K 2025: Opening Day Highlights on October 8

Opening Wednesday at K 2025: Trade Fair Kicks Off with Two High-Level Panels on the Future of Plastics

Düsseldorf, 30. September 2025 – On 8 October, K 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber, will open its doors in Düsseldorf. Plastics Europe, the association of plastics manufacturers, will curate the program on the main stage “Plastics Shape the Future” in Hall 6 / C40 throughout the entire fair duration, until 15 October. The program begins with the Power of Plastics Wednesday, featuring two forward-looking panel discussions. Senior leaders from the international plastics industry will explore key questions about the sector’s future: How can competitiveness and sustainability be balanced? And what innovations and investments are needed to drive the industry’s transformation successfully?

Panel 1: Balancing Competitiveness & Sustainability – A Call for Bold Leadership, 11:15 – 12:15 CEST

Panelists:

• Craig Arnold, Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Base Chemicals, Borealis
• Lauren Kjeldsen, Chief Operating Officer Custom Solutions, Evonik
• Walmir Soller, EVP North America, Europe & Asia, CEO Braskem Netherlands BV
• • Stephanie Kalil, Commercial Vice President Packaging & Specialty Plastics (EMEA), Dow
• • Manfred Hackl, CEO Erema Group

Moderator: Virginia Janssens, Managing Director, Plastics Europe

Panel 2: Accelerating the Plastics Transition – Innovations & Investments for a Sustainable Future, 15:00 – 16:00 CEST

Panelists:

• Yvonne van der Laan, Executive Vice President, Circular and Low Carbon Solutions (LyondellBasell)
• Mike Finelli, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer and Chief North America Officer, Syensqo
• Kim Ragaert, Chair of Circular Plastics, Maastricht University
• Katja Wodjereck, Chief Commercial Officer, Vioneo
• Gerald Rebitzer, Vice President Sustainability Operations & Advocacy, EMEA & Asia-Pacific, Amcor
• Thomas Unger, Vice President Technology, KraussMaffei Extrusion

Moderator and wrap-up Virginia Janssens, Managing Director, Plastics Europe

Quote from Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe and moderator of the panels:

“I’m looking forward to these two panels and the exchange with leading voices from across our industry. Europe’s plastics sector is under severe competitive pressure – and that calls for bold leadership from both industry and politicians, supportive and coherent policy frameworks, sustainable investment choices and tight collaboration across the entire value chain. Innovation in circular and decarbonised solutions remains our strength, but it is only through mutual trust, goodwill, shared values, purpose and objectives, that we can generate fresh momentum and restore a resilient, forward-looking and future-proof plastics eco-system in Europe and globally.”

Program on Opening Wednesday (Trade Fair Düsseldorf, 08. October, Hall 6 / C40)

Date & Time	Speaker/Host
Wed, 10:30 – 11:15 (CEST)	K 2025 Opening Ceremony Speaker/Host*: Dr. Christine Bunte*, Managing Director (Plastics Europe Deutschland) Virginia Janssens, Managing Director (Plastics Europe) Benny Mermans, President (President (Plastics Europe) Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman (K Advisory Board) Marius Berlemann, Operative Managing Director (Trade Fair Düsseldorf) Ralf Düssel, President (Plastics Europe Detuschland)
Wed, 11:15 – 12:15 (CEST)	Panel Discussion: Balancing Competitiveness & Sustainability – A Call for bold Leadership Speaker/Host*: Virginia Janssens*, Managing Director (Plastics Europe) Craig Arnold, Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Base Chemicals (Borealis) Lauren Kjeldsen, Chief Operating Officer Custom Solutions (EVONIK) Walmir Soller, EVP North America, Europe & Asia, CEO (Braskem Netherlands BV) Stephanie Kalil, Commercial Vice President Packaging & Specialty Plastics EMEA (Dow) Manfred Hackl, CEO (Erema Group)
Wed, 13:00 – 14:00 (CEST)	Press Conference: Plastics – the fast Facts 2025: Our industry in numbers Speaker/Host*: Virginia Janssens*, Managing Director (Plastics Europe) Sylvie Aitken, Director of Communications (Plastics Europe) Dr. Katharina Schlegel, Circularity Director (Plastics Europe)
Wed, 15:00 – 16:30 (CEST)	Panel-Discussion: Accelerating the Plastics Transition: Innovations & Investments for a Sustainable Future Speaker/Host*: Virginia Janssens*, Managing Director (Plastics Europe) Yvonne van der Laan, Executive Vice President, Circular and Low Carbon Solutions (LyondellBasell) Mike Finelli, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer and Chief North America Officer (Syensqo) Kim Ragaert, Chair of Circular Plastics, Maastricht University Katja Wodjereck, Chief Commercial Officer, (Vioneo) Gerald Rebitzer, Vice President Sustainability Operations & Advocacy, EMEA & Asia-Pacific (Amcor) Thomas Unger, Vice President Technology (KraussMaffei Extrusion)
Wed, 16:30 – 16:45 (CEST)	From Power to Purpose: What’s next for Circular Thursday Speaker/Host*: Christine Bunte*, Managing Director (Plastics Europe Deutschland) Ralf Düssel, President (Plastics Europe Deutschland)

The full programme of the special show is available here:
https://plasticseurope.org/de/plastics-shape-the-future-k-2025/

Tickets and Program:

On October 8, 2025, K 2025 – the world’s leading trade fair for plastics – will kick off in Düsseldorf. Held every three years, it brings together over 200,000 visitors from around 160 countries for eight days. For corporate leaders, start-ups, NGOs, and political decision-makers, it serves as a barometer for the mood and direction of the entire industry.

Press photos of the special show and K 2025 are available for free download here:
https://plasticseurope.org/de/pressemitteilungen/

Über den Verband

PlasticsEurope Deutschland e. V. ist der Verband der Kunststofferzeuger in Deutschland. Der Verband ist ein Fachverband des Verbandes der Chemischen Industrie (VCI) und Teil des europäischen Netzwerks Plastics Europe mit Vertretung in Brüssel und den europäischen Wirtschaftszentren- und Hauptstädten.

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