PLASTICS RECYCLING

Plastics Recyclers Europe association confirms growing European recycling rates / Now numbering more than 100 members

SOLVAY / INEOS

EU to probe PVC joint venture plans in depth

PLASTIC BAGS

Follow-up: Industry associations criticise a "short-sighted" EC proposal / Allowance of individual regulations goes against a united European market

PLASTIC BAGS

European Commission proposal to reduce lightweight bag consumption in all 28 member states / Average European citizen uses 198 plastic bags annually

SOLVAY

Adjusted earnings fall 13% / Vinyls as assets for sale / PA turnaround expected

INEOS / SOLVAY

EU has reservations concerning JV deal / Ineos puts forward divestment of two German plants

SOLVAY / INEOS

Awaiting clearance from European Commission for PVC JV

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

EU Commission fines five OEM suppliers EUR 142m in wire harnesses price-fixing case

PACKAGING INDUSTRY

French Elipso and German IK come together to tackle environmental and sourcing concerns

ITALY

Non-biodegradable plastic bag ban to be enforced from late May / Cereplast gears up to supply

RECYCLING

European Commission launches plastic waste consultation / Results of latest Green Paper initiative to feed into 2014 waste policy review / Industry associations welcome latest action

GRUPA AZOTY

European Commission gives green light for merger of Polish chemical groups in Tarnow and Pulawy

CARRIER BAGS

No decision yet on plastic bag tax in England / Environmental campaigners call for action / Government had promised decision by end of 2012

YEAR IN REVIEW

Life is a roller coaster ride, the European plastics industry finds again in 2012 / Forces majeures and consolidation / North-South profitability gap grows as the shadow of Middle East and China shrinks

RECYCLING

New EU proposals highlight waste management and recycling / Welcomed by EuPR

ASSOCIATIONS

EuPR rebrands itself as Plastics Recyclers Europe / 160 delegates attend annual meeting held under the aegis of “Resource Efficiency for Plastics” / Updated strategy paper

BIOPLASTICS

EC's industrial policy favours bio-economy / Increasingly dynamic market / Largest global capacity in Asia and South America / Bio-PET drives development / Soft drink producers at the forefront of innovation

EVENTS

“IdentiPlast 2012” held in Warsaw in November / Focus on zero plastics to landfill

PLASTICS AND HEALTH

Denmark steps ahead of EU on phase-out of phthalates / Suspected endocrine disruptors

EU WASTE MANAGEMENT

EC report indicates massive differences in application of waste directive across Europe / PlasticsEurope welcomes findings of study and says that “zero plastics to landfill by 2020” is achievable with right policies

AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY

European Commission launches probe into possible wire harness cartel activities

HALOPOLYMER

Russian fluorinated polymers producer receives EU food contact certification / New sales offices in the US and Switzerland

PLASTICS AND HEALTH

European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers criticises new PVC blood bag life cycle analysis / PVCfreeBloodBag project aims to find phthalate-free alternatives

FLAME RETARDANTS

Ban on HBCD likely soon / Brominated polymers as potential substitute / Trend towards intumescence / New EU regulation for fire prevention imminent / China main producing country / Prices at record level

UPDATE - PLASTIC PIPES

EU authorities raid offices of several producers on suspicion of illegal price fixing / Tessenderlo, Pipelife and Wavin searched