EuPC’s new president: “Circular reality” in reach but greater policy engagement needed
02 Jun 2022 --- European Plastics Converters (EuPC) recently held its first annual meeting in Brussels, Belgium, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry association appointed a new president, who is calling for greater involvement in EU policy-making to address the unprecedented challenges plastics players currently face.
Benoît Hennaut, president of construction company Herige Group, was appointed the new president of EuPC at the conference. He speaks to PackagingInsights about the findings and discussions of the two-day meeting and its implications for the future of plastics in Europe.
“Thanks to the various presentations, discussions and debates, it is clear that all the plastics industry is facing many issues right now. Plastic converters in Europe need to get much more involved at EU-level and engage directly with EuPC to pave the way for a [environmentally] sustainable converting industry in Europe,” he says.
“Priorities will need to be set because EuPC can no longer continue to try to do everything for all companies they represent. Challenges are there, and choices will have to be made, so I invite as many companies as possible to assist EuPC in taking the right direction.”
“It is important to be more united and speak with one voice for plastics converters, to work more closely with all the value chain in the future.”
Inflation breaking the loop
Over the past year, rising material prices and currency inflation have hit the plastics industry as hard as any other, leading the EuPC to call emergency gatherings in the face of potential “catastrophe.”
Benoît Hennaut, new president of EuPC.The question of who should shoulder price rises – suppliers or converters – caused serious disputes that many feared would fragment European unity and drive business to other regions where environmental production practices fall below UN targets.
In February, talks were held by over 600 European polymer players on how to resolve these supply chain issues.
Demonstrating plastics value
Hennaut now says the annual EuPC meeting has produced positive results.
“The event has shown the plastics industry’s willingness to continue the value chain efforts on circularity to demonstrate to public authorities the benefits of plastics products to society.”
“A circular reality is there at our doorstep. Companies have engaged and will not go back to business as usual. Consumer demand for circular material is growing every day, especially in the packaging markets. Other markets such as Building or Mobility where recycled material can be used are slowly picking up this trend.”
For these reasons, the EuPC has set up a project called “PolyVision 2030” with six team members to consult broadly on the plastic converting industry and membership over the next 12 months.
Results from the project will be presented next year during the EuPC’s 2023 Annual Meeting in France.
“Our priorities should be about continuing to work all together in the plastics value chain toward this circularity and focus on carbon savings in the communication work we do,” concludes Hennaut.
By Louis Gore-Langton
