Marco ten Bruggencate has been appointed head of the European resin makers’ association Plastics Europe (Brussels; www.plasticseurope.org). He succeeds Markus Steilemann, CEO of German plastics producer Covestro.

Plastics Europe said Bruggencate, a Dutch national currently based in Switzerland, has worked for Dow since 2000 and has held various positions in Europe and the US. Prior to his current role as commercial vice-president for packaging and specialty plastics in EMEA, he was most recently global strategy director for polyurethanes and global business director for building and construction and construction chemicals.

Additionally, ten Bruggencate is a vocal advocate for inclusion and diversity and is co-chair of Dow’s Women’s Inclusion Network and executive sponsor of the Disability Employee Network in EMEAI, Plastics Europe added.

“I am proud to be taking up this important role at this challenging but exciting time for our industry,” Bruggencate said. “We are under no illusions about the scale and complexity of our industry’s transition and recognise the critical part we play in cutting emissions, reducing waste, and increasing circularity.

“Collaboration with all stakeholders will be key. I very much look forward to working more closely with these stakeholders to realise a truly sustainable plastics economy in Europe.”

Related: Benoît Hennaut from Herige elected new president of EuPC

The new president now becomes the face of a group fighting on a range of fronts: resin makers are dealing with volatile input prices vacillating around record levels, increasing pressure from authorities and environmental groups demanding a reduction in plastics consumption and waste, and tense relations with end-users, many of whom suspect supplier reports of plant outages have been used to boost the price of some materials.

Related: EuPC and Plastics Europe open public consultation on OCS certification scheme

Plastics Europe noted that during his two-year term, former president Steilemann supported increased efforts to reduce pellet loss in the environment with the launch of the European Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) certification scheme.

He also commissioned the independent study, ReShaping Plastics: Pathways to a Circular, Climate Neutral Plastics System in Europe conducted by UK-based sustainability advisory and investment company Systemiq (see Plasteurope.com of 16.05.2022).