AHPI
Dimitrios Syrmos elected president of Greek plastics industry association
At the Association of Hellenic Plastics Industries' (AHPI, Athens / Greece; www.ahpi.gr) extraordinary general assembly on 22 November 2018 in Athens, Dimitrios Syrmos was re-elected as president. Syrmos is owner of Powdermix – Syrmos (Livadeia / Greece; www.powdermix.gr) and has been president of the AHPI since February 2018. Plasteurope.com recently spoke to him about the plastics industry and currently pressing issues for the sector in Greece – see Plasteurope.com of 07.12.2018.
 Greece's plastics industry association AHPI recently elected its board of directors (Logo: AHPI) |
During his inauguration speech, Syrmos said, “In Greece unfortunately there is a poor waste-management system and we are really struggling to promote recycling to municipalities and consumers. We strongly believe that circular economy is a real opportunity for a country devastated by an ongoing financial crisis.”
The other new members of the AHPI's board of directors are vice president Vassilios Gounaris (BASF Hellas), general secretary Harilaos Panopoulos (Panopoulos Bros), deputy general secretary Sotirios Kordas (Replastik), treasurer Dimitrios Kotsopoulos (MP Extruders S.&D. Kotsopoulos), deputy treasurer Nikolaos Economides and member Panagiotis Gerontopoulos (Orbit Polymers).
Like most plastics industry associations across Europe, the AHPI aims to strengthen a positive image of plastics among the media, academia and politicians. The Greek association says it can “provide a fundamental contribution to the adaptation of an efficient circular economy in Greece.” It will also communicate the benefits of plastics to consumers. The AHPI seeks to unify all Greek companies dealing with plastics, including raw materials producers and traders, converters as well as recyclers to tackle common problems.
According to the association, more than 250 small- and medium-sized enterprises have been under pressure due to new legislation. At the beginning of 2018, Greece implemented a mandatory “environmental fee” on plastic bags in stores and supermarkets – see Plasteurope.com of 23.02.2018 – which resulted in a huge drop in the usage of the lightweight carrier bags – see Plasteurope.com of 25.06.2018.
The AHPI was founded in 1958 and represents more than 250 companies in Greece’s plastics industry. These companies employ over 20,000 people and have an annual turnover of more than EUR 2 bn.
The other new members of the AHPI's board of directors are vice president Vassilios Gounaris (BASF Hellas), general secretary Harilaos Panopoulos (Panopoulos Bros), deputy general secretary Sotirios Kordas (Replastik), treasurer Dimitrios Kotsopoulos (MP Extruders S.&D. Kotsopoulos), deputy treasurer Nikolaos Economides and member Panagiotis Gerontopoulos (Orbit Polymers).
Like most plastics industry associations across Europe, the AHPI aims to strengthen a positive image of plastics among the media, academia and politicians. The Greek association says it can “provide a fundamental contribution to the adaptation of an efficient circular economy in Greece.” It will also communicate the benefits of plastics to consumers. The AHPI seeks to unify all Greek companies dealing with plastics, including raw materials producers and traders, converters as well as recyclers to tackle common problems.
According to the association, more than 250 small- and medium-sized enterprises have been under pressure due to new legislation. At the beginning of 2018, Greece implemented a mandatory “environmental fee” on plastic bags in stores and supermarkets – see Plasteurope.com of 23.02.2018 – which resulted in a huge drop in the usage of the lightweight carrier bags – see Plasteurope.com of 25.06.2018.
The AHPI was founded in 1958 and represents more than 250 companies in Greece’s plastics industry. These companies employ over 20,000 people and have an annual turnover of more than EUR 2 bn.
07.12.2018 Plasteurope.com [241277-0]
Published on 07.12.2018