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On the second day of the milestone 30th edition of the PLASTPOL fair, participants of the Plastech Info Technical Seminar are diving into discussions on the sector's future under the banner “There is No World Without Plastics”. One of the cornerstone events of the seminar is a panel discussion examining the European plastics industry over the next 30 years. The meeting also pays tribute to the lasting legacy of Professor Henryk Zawistowski.

The motto “There is No World Without Plastics” sets the defining tone for this year’s Plastech Info Technical Seminar, serving as one of the premier highlights of the 30th International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing PLASTPOL at Targi Kielce. Having accompanied PLASTPOL since its inception, this meeting regularly brings together prominent representatives from industry, academia, technology, and trade communications.

The event is co-organized by Targi Kielce and the industry web portal www.tworzywa.pl. The agenda features expert presentations and panel debates dedicated to the health, history, and future outlook of the sector.

The seminar was officially opened by Dr. Andrzej Mochoń, President of Targi Kielce, who highlighted the vital significance of the event and its long-standing presence within the PLASTPOL program.
— I would like to extend my gratitude to Jacek Szczerba for continuing the fine tradition established by Professor Henryk Zawistowski, a true industry mentor and the founding father of the PLASTPOL trade fair.

For several decades, the Plastech Info Technical Seminar has served as an essential forum for dialogue on the plastics industry.
The slogan “There is No World Without Plastics” resonates with particular relevance today.

Plastics remain absolutely indispensable across numerous sectors of the economy, including the defense industry, where lightweight properties, durability, functionality, and cost efficiency are of paramount importance.

The sheer strength of the sector and its enduring trust in the PLASTPOL brand are fully demonstrated by this year's edition, which features 660 companies from 36 countries worldwide — emphasised Dr Andrzej Mochoń, President of Targi Kielce.

One of the focal points of the seminar is the panel discussion entitled “Journey to the Future – What Might the Plastics Industry in Europe Look Like in 30 Years?”

The conversation is moderated by Dr. Eng.
Anna Kozera-Szałkowska, Managing Director of Plastics Europe Polska.

The debate is attended by experts representing science, industry, communication, design and capital: dr hab. inż.
Przemysław Postawa, Professor

at the Częstochowa University of Technology; Agnieszka Rejnowicz, Expert – PR & Communications at Basell Orlen Polyolefins; Katarzyna Śliwa, CEO of Ergodesign; and Tomasz Woźniak, Managing Partner at TEP Capital.

The conversation focuses on the key trajectories along which the European plastics sector might evolve over the coming decades.

Key topics under review include technological shifts, regulatory frameworks, environmental transformation, innovation, responsible communication, and the overall competitiveness of the industry in Europe.
A vital thread of the panel centered on industry PR and the way plastics are discussed outside corporate and industrial circles.

Agnieszka Rejnowicz pointed out that the debate surrounding plastics has long expanded beyond the industrial sphere, increasingly playing out across social media platforms, the internet, and AI-driven tools.

— It is not about having AI write our press releases for us, but about leveraging it to help disseminate reliable, fact-based knowledge about plastics—rooted in solid research rather than myths or oversimplifications.

If we train AI with accurate facts, we stand a real chance of reversing the negative public perception of plastics, stated Agnieszka Rejnowicz, Expert – PR & Communications at Basell Orlen Polyolefins.
During the panel, experts also stressed that the sector's long-term viability will depend on its capacity to implement innovations, advance recycling capabilities, utilize alternative raw material sources, and foster close collaboration between scientific research and industry.

The exchange also touched upon artificial intelligence, process automation, the availability of a skilled workforce, and mounting consumer expectations regarding product quality, functionality, and environmental responsibility.

The Plastech Info Technical Seminar program additionally features presentations on current regulations surrounding plastic pellets, modern piping materials, efficient colour and material changeovers in injection moulding processes, the colouring of glass-fibre reinforced engineering plastics, and the impact of plasticisers on the quality of PVC products.

This year's meeting seamlessly bridges forward-looking dialogue on the next decades of the European industry with a thoughtful reflection on the achievements of the individuals and enterprises that co-created the market standing of both PLASTPOL and the Polish plastics processing sector.

The core of the discussion remains fixed on concrete challenges: recycling, raw material availability, new technologies, workforce competencies, responsible design, and fact-based communication.

(BB)