News

On the eve of the Plastpol 2025 expo, Targi Kielce hosted an important debate among processors, producers, and institutions related to the plastics industry. The conference, titled “Competitiveness and circularity of the European plastics industry,” brought together experts, industry leaders, and representatives of European and national organisations.

The event was officially opened by Doctor Andrzej Mochoń, President of Targi Kielce, Doctor Anna Kozera-Szałkowska, Managing Director of the PlasticsEurope Polska Foundation and Robert Szyman, General Director of the Polish Association of Plastics Converters. They stressed that dialogue on the future of the plastics sector is critical in the context of Europe’s economic transformation. – The issues raised during the conference are directly reflected in the stands of the exhibitors at the Plastpol trade fair;  for four days, approximately 600 exhibitors from 30 countries present their offers. Advanced recycling lines, regranulates, biopolymers, intelligent automation systems, and energy-saving machines that reduce the price of the final product are showcased at the expo – said Doctor Andrzej Mochoń.

Plastics Industry  – Economy and Market

The first session of Monday’s conference “Plastics Industry – Economy and Market” began with an analysis of the current macroeconomic situation. Doctor Ernest Pytlarczyk from Bank Pekao SA highlighted the trends. Umberto Credali, President of the Management Board of PlasticsEurope Polska, and Tadeusz Nowicki, President of the Management Board of the Polish Association of Plastics Converters, discussed the condition and challenges of the plastics industry in Poland and Europe.

According to a report presented by Umberto Credali, plastic production in Europe fell by 13.3 percent between 2023 and 2018;  the decline in production is greater than expected. Moreover, for the first time in 2023, there was an average decline in the production of recyclates from mechanical recycling. - Production of recyclates from chemical recycling remains at a low level  while the production of bio-based plastics and those with attributed bio-based content increased slightly. Production is falling in Europe, and growing worldwide. The growth in 2023 compared to 2018 is 11.6 per cent, said Umberto Credali.

Tadeusz Nowicki, president of PZPTS, noted: - We're not as well off as we'd like to be;  the only way is to invest in technologies that will improve the situation. Our industry keeps investing, more and more.

Among the challenges for the plastics processing industry, he pointed to extended producer responsibility and the deposit-refund system.

Julia Mihalkina from Plastics Information Europe discussed polymer purchasing strategies based on price forecasts.

Clean Industrial Deal – opportunity or threat?

An important part of the Plastics Industry Meeting - the session on the Clean Industrial Deal and the role of plastics in the European Union's new industrial policy. Jakub Safjański from the Lewiatan Confederation outlined the framework for the new EU economic strategy  which led to the panel debate featuring   Emilia Tarłowska from Plastics Recyclers Europe, Geoffroy Tillieux from European Plastics Converters, Sabine Nadherny-Borutin from PlasticsEurope Austria and Jakub Safjański. The panel was chaired by Katarzyna Kaczorowska from Dow Polska.

The discussion revealed growing concerns about the marginalisation of plastics in EU policies, despite their strategic role in the economy, and too limited support mechanisms for their innovative transformation.

Circular innovations as a source of competitive advantage

The third part of the conference was devoted to the practical aspects of sustainable development and financing innovation. Anna Gorczyńska-Ossowska from Siemens Financial Services presented how ESG can become the foundation of modern competitiveness. Experts from Bank Pekao SA – Anna Frankowska and Wojciech Głowacki – indicated possible sources of financing for processing companies in the process of circular transformation.

The panel moderated by Anna Kozera-Szałkowska (PlasticsEurope Polska) and Robert Szyman (PZPTS) brought together  Izabela Jaskólska from Basell Orlen Poliolefins, Andrzej Olszewski from Faerch, Ilona Bazgan from DOPAK, Grzegorz Jarzębski from Siemens Financial Services. They highlighted specific examples of transformational actions in manufacturing plants and discussed the need for broader collaboration across the value chain.

The discussion about the plastics processing and recycling industry will also take place during the Plastpol expo -

on Tuesday at 10.30 a.m. the Targi Kielce’s conference room E3, in expo hall 5 hosts a press conference. Anna Kozera-Szałkowska, managing director of the PlasticsEurope Polska Foundation, will present the latest data on the condition of the sector.

We invite you to the conference and the entire Plastpol,  from 20 to 23 May at Targi Kielce.