Conference Programme Announced for Plastics Recycling Show Europe

The Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRSE) conference programme has been published ahead of the event’s return to the RAI Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on November 4-5, 2021.

The latest trends in the plastics recycling sector will be explored in depth throughout the free-to-attend two-day event, providing a holistic view of the whole plastic recycling value chain and drawing together political leaders, major brands, recyclers and the plastics recycling and manufacturing industry.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries at the European Commission, will deliver the opening keynote updating delegates on the latest political and legislative developments in plastics recycling in Europe. Additional speakers in the opening session entitled ‘making plastics fully circular – what’s next?’ are Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) and Peter Goult, Associate at SYSTEMIQ.

Prominent speakers from major brands at the plastics recycling conference include:

• Thor Tummers, External Affairs Manager at Unilever
• Eelco Smit, Sustainability Leader at Philips Domestic Appliances
• Gian De Belder, Technical Director of R&D Packaging Sustainability at Procter & Gamble
• Anne Guillou, Sustainable Packaging & Product Development Manager at L’Oréal
• Ermis Panagiotopoulos, Sustainability Director at Natural Mineral Waters Europe

Materials focus sessions on the first day will explore the challenges, issues and opportunities within the sector for mechanical recycling, covering PET, PVC, technical plastics and polystyrene (PS) recycling.

In the PET session, Ermis Panagiotopoulos will cover ‘PET: EU legal obligations on rPET & beverage industry’s actions.’ In the PVC session, Charlotte Röbber, Managing Director of EPPA, will present ‘circular economy in action – implementing collection and recycling schemes for windows in Germany, France and Poland.’

Topics covered in the technical plastics and polystyrene session include ‘plastics recycling in domestic appliances sustainable plastics solutions’ and ‘the future of food contact and low carbon footprint: circular polystyrene.’

The second day’s opening session, ‘recyclability and recycled content: how to make it happen?’ will be chaired by Paolo Glerean, PRE Board Member and Chairman of RecyClass. The following polyolefin material focus sessions will examine the current status of polyolefin waste streams, including low- and high-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE). Mik Van Gaever, COO of FostPlus, will look at the ‘recycling of flexible household packaging in Belgium in the LDPE sessions.’ A highlight of the HDPE session is expected to be Thor Tummers with ‘accelerating the transition for a circular economy for packaging with all stakeholders.’ The conference will conclude with a final session looking at polypropylene (PP) recycling.

PRSE event sponsors will present papers on a wide range of innovations in plastics recycling technology and the wider circular economy, including:

• ‘Post-consumer recycling – going into a circular plastic economy with the latest technology,’ by Clemens Kitzberger, Business Development Manager Application Post-Consumer, EREMA Group GmbH
• ‘CirKular+™ solutions for recyclates performance enhancement and compatibilisation,’ by Freddy Vervoort, Senior R&D Scientist at Kraton Polymers
• ‘Re-compounding / tailor-made production of re-pellets challenges, limitations advantages and risks of recycling and compounding in one step,’ by Herr Ing. Stefan Lehner, General Sales Manager at MAS
• ‘Sustainable additive solutions – enhancing performance and value of circular plastics,’ by Dr. Gazi Tuerkoglu of BASF SE
• ‘How material expertise and digital means can support the supply of circular plastics feedstock,’ by Edouard Garreau, Cofounder of Polytopoly

The winners of all seven award categories at the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2021 will be announced at 1:00 pm on November 5. All 55 finalists will be showcased in the exhibition, as will the winners of the 2020 awards, which were presented virtually. EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen GmbH, Fimic SRL and Tomra Sorting Recycling are platinum sponsors of the 2021 awards.

The Plastics Recycling Show Europe is a conference and exhibition designed specifically for plastics recycling professionals. It brings together key players from the plastics and recycling sectors to showcase innovative technology, share best practice, network and do business. A broad cross-section of the industry is represented at the event, including plastics recycling machinery and equipment suppliers, plastic material suppliers and compounders, pre-processors, plastics recyclers, waste management specialists and industry associations.

Among more than 175 companies exhibiting at the largest PRSE show to date are BASF, Berry Bpi Group, EREMA, FIMIC, Hellweg Maschinenbau, Kraton Polymers, KraussMaffei, LyondellBasell, NextChem, Pellenc ST, Polyloop, Starlinger, Suez, Tomra Sorting and Veolia.

The hybrid event will allow people unable to visit the event in person to view elements of the two-day conference programme via live stream, including the welcome address, keynote speeches and sponsored as well as the announcement of winners of the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe. Online-only visitors will also be able to interact directly with exhibitors.

Covid-secure event

PRSE organisers Crain Communications and Plastics Recyclers Europe are working closely with the RAI to ensure all visitors enjoy a covid-secure event. This will include following the latest guidelines from the Government of The Netherlands and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) to ensure business exhibitions and conferences can take place safely.

For more information, visit www.prseventeurope.com/.