GREECE

Shopping bag usage at supermarkets falls 76% on bag charge / Sikinos first Greek island to ban plastic straws

INDIA

Ban on single-use plastics from 2022 / "CleanSeas" campaign and clean up of historic monuments / Reports spotlight waste management successes and setbacks

PLASTICS PROCESSING CHINA

More than 15,000 Chinese converting companies / Continuous growth in exports of plastic end-products / Numerous centres and schools for innovation and training / CPRJ report

CROATIA

Waste management plan with 2020 target proving difficult / Chamber of commerce holds waste and recycling symposium / Importance of separating secondary raw materials

SOUTH KOREA

Steps taken to cut plastic waste volumes / Move follows China's ban on waste imports / Production of coloured PET bottles to stop by 2020

FRANCE

Nation-wide circular economy plan released / Aim to recycle all plastics by 2025 / Elipso remains highly engaged

ITALY

Plastics sector looks back on good year / Growth above industry average with stellar prospects / Machinery manufacturing, "Industry 4.0" and digitalisation drive investments

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

EuPC survey to gain insight into 3D printing in European plastics converting industry

GERMAN PLASTICS PROCESSING

Growth rate reaches 5% mark in 2017 / Renewed record turnover and processed volume / Lack of skilled staff becomes more acute / Confidence predominates at start of 2018

MATTRESS INDUSTRY

China accounts for one-third of global production / Growth in Chinese consumption to slow / Global demand outpacing other furniture markets / Flexible PU foam most used material / CSIL reports

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

3D printing heads for small series production / "Formnext" exhibition in Frankfurt a "centre of gravity" / Market expected to triple by 2023 / Quality assurance a difficult issue

PVC RECYCLING

Nearly 640,000 t recycled via Europe's VinylPlus scheme in 2017 / Growth in France and Italy but stable in Germany

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING RECYCLING

UK recycling industry needs over EUR 110m / Brands should be incentivised to sell goods in improved packaging

RECYCLING

China wants to facilitate import of PET flakes / No restrictions on regrind conforming to specifications

PLASTICS RECYCLING

China extends import restrictions on plastics waste

AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLING

End-of-life vehicle trials with rTPO "promising" / US plastics producers spearhead drive / Work looks at technical and economic feasibility / End-market uses to be explored