The production of plastics in the EU27 continued to rise in the third quarter 2021 despite a decline in EU27 manufacturing production - thanks to the ongoing demand from abroad.

Ambitious targets have been set for recycled content in plastic products. Achieving them will depend on multi-stakeholder collaboration and enabling regulation.

Join us on Thursday, 9 December at 3 pm for a 1-hour virtual insightful discussion moderated by the Economist Impact Senior Editor, Melanie Noronha with the following panellists:

The Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) Port of Antwerp Activity Report 2021 elaborated by Plastics Europe Belgium together with its value chain partners (Alfaport Voka, essenscia, Febetra, Port of Antwerp and Transport en Logisitek Vlaanderen) gives an overview of the efforts made by the members of the Antwerp Zero Pellet Loss Platform (polymers producers, logistics and transport companies) in respect to OCS implementation.

With the joint initiative "We are Plastics", the three large plastics associations Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie (GKV – Plastics Processing Industries), PlasticsEurope Deutschland and Fachverband Kunststoff- und Gummimaschinen (association for plastics and rubber machinery, a division of VDMA German Engineering Federation) built a unique value chain alliance to implement the circular economy and create more sustainability within the key sectors of the plastics industry (converters, manufacturers and machinery).

PlasticsEurope Polska report “Plastics industry in pandemic 2020/2021” presented during the biggest plastics industry fair in Poland.

Adrian Whyle, PlasticsEurope Resource Efficiency Senior Manager, will speak at the Packaging Waste and Sustainability Forum on Wednesday, 15 September at 15:30

The British Plastics Federation (BPF), in conjunction with PlasticsEurope and RECOUP, has launched a new online recycling resource kit aimed at educating students about recycling plastics and the science of polymers.

Charity, and leading plastics recycling organisation, RECOUP, have secured a grant from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, to co-fund an industry-led communications and behaviour change research project in Kent. RECOUP have brought together key industry partners, Kent Resource Partnership, Veolia, Viridor, Ocado, Ecosurety, British Plastics Federation, Plastics Europe and PPS Recovery Systems to deliver this groundbreaking piece of research aimed at understanding better the connection between communications and plastics recycling.

Two major rivers trusts are joining forces to work with communities, researchers, and businesses in the plastics supply and waste management chain to identify plastic litter types in the Mersey catchment. 

Highly promising chemical recycling needs a boost

PlasticsEurope announces a significant increase in planned chemical recycling investment: from 2.6 billion Euros in 2025 to 8 billion Euros in 2030. To further accelerate investments in this key technology and the transition towards a circular economy, PlasticsEurope calls for a harmonised and strong policy and regulatory framework.

The first estimates of production and demand for plastics finds that 2020 has been a particularly challenging, and atypical year. At global level, results remain stable, while Europe shows noticeable decline as a direct impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Madrid, May 19, 2021.- The Plastic Museum has been open to the public for nine days. Created to be recycled, it has allowed thousands of visitors to gain a new perception of plastic and the importance of reusing and recycling. Located in Madrid, in Plaza de Juan Goytisolo, in front of the Reina Sofía museum, it has received visitors of all ages, who have learned the essential role that plastics have in our lives, through the different objects exhibited inside. In addition, different personalities from culture and politics have come these days to meet in person this initiative that has promoted EsPlásticos, the platform that brings together companies that work in the manufacture, reuse and recycling of plastic.