On the 21st of May, more than 180 participants from the entire plastics value chain attended in Alessandria (Italy) the ECP4 Annual Conference co-organized by ECP4, The European Composites, Plastics and Polymer Processing Platform, and Proplast - Consorzio per la Promozione della Cultura Plastica.
The conference was the second edition of “Strategic Research Needs for the European Plastics and Composites Industry” and focused on the report Plastics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda in a Circular Economy, done in cooperation between SusChem, PlasticsEurope, EuPC and ECP4.
The President of ECP4, Mr. Clement de Meersman said “since its creation, ECP4 has worked on the need to develop a strategic agenda for plastics but now it becomes evident that the cooperation of the value chain is essential to keep the European plastics and composites industries at the forefront of the innovation and globally competitive in a circular economy”.
case studies for a plastic circular economy
Italian companies presented their views and projects framed in the three chapters of the report “Plastics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda in a Circular Economy”:
Circularity by design: brand owners, Ferrero and Centro Ricerche FIAT, highlighted the importance of design in the packaging and also automotive sector.
Circularity by alternative feedstock: different approaches for bio-based and biodegradable materials were presented by Versalis, Novamont and Silvateam Spa.
Circularity by recycling: best practices for plastic waste management, specifically for packaging and food applications, together with new trends on ecosustainability and chemical recycling were outlined by Corepla, Garbo, Piovan Group and Proplast.
The programme of the conference is available here.
Next ECP4 Annual Conference will take place in April 2020 at the Tomas Bata University (Zlin, Czech Republic).