PET RECYCLING

Summary of presentations of Petcore Networking Day

FORTISCHEM

Did Slovakia's sole PVC producer receive illegal financial aid from the state? / EU demands reimbursement

KURARAY

Divesting European PVB activities / EU stipulation for takeover of DuPont's GLS/Vinyls business

KEM ONE

EU investigates French state subsidies for PVC manufacturer / Doubts about compatibility with restructuring plans

HUNTSMAN

European Commission nods off purchase of Rockwood's Performance Additives and Titanium Dioxide businesses

HUNTSMAN

European Commission mandates sale of "TR52" business to allow purchase of Rockwood additives units / Approval expected in the coming weeks

INEOS / DOEFLEX

PVC compounding businesses successfully merged under new Ineos Compounds

PET RECYCLING

Europe recycles 65 bn bottles in 2013 / Call for collection systems to be standardised

OLTCHIM

Secret state funding for ailing Romanian PVC producer? / European Commission calls on Bucharest to clarify its involvement

EVENTS

“Regions for Recycling” project presents its successes to date at two separate events in Brussels and Sofia

PLASTICS RECYCLING

Spanish household recycling rate reaches nearly 57% / EU's runner-up in 2013

CHEVRON PHILLIPS

Introducing two new “Ryton” PPS compounds for food contact applications

EVENTS

Fourth “PolyTalk” industry summit to be held in Brussels in November

VESTOLIT

SVC Global sells German PVC producer to Mexichem / Further changes in the European PVC market

PERSTORP

Plan to exit Vencorex joint venture / Shares likely to be sold to partner PTT

INEOS / DOEFLEX

European Commission gives go-ahead to PVC compounding merger

UK RECYCLING

Government must tackle barriers to circular economy / PRN and recycling schemes need reform / House of Commons report

BIO-BASED PRODUCTS

EC launches EUR 3.7 bn programme to develop bioeconomy / Targets include doubling share of bio-based chemicals produced in EU / Partnership with private sector

FRANCE

Ban on lightweight plastic bags from 2016 / Retail associations warn of additional costs to the consumer of EUR 300m per year

PLASTICS AND HEALTH

Denmark withdraws plans for further-reaching ban on phthalates / Pressure from EU Commission

PLASTICS AND HEALTH

Sweden identifies phthalates suspected of being endocrine disruptors

PET RECYCLING

European associations and R&D institutes establish “Polymark” project / Developing new technology to detect used PET bottles suitable for reuse in food-contact applications / EU-funded research

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

European Commission adopts new waste proposals / Landfill of recyclable waste to be banned by 2025 / 80% packaging waste recycling target set for 2030 / Mixed response by European plastics associations

INEOS / SOLVAY

European chlorvinyls activities to merge under new Inovyn 50:50 jv / Operations expected to commence in Q4 / Solvay to exit after three years

SHALE GAS

German government working on draft fracking bill / Proposed law would include ban on toxic chemicals, prohibition on drilling near water reserves / Several federal states opposed