YEAR IN REVIEW 2017
A plastics perspective on the past 12 months
 In his novels, Sir Terry Pratchett liked to wrap up a phrase with "The Century of the Fruitbat" – in reality, it is plastics that set the pace today (Photo: Fotolia/digitalstock) |
There wasn't a single dominant topic for the plastics industry in 2017, unless you count the compelling view that we are living in the century of plastic. What else will develop within the industry is not easy to predict, as demonstrated by the non-stop growth of plastic trade fairs in Düsseldorf, Orlando and Guangzhou. The bustling "Fakuma" event in Friedrichshafen / Germany was no exception.
Plasteurope.com's Year in Review 2017.
The industry instead mirrored an emerging global diversity. Following the UK's decision to leave the European Union, the cohesion of the EU is now being put to the test by developments in Catalonia. Concurrently, the US is not making an especially united impression, with the US president's approach of going it alone, quite the contrary.
The EU seems to be serious about the circular economy. This will be a challenge for the plastics industry, but also an opportunity to rediscover recycling as a source of raw materials for Europe. It is also urgently needed to secure a life necessity – water. On a different note, the automotive world was shaken up by the diesel scandals. Although it was clear at the international automobile show "IAA" in the autumn that the switch to electric cars could become reality much faster than expected.
The disastrous Atlantic hurricane catastrophes served as a reminder that the forces of nature are unpredictable. What was impressive though was how well prepared US plastics production was on the Gulf of Mexico. This also showed that the plastics world has nothing to fear.
Plastics will accompany humanity as the new central class of materials. We are just at the outset of the polymers age.
Read all about it in PIE's Year in Review 2017.
Plasteurope.com's Year in Review 2017.
The industry instead mirrored an emerging global diversity. Following the UK's decision to leave the European Union, the cohesion of the EU is now being put to the test by developments in Catalonia. Concurrently, the US is not making an especially united impression, with the US president's approach of going it alone, quite the contrary.
The EU seems to be serious about the circular economy. This will be a challenge for the plastics industry, but also an opportunity to rediscover recycling as a source of raw materials for Europe. It is also urgently needed to secure a life necessity – water. On a different note, the automotive world was shaken up by the diesel scandals. Although it was clear at the international automobile show "IAA" in the autumn that the switch to electric cars could become reality much faster than expected.
The disastrous Atlantic hurricane catastrophes served as a reminder that the forces of nature are unpredictable. What was impressive though was how well prepared US plastics production was on the Gulf of Mexico. This also showed that the plastics world has nothing to fear.
Plastics will accompany humanity as the new central class of materials. We are just at the outset of the polymers age.
Read all about it in PIE's Year in Review 2017.
15.12.2017 Plasteurope.com [238494-0]
Published on 15.12.2017