Kęstutis Sadauskas, Director Circular Economy and Green Growth DG Environment at the European Commission will formally open the Plastics Recycling Show Europe Conference at the RAI Amsterdam on 10 April 2019. Registration for free entry to the two-day conference and exhibition, where the European plastics recycling industry meets annually to review and plan further progress towards the truly circular use of plastics, is now open.

Representatives from major brands newly added to the conference programme include IKEA’s Head of Resources and Waste, Sustainability Group, Per Stoltz; HP Inc’s Director of Product Stewardship, John Ortiz and Philips International‘s Senior Director Sustainability, Eelco Smit. Other high profile speakers already announced include Gilonne Traub, Senior Research Analyst, New Plastics Economy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation; Gian De Belder, Principal Scientist - Packaging R&D at Procter & Gamble and Leopold Thorsten, Head of International Packaging Development Home Care at Henkel.

The conference opens on 10 April with a session examining the latest developments and trends in the plastics recycling landscape in Europe. Speakers in this session will review the current state of affairs of the European plastics recycling industry, the legislative landscape and plastics recycling figures in Europe. There will also be updates on the European Union’s Plastics Strategy.

The following materials focus sessions will explore the challenges, issues and opportunities within the sector for mechanical and chemical recycling, with sessions covering PET, PVC and Technical Plastics. Key papers in the Technical Plastics session include: From WEEE and ELV to valuable plastic compounds by Jannick Sercu, Marketing Director, Galloo Plastics and Recycled plastics for a complex electronic product by Tanya Bakker, Programme Manager Environmental Policy, OCE (Océ-Technologies B.V).

In the PVC recycling session, Herman Huisman, Senior Advisor, International cooperation in waste management, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Helmut Maurer, Senior Expert – Chemicals, European Commission will cover Instruments to divert from landfilling: example landfill tax.

The second day’s opening conference session will look at technology, innovation and recyclability of plastic products. This will focus on design for recycling and technological developments in collection, sorting, shredding, washing, extrusion and plastics conversion. Day two continues with a polyolefins material focus session which will examine the current status of polyolefin waste streams including high- and low-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), as well as mixed plastics recycling (Pots, Tubs & Trays).

The Plastics Recycling Awards Europe ceremony will take place during the show on 11 April in the conference theatre. A total of seven awards will be presented this year. Together they demonstrate the latest technological developments and innovative solutions for improving efficiency and the quality of plastics recycling and making plastic products circular and sustainable. All the finalists will feature in a display area at the event.

Over 110 companies and industry organisations have confirmed their presence as exhibitors at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2019, which has this year moved to the larger Hall 7 at the RAI Amsterdam to accommodate growing numbers of exhibitors and visitors.

The pan-European, free-to-attend exhibition and conference are designed specifically for plastics recycling professionals. The Plastics Recycling Show Europe brings together key players from the plastics and recycling sectors to showcase innovative technology, share best practice, network and do business. A broad cross section of the industry is represented at the event including plastics recycling machinery and equipment suppliers, plastic material suppliers and compounders, pre-processors, plastics recyclers, waste management specialists and industry associations.