Plastics News
Upcoming Events:
Plastics News Executive Forum
February 27 – March 1, 2023
Clearwater Beach, FL
For more info and to register: https://web.cvent.com/event/6d496e49-2401-40a4-9c63-8b57eec806aa/summary?RefId=PN_PrintAd&utm_medium=direct&utm_source=PNMKT_PN&utm_campaign=EF&utm_content=PN.com
Current Trending Topics in the News with Links to Articles:
- Governmental and Lobbying:
Biggest midterm election impact for plastics: A green wave in states
https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/biggest-election-impact-plastics-green-gains-states
For the plastics industry, the biggest impact of the Nov. 8 midterm elections is probably in the states, where unexpected and history-defying gains by Democrats could strengthen calls for new plastics environmental laws.
Plastic bags under scrutiny again. Is flexible packaging next?
https://www.plasticsnews.com/viewpoint/plastic-bags-under-scrutiny-again-flexible-packaging-next
Based on the muted reaction, it looked like California Attorney General Rob Bonta took the plastics industry by surprise on Nov. 2 when he challenged plastic bag makers to prove that they aren’t misleading consumers about bag recyclability.
But it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Maybe the timing was a shock, but we’ve known this was coming for a long time.
Nearly a year ago, the California Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling sent a letter to Bonta saying that its review of recycling messages on bags and film turned up dozens of violations of state and federal laws.
- Features and News Articles:
K 2022 attendance slips 21%, exceeds expectations
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/k-2022-attendance-slips-21-exceeds-expectations
About 176,000 visitors came to K 2022, which was a drop of about 21 percent compared with the last show in 2019.
Show organizers were happy nonetheless, with both the quantity and quality of visitors. Prior to the show, officials had said they didn’t really know what attendance numbers to expect in this first major international plastics show since the start of the COVID pandemic.
“We had a very, very intense trade fair,” said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, chairman of the exhibitor advisory board, at the fair’s closing news conference on Oct. 26. “The only thing for me to do is grin.”
Most commodity prices drop, but PE stays flat
https://www.plasticsnews.com/resin-pricing/most-commodity-prices-drop-pe-stays-flat
North American prices for most commodity resins continued to drop in October. Price declines were seen in markets for polypropylene, PVC, polystyrene and PET bottle resin. Polyethylene prices in the regions were flat for the month.
Regional PP prices were down an average of 15 cents per pound, according to market sources contacted by Plastics News. That drop was a combination of a decline in price for polymer-grade propylene (PGP) feedstock and buyers reclaiming some margin from PP makers, sources said. The PGP market couldn’t reach a settlement price for October, but the drop was estimated to be 10-12 cents. PP buyers then regained 3-4 cents in margin.
PP prices in September had tumbled 8 cents per pound. Prices for the material now have declined for five consecutive months. Combined with other increases and decreases, PP prices now are down a net of 36 cents so far in 2022.
Avient colorants win approval
https://www.plasticsnews.com/one-good-resin/avient-colorants-win-approval
Avient Corp. has found a bright idea in dark colorants.
Near-infrared (NIR) sortable dark colorants made by Avon Lake, Ohio-based Avient have been recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers under its Meets Preferred Guidance (MPG) program.
With the recognition, OnColor-brand NIR sortable colorants are preferred for high density polyethylene resin in black and dark colors, according to the APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability.
- Recycling:
Plastic Bank seeks market at K for ‘social plastic’
https://www.plasticsnews.com/k-show/plastic-bank-seeks-market-k-social-plastic
Plastic Bank hopes K 2022 can catapult the social enterprise more firmly into the plastics industry. The company operates a software platform and builds networks that link more than 600 recycling centers in developing nations.
Founded in 2013, it has grown fast enough in recent years that it is getting enough volume of recycled plastic in its network to branch out to exhibiting at its first plastics show, said David Katz, founder and chief commercial officer.
Plastics Recycling World Magazine
Link to November/December 2022 Issue: https://content.yudu.com/web/1rl19/0A42x3p/PRWNovDec22/html/index.html?refUrl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.plasticsrecyclingworld.com%252F
Current Trending Topics:
Plastics Industry Returns to K Fair; Numbers Exceed Expectations
The doors closed on K2022 on 28 October and it was without a doubt a successful event. “K in Düsseldorf has once again fulfilled highest expectations. It continues to be the most international, complete and innovative trade fair of the global plastics and rubber industry,” said Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director at K organizer Messe Düsseldorf.
New rPET machinery developments at K2022
High demand for post-consumer PET recycling lines – waiting times are anywhere from 12 months to almost two years, with one supplier even said to be taking bids on its equipment – is a sure sign of the need in the food and drink sector to put more rPET into packaging. EU legislation requires that my 2025, all new PET bottles should contain at least 25% recyclate, with the figure rising to 30% by 2023.
Alternative PET recycling projects move forward
Several projects are underway around the world on different ways to treat PET packaging and fibre waste that is unfit for mechanical recycling. Read more on these new concepts…
Helping to improve the appearance of recyclates
Matching the aesthetics of recycled plastic materials to those achieved with virgin polymers is a challenge, but one that producers of color pigments and masterbatches are gearing up to meet.
Upcoming Events:
Chemical Recycling
North America
Houston, TX
March 21 – 22, 2023
For More Info and To Book a Booth: https://www.ami-events.com/event/14f079e0-70b1-4d3f-9972-4c794bbf36d5/summary?RefId=Advert_post_event_Report_ChemEU_22&rt=ZJWqCFC1sUuPSrZfsYSo5A
Plastics Recycling World Expo Europe
Essen Germany
June 14 – 15, 2023
For More Info and To Book a Booth: https://eu.plasticsrecyclingworldexpo.com/exhibit/become-an-exhibitor?utm_source=PRWMag&utm_medium=ExpromAd&utm_campaign=220221_E080_PA_BYS_Exhib_UK_Prospect_Exhibitors_PRW_mag
