COCA-COLA

Drinks giant mulls shift from cans to plastic bottles to beat Trump's tariffs / Agreement with EC to amend recyclability claims on labels

PLASTICS AND FINANCE

BASF tops brand value list again; Sabic runner-up / Chinese brands grow by 18%

GLOBAL TRADE

Bankruptcies set to rise in next two years / Western Europe to see most job losses / Europe eyes unified insolvency laws

INSOLVENCIES GERMANY

Major insolvencies still at high level / Automotive suppliers most affected in plastics segment / Significantly more jobs at risk

US POLITICS

Two in four German manufacturers fear Trump victory / Over half say election outcome to have no business impact

MANAGEMENT

Liquidity or liquidation: number of business bankruptcies in Germany at high level / Automotive suppliers strongly affected – report

MANAGEMENT

West European companies under financial strain from late payments / Many offering longer credit terms to increase sales / Cautious optimism for year ahead, but concern on economic growth persists – Atradius report

MANAGEMENT

8% bad debts ‘uncollectable' in CEE – report / Majority of firms say no significant change in billing policies

IRELAND

Industry groups unveil ‘PolymerConnect' project / Goals include collaboration, innovation in plastics sector

MANAGEMENT

German chemical and plastics industry sees significant rise in company closures

LABOUR SHORTAGE EUROPE

Critical skill shortage in plastics processing industries intensifies / Germany needs almost 500,000 foreigners per year; shortage of working migrants in Italy and Spain – study / PIE talks to industry experts

MANAGEMENT

German plastics industry registers fewer bankruptcies percentage-wise in 2023 than industry as a whole / Falkensteg: “The figures are misleading”

GLOBAL ECONOMY

Risk ratings of 21 countries upgraded / Rising investor confidence in Croatia thanks to Euro – Allianz Trade report

MANAGEMENT

Insolvencies at major firms in Germany rise again in Q3 / Rescue rate improves – Falkensteg report

GREENWASHING

Advocacy group says drinks firms mislead consumers / Activists file EU complaint on recycling claims

WORLD ECONOMY

Growth in China, Europe to fall / North America, Middle East to improve / Sub-par global activity forecast for 2024 – DIHK

EUROPEAN ECONOMY

Eurozone GDP contracts in Q3, recession looms / Inflation falls sharply / German firms see difficulties ahead – DIHK survey

GREENWASHING

Clampdown on false sustainability claims / 'Green' labels must be verified / EU, other authorities on the case

GERMAN PLASTICS INDUSTRY

Bankruptcies at major firms up 25% from 2022 / Sector disproportionately affected

CIRCULAR PLASTICS FUND

EU adds EUR 50 mn to Dutch investment firm Infinity Recycling / Amount covers one-third of fund target