RECYCLING

PolyStyreneLoop inaugurates first European demo plant / Treatment of flame-retarded EPS and XPS foam

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Consumer goods group Henkel participating in initiative against plastics waste in Haiti / Partnership with Plastic Bank

AGRICULTURAL FILMS

Use of plastics in agriculture increasing worldwide / Reaction to shortage of land area and water / Biodegradable mulch films included in EU fertilisers regulation for first time / Biopolymers and recycling associations have conflicting opinions

CHILE

On track to ban plastic bags in coastal cities / Initiatives around the country to minimise waste / Ten companies commit to promoting recycled plastic packaging

KENYA

Launch of wide-sweeping plastic bag ban / Draconian penalties for use / Other African countries to follow

PVC RECYCLING

Focus on European and global markets / Policies for sustainability issues / VinylPlus programme recognised by WEF circular economy award initiative

MAUSER

Liner barrier technology developed for IBCs / UN approved for dangerous goods transport

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

WPC general assembly meeting at “K 2016” / Focus on Asia / Recognition by UN hits a snag / Reliance and Daelim decide to join

UNITED KINGDOM

Poor economic data put a strain on the economy / Fear of recession following "Brexit" vote / EU exit appears to have comparatively little impact on plastics segment / BPF conference on strategic vision

COVESTRO

Sustainability focus to include the entire chain / CO2 emissions to be halved up to 2025

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

PIE talks to World Plastics Council chairman Abdulrahman al-Fageeh and PlasticsEurope executive director Karl H. Foerster / WPC as platform for sharing best practices / Localising global solutions / Focus on marine debris / Increasingly global scope

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

PlasticsEurope president Patrick Thomas: Plastics industry needs to be at the forefront of combating problems like marine litter / Lessons from "PolyTalk" to be applied at global level / Europe is the source of the solution

FRANCE

Plastic bag ban delayed to 1 July / Authorities promote use of bio-based plastic carrier bags / “ORPlast” circular economy initiative calls for higher recyclate usage / Pressure to lift recycling rates in E&E and packaging segments

EPS INSULATION

Fierce competition and high volatility drive consolidation in Germany / French state fund for renovations / New UK market leader is born / Cladding segment increasingly trends towards grey EPS / Prolonged use of HBCD has no notable market relevance

FRANCE

National Assembly passes energy transition bill / Ban on plastic single-use carrier bags and tableware / Legislation also promotes building insulation / Plastics industry critical

INTERPACK

All exhibition space is now fully booked / Around 60 countries will be represented at leading packaging trade fair / Special events to run in parallel with Exhibition in Düsseldorf

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Global plastics groups sign Declaration for Solutions on Marine Litter / More than 100 projects to be carried out in 32 countries / Belgium starts retrieving floating waste

EVENTS

“Interpack 2011”: Focus on packaging innovations and avoiding food losses

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Surfrider Foundation's “Ocean Initiatives” 2010 to clean beaches, lakes and rivers / PlasticsEurope “seriously concerned” about marine litter