags in shops / Alignment with EU directive to curb consumption / Greek plastics industry association foresees problems	23.02.2018
LIDL German supermarket chain targets 20% savings on plastics by 2025 / Full recyclability of packaging for own brands	22.02.2018
BIOPLASTICS Global production forecast to grow by 20% to 2022 / Transition to circular economy drives demand / Brand owners increasing usage of bio-based materials / Study by EUBP and nova-Institut	21.02.2018
EVENTS "TEPPFA Forum 2018" to be held in Brussels in April / Part of association's plastic pipes campaign "Discover: Plastics"	21.02.2018
PET Experts across value chain meet at annual “Petcore Europe Conference” / Over 200 attendees gain insights into circular economy and innovation	20.02.2018
MICROPLASTICS Swedish government bans microbeads in cosmetics and toothpaste / Use in such products "completely unnecessary" says environment minister	15.02.2018
INTERVIEW Emmanuel Guichard, managing director at Elipso / A French perspective on EU plastics strategy / Much debate on bottle deposit scheme in France / Emmanuel Macron's goals for recycled plastics exceed EU's	12.02.2018
PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT EU discussing plastic tax / Internal decision on action in July / Hot topic at Petcore conference	12.02.2018
TETRA PAK Packaging producer voices support to Europe's plastics strategy / Plans to boost recycling and use of bio-plastics	31.01.2018
EU PLASTICS STRATEGY Commission launches campaign to boost recyclate usage / Voluntary pledges from stakeholders	24.01.2018
EVENTS "VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2018" to be held in Madrid in May	24.01.2018
INTERVIEW Jürgen Bruder, head of German plastic packaging association IK / Over half of domestic plastic packaging is already recycled / Plans in progress to improve eco-design and recyclate use	22.01.2018
EU PLASTICS STRATEGY First EU-wide strategy on plastics / Focus on recycling / Revision of packaging directive / Framework for waste prevention / Advancing global action / Industry associations make their own recycling commitments	19.01.2018
PLASTICS RECYCLING EUROPE European associations co-author voluntary commitments framework / Plastics recycling and resource efficiency	19.01.2018
TRONOX Next step for acquisition of competitor Cristal / World's largest titanium dioxide producer	18.01.2018
PLASTICS AND HEALTH PlasticsEurope hails EP's rejection of full BPA food packaging ban / ECHA adds endocrine disruptor to the chemical's SVHC entry / EFSA still awaiting US study conclusion?	16.01.2018
SAFRAN EU competition watchdog clears merger with competitor Zodiac Aerospace	08.01.2018
BIOPLASTICS EU producers press for lower bioethanol duties / Competition from the Americas	03.01.2018