Speakers from Procter & Gamble and Hewlett-Packard are among highlights of the Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRS) conference, which will examine all the key challenges facing the European plastics recycling sector.
The pan-European conference and accompanying exhibition, which takes place at the RAI Amsterdam on 29-30 March 2017, is organised by Crain Communications, publisher of Plastics News Europe. Plastics Recyclers Europe is the key partner organisation for the conference programme at the event.
Karmenu Vella, DG Environment & Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the European Commission, will open the conference. The first day of the conference will then feature a series of Materials Focus sessions run by Plastics Recyclers Europe. These presentations will look in detail at the logistical, technical, regulatory and market issues in the recycling of key plastic materials including PET, PVC, HDPE, LDPE and pots, tubs & trays.
Gian de Belder, principal scientist (packaging R&D/sustainability) at Procter & Gamble, will speak on sustainable packaging including the introduction of PCR for fabric care bottles. Ton Emans, president of Plastics Recyclers Europe, will deliver an update on the EU Commission's roadmap on plastics. Jonas Byström, senior economist at the European Investment Bank, will speak on financing recycling in a circular economy.
The second day of the conference has three sessions covering plastics recycling industry challenges, the plastics recycling process and design, technology and innovation.
Jason Ord, director, environmental responsibility, EMEA at Hewlett-Packard will open the plastics recycling process session with his paper entitled “Scaling the recycled plastics eco-system – an OEM perspective”. Other speakers will explore getting consumers to collect more, finding markets for recycled material and the extrusion recycled plastic materials.
Among topics covered in the industry challenges session will be how to change the image of plastics and the role of energy in waste management. Margot Auvray, policy coordinator, FEAD, speaks on regulatory challenges to plastics recycling. The concluding discussion session will examine the future of producer responsibility schemes through Europe.
Stephanie Maes, project manager at Waste Free Oceans, will introduce a process for recovering marine litter in the final session covering design, technology and innovation in plastics recycling.
The event will be officially opened on 29 March by Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, MEP and parliamentary committee member for the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
Visit the PRS Europe website to find out about more than 80 companies and organisations showcasing the latest advances in plastics recycling in the accompanying Plastics Recycling Show Europe exhibition. A broad cross section of the industry will be represented including plastics recycling machinery and equipment suppliers, plastic material suppliers and compounders, handling and logistics services, pre-processors, plastics recyclers, waste management specialists, industry associations and project management consultants.