Policy & Media

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.

At the launch of the European Commission’s updated EU Industrial Strategy communication, Commissioner Thierry Breton stressed that "the real industrial revolution is starting now – provided we make the right investments in key technologies and set the right framework conditions.”

The world's first 100% recyclable Plastic Museum 

The power of working together along the value chain on our journey towards a circular economy, as well as exploring gaps and priorities for future R&D projects, environment and waste management best practices will be the focus of this upcoming webinar. The event is part of the Circular Plastics Conference 2021 series organised by the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology (ISPT) in collaboration with PlasticsEurope.

The British Plastics Federation (BPF), in collaboration with PlasticsEurope, is hosting a half-day online seminar called Achieving Sustainability in Plastics on 27 April. The event will look at circularity initiatives, achieving carbon neutrality and the funding available to companies to help accelerate innovation. 

In a constructive debate, Virginia Janssens used the event as an opportunity to call for a consistent and harmonised regulatory framework, and a strong functioning internal market. Collaboration with value chain partners, policy makers and NGOs will provide the required infrastructure to facilitate progress and innovation in recycling. EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius recognised the potential of chemical recycling, as a complementary tool to mechanical recycling but pointed out that the technology needs to deliver a better environmental impact. 

Achieving Sustainability in Plastics

“A New Paradigm for Plastics and Their Role in the EU’s Zero-Emission Economy Plans” will be the topic of discussion at the upcoming Euractiv Poland debate on Thursday 25 March, 2021.

11 March 2021, the European Commission’s second Circular Economy Action Plan celebrates its first birthday– a date I also share as marking my first year as Managing Director of PlasticsEurope. When the Commission published the plan this day last year, many of us were in our first days of working from home and could not have imagined still being there 12 months later. But we also could not have imagined how much progress in developing policies could have been made from home.

Hervé Millet, Director Climate & Production at Plastics Europe, will share his insights on Chemical recycling: A key enabler of plastics circularity in Europe @chemicalwatch Recyclability of materials session.