News Plastech
Biesterfeld has appointed Joe Read as Managing Director in the United Kingdom and Ireland, effective 1 March 2026. He will succeed Guy Payne, who will assume the role of long-term advisor.
The SKZ Plastics Center and the Institute of Psychology at the University of Würzburg have completed the OFHarmonie research project on the impact of plastic component surface structures on color perception. The results indicate the need for combined analysis of color, brightness, gloss and surface parameters.
The global PET market enters 2026 with weak demand, volatile freight costs and increasing import competition. Seasonality and speculative factors in many regions prevail over supply-demand fundamentals.
At the 3DExperience World conference in Houston, the winners of the international Aakruti 2026 design competition were announced. Students from nine countries developed sustainable solutions in healthcare, mobility, infrastructure and green energy using the 3DExperience platform and Solidworks applications.
Within the Possible project, Cannon and its partners have developed two mechanical recycling routes for rigid polyurethane foams and PU/GFRP composites, designed to operate with existing high-pressure foaming lines.
Qemetica Group has advanced to score B in the global CDP system in the areas of Climate Change and Water Security, confirming progress in transparent reporting and implementation of its decarbonisation strategy by 2033.
Coveris has signed an agreement to sell its Paper Packaging Division, comprising label and board activities, to US private equity fund Kingswood Capital Management. After completion of the transaction, the company will focus on flexible packaging in the EMEA region.
ELIX Polymers has announced its 2025–2030 sustainability strategy, including targets for decarbonisation, circular economy and social actions, continuing its existing initiatives to reduce emissions and water consumption.
The growing demand for fancy yarns with differentiated structures is increasing producers’ requirements in terms of precision, reproducibility and energy efficiency. Barmag presents modular DTY solutions and the atmos.io system, focused on stable yarn quality in the premium segment.
The Antwerp Declaration Community, representing more than 1,300 entities across Europe, is calling on EU leaders to take decisive corrective action for industrial competitiveness and jobs, with concrete effects visible in 2026.
The third edition of RePlast Eurasia, dedicated to plastics and fiber recycling, will be held on 26–28 March 2026 in Istanbul. The event will focus on recycling technologies, the circular economy and sustainable solutions for the industry.
Chimei Corporation has joined the global renewable plastics supply chain for Sony’s high-performance audio-visual products, supplying polycarbonate produced using a certified mass balance model.
The European chemical industry, facing increasing cost pressure and a loss of production capacity, is calling on EU leaders for concrete action to restore competitiveness, ensure predictable regulation and strengthen market protection in the face of global competition.
Dassault Systèmes reported 1% revenue growth in Q4 2025 and 4% for full-year 2025, with an improvement in operating margin and earnings per share. The company also presented preliminary financial guidance for 2026 and announced the introduction of Annual Run Rate reporting.
The organisers of the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2026 have announced the shortlist of finalists in seven categories. The winners will be honoured on 6 May during the Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam.
Borealis will invest EUR 4.5 million in upgrading the steam cracker furnaces in Porvoo to increase the share of renewable and recycled feedstocks in ethylene and propylene production. Completion of the investment programme is planned for 2025.
At the FINAT European Label Forum 2025, label industry experts discussed how artificial intelligence, the convergence of narrow- and wide-web technologies, and expansion into flexible packaging are shaping new business models for label printers.
Südpack has improved its EcoVadis rating to 85 out of 100 points, placing the film manufacturer among the top 5% of companies worldwide and earning a Gold distinction. The score reflects the company’s progress in environmental, social and ethical management as well as in sustainable procurement.
At MD&M West 2026, SABIC presented medical thermoplastics, including new polycarbonate copolymers and biocompatible Siltem HU materials as potential fluoropolymer replacements in medical tubing, as well as support for rapid application development.
Growing regulatory requirements and consumer expectations are accelerating the development of sustainable packaging in the cosmetics industry. Interpack 2026 will showcase how packaging, machinery and material manufacturers are translating these challenges into concrete market solutions.
Avient launches the Nymax REC 6000 High Impact series, comprising 22 grades of impact-modified recycled nylon compounds with 42–93% post-industrial recycled content and up to 83% carbon footprint reduction compared to prime-based materials.
Innovia Films has extended ISCC Plus certification to its production facility in Zacapú, Mexico, strengthening its capability to supply certified renewable and circular BOPP films from the Encore portfolio.
Syensqo reviews its two-year collaboration with Climate Impulse on the zero-emission, non-stop, round-the-world flight powered by green hydrogen, confirming the use of Aquivion polymer in the aircraft's fuel cell.
Amcor developed a set of bottles and a flexible tube for the new hair care products in Fragrances of Ireland's Inis the Energy of the Sea line, ensuring color and construction consistency across the entire range.
Biesterfeld Group has appointed Jonas Borgsten as Global Business Director for the Engineered Polymers business unit, effective March 1, 2026. He succeeds Martin Rathke, who is leaving the company after more than 18 years.
SKZ and f-bb are launching the three-year WBMplusK project to train 35 continuing education mentors for companies in the plastics industry, who will conduct around 600 mentoring sessions in total.
Chinaplas 2026 under the shadow of China's 15th Five‑Year Plan
DOMO Engineered Materials will showcase at Plastindia 2026 reinforced polyamide-based materials for applications requiring low weight, flame and heat resistance, sustainability and water contact.
Dassault Systèmes and Nvidia have entered into a long-term strategic partnership to create a joint architecture for industrial AI applications, based on virtual twin technology and NVIDIA AI infrastructure.
Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2026 conference programme published
Recykl Group focuses on finalizing the acquisition of German company HRV, integrating it with Lithuanian APG and increasing Smapol additive production capacity, while announcing an update of its development strategy.
AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is implementing the POLY-ML project, where machine learning techniques are used to predict material properties based on composition and processing conditions, shortening development time and reducing waste.
Sirmax receives Great Place to Work certification for the fourth time in a row
Fernley H. Banbury Award 2026 for Dr. Gerard Nijman
The latest Plastics Recyclers Europe report structures the current state of plastics recycling technologies in Europe, from sorting and mechanical recycling to dissolution and chemical recycling, indicating the processes that are actually operating at industrial scale.
Sustainable food packaging in the spotlight at interpack 2026