MARINE LITTER

UK Parliament Committee studying impact of microplastics / Greenpeace poll finds vast majority in favour of phase-out in cosmetics / British Plastics Federation concurs

MEDICAL PLASTICS MARKET

Demand for polymeric applications increasing steeply throughout the world / German medical devices providers report record sales / Russian market caves in / Significant potential in ASEAN region

MARINE LITTER

European Parliament draws attention to dangers of plastic microbeads in cosmetics / Bans being pursued worldwide / Report for Commission analyses the problem

PLASTICS AND HEALTH

EU close to classifying BPA as category 1 reprotoxin / REACH Committee approves draft

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

Circular economy, recycling, environment: How "green" is Europe's plastics industry? / Plastic bags and one-way cutlery under pressure / Political establishment and industry join hands to combat marine litter

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Plastics organisations critical of EU's revised proposals / Waste reduction targets seen as insufficient / Landfilling will still be allowed / Recyclers call new package “light” version

PLASTICISERS

ECPI urges European Commission to authorise recycling of flexible PVC containing DEHP / Expresses disappointment in European Parliament's objection

PLASTICS INDUSTRY EUROPE

Polymer production grows by 4% in 2014 / EU 28 trade surplus widens / Turkey still most important resin buyer / PlasticsEurope recommends landfill ban to improve recycling / "Plastics – the Facts 2015"

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Revised EU paper leaked / Broad brush across proposals to be presented by year's end

PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS

Polish plastics processors' association founds new working group to realise EU guideline / Calls for bag fee

PLASTICS AND RECYCLING

EU Parliament plenary session approves circular economy resolution / Binding rules for waste disposal and recycling / Bioplastics producers welcome package design proposal

PLASTICS AND HEALTH

EU to restrict formamide in Toy Safety Directive update / US toymakers call for uniform rules

PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS

Restriction of lightweight bags passes European Parliament / Charges from end of 2018 / Commission expects cost savings of EUR 740m per year / EuPC “disappointed”

YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Part 4 – Regulations: Regulatory moves keep the industry on its toes again in 2014 / Restrictions on plastic bags dominate the discussion / BPA and phthalates still a topic / Flame retardant issues still smoulder / Recycling guidelines make headway

PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS

EU guideline calls for gradual reduction in consumption up to 2025 / EuPC highlights problems from internal market perspective, warns of job losses / PlasticsEurope fears trade barriers, calls for regulation of “oxo-degradable” plastics

PLASTIC BAGS

OPA discredits Italian statement on oxo-biodegradable plastics and bag charges / Call for objective technical assessment by Commission

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

SHALE GAS UK

“Reasonable” estimate sees 4.4 bn barrels of shale oil under southern England / Geological survey finds no significant gas potential / New financial incentives for local communities

CARRIER BAGS

European parliament approves legislation on lightweight carrier bags / Latest legal hurdle mounted / Decision welcomed by European Bioplastics and Novamont

PLASTIC BAGS

EuPC dismisses “nonsensical provisions” on biodegradable and compostable plastics contained in European Parliament's proposal to reduce plastic bag usage

PACKAGING RECYCLING

Europe continues to make progress in recovery and recycling / Some 64% of material placed on the market is recycled / Europen report

PLASTIC BAGS

European parliament's Environment Committee signs off on draft rules to reduce plastic bag consumption by 80% by 2019 / Recommends replacing traditional bags with biodegradable and compostable ones

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Biodegradable bags a threat to the environment, says PRE / Problems in the waste stream

ASSOCIATIONS

EuPC welcomes “Prodi report” on European plastic waste strategy / Dangis expresses concern about end-of-life solutions for bioplastics

ASSOCIATIONS

Plastics Recyclers Europe welcomes EU parliament's adoption of the “European Strategy on plastic waste”