IDENTIPLAST
Discussion on the role of plastics in a circular economy / End of life of plastic goods key to sustainable development / Dialogue on regulation is a prime duty / International conference in Rome
 IdentiPlast 2015 has gathered leading international experts to identify the key drivers to reach a zero plastics waste society in Europe and to analyse the role of plastics within the circular economy (Photo: PlasticsEurope) |
The recent “IdentiPlast” conference (www.identiplast.eu) on the recycling and recovery of plastics held in Rome / Italy at the end of April focused on how the plastics industry can contribute to a circular economy where the world’s resources are kept in use for as long as possible and sustainability and economic growth go hand in hand.
In the opening speech, Daniele Ferrari, president of PlasticsEurope Italia, the Italian branch of the European plastics manufacturers’ association PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.org) and CEO of Versalis (Milan / Italy; www.versalis.com), highlighted how the end of life of plastics is central for a sustainable development of the industry.
“Our prime duty is to have a constructive dialogue with institutions and regulators in order to create the right conditions to reach environmental and societal objectives without compromising competitiveness.” Ferrari said, adding, “The European plastics industry undertook a major action since 2011, with the 'Zero Plastics to Landfill' initiative, and we need to continue working in the right direction. A better implementation and enforcement of existing waste legislation has the potential to increase recycling and recovery rates while creating jobs in Europe.”
Helmut Maurer of DG Environment at the European Commission underlined some key aspects of the Commission’s ambitious "Circular Economy Package" to be announced this autumn, saying: “We should focus on implementation. We need to have a measured approach with a legislation that effectively triggers investments into green economy and creates jobs. We also will have to concentrate on products to close the circle towards a sustainable economy.”
Harald Pilz, project leader at Austrian think-tank Denkstatt (Vienna; www.denkstatt.at), made a detailed presentation at “IdentiPlast” on the consideration of the high environmental footprint of food production compared with that of packaging and the importance of protecting food in the best way possible and to extend its shelf life – see Plasteurope.com of 19.05.2015 for a downloadable PDF version of his presentation.
Following the conference, a dialogue also opened between Ton Emans, president of Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE, Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticsrecyclers.eu), and the Energy from Waste (EfW) industry association in which Emans said that EfW is wrongly challenging the European waste hierarchy to promote incineration. He encouraged the reuse of the industry’s product as much as possible – see Plasteurope.com of 18.05.2015.
In the opening speech, Daniele Ferrari, president of PlasticsEurope Italia, the Italian branch of the European plastics manufacturers’ association PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.org) and CEO of Versalis (Milan / Italy; www.versalis.com), highlighted how the end of life of plastics is central for a sustainable development of the industry.
“Our prime duty is to have a constructive dialogue with institutions and regulators in order to create the right conditions to reach environmental and societal objectives without compromising competitiveness.” Ferrari said, adding, “The European plastics industry undertook a major action since 2011, with the 'Zero Plastics to Landfill' initiative, and we need to continue working in the right direction. A better implementation and enforcement of existing waste legislation has the potential to increase recycling and recovery rates while creating jobs in Europe.”
Helmut Maurer of DG Environment at the European Commission underlined some key aspects of the Commission’s ambitious "Circular Economy Package" to be announced this autumn, saying: “We should focus on implementation. We need to have a measured approach with a legislation that effectively triggers investments into green economy and creates jobs. We also will have to concentrate on products to close the circle towards a sustainable economy.”
Harald Pilz, project leader at Austrian think-tank Denkstatt (Vienna; www.denkstatt.at), made a detailed presentation at “IdentiPlast” on the consideration of the high environmental footprint of food production compared with that of packaging and the importance of protecting food in the best way possible and to extend its shelf life – see Plasteurope.com of 19.05.2015 for a downloadable PDF version of his presentation.
Following the conference, a dialogue also opened between Ton Emans, president of Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE, Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticsrecyclers.eu), and the Energy from Waste (EfW) industry association in which Emans said that EfW is wrongly challenging the European waste hierarchy to promote incineration. He encouraged the reuse of the industry’s product as much as possible – see Plasteurope.com of 18.05.2015.
22.05.2015 Plasteurope.com [231241-0]
Published on 22.05.2015