Plastics, a topical issue taking up its place at Pollutec
Today the plastics economy is huge and its application sectors are making it even more vast. The need to accompany the transition of this economy towards one that is more responsible and sustainable is therefore key in reducing the health and environmental impacts of the different types of plastic waste, primarily marine pollution, which degrades marine ecosystems, as well as the damage caused to organisms by microplastics.
The transition of the plastics economy: a shared challenge facing all economic players
The French and European targets for recycling and reducing plastic waste are ambitious with “100% of plastic recycled” for France by 2025 and 100% for Europe by 2030. While the target of 100% of plastic recycled may appear unrealistic (just 22% is recycled in France at present), there remains considerable scope for progress in this field and the waste-to-energy option must also be associated with the recycling option to reach the target of 0% plastic in landfill.
These declared objectives open up opportunities for innovation and investment in new methods and technologies. The economic stakeholders can engage collectively and pro-actively on the initiatives of the sectors and public-private collaborations such as the project to obtain signatures for Green Deals (known as ECVs in France), European multi-party agreements between companies and professional federations with the European Commission and, more widely, as part of increasingly legible regulations and plans such as the Circular Economy reply form and the European Circular Economy action plan, which sets the targets for the Member States.
Furthermore, China’s recent unilateral decision to ban the importation of waste, in particular eight families of plastics, means it is possible to assess the opportunities for relocating these markets.
Strong resonance of plastic priorities on numerous sectors
The impacts of plastic waste on the environment demand strong actions to treat this waste but also, and above all, to prevent it. The Pollutec “Sea and Coast” space, launched in 2016, will again continue to spotlight actions and cooperation aimed at limiting, as early as possible, the different forms of pollution, in particular solid waste flows which affect aquatic and coastal environments and which result from human activities.
The different sectors of the plastics, material manufacturers, waste industries and sectors economic chain must work together for transition towards a plastics circular economy aimed at increasing recycling, considering ecodesign and learning to opt for recycled plastics.
Pollutec, the venue where you can meet stakeholders engaged in the transition of the plastics economy
Faced with the challenges and high expectations of the stakeholders, Pollutec has decided to introduce a special thematic focus for the 2018 edition and has invited plastics manufacturers and the main industries using plastics to attend alongside the eco-industries to provide the necessary insights and illustrations on the topics associated with a plastics circular economy.
Pollutec is an extraordinary platform for contacts bringing together all environment sectors and stakeholders: players in waste, recycling, water management and, more broadly, all eco-industries concerned. Issues that are both citizen and industrial will be covered by more global and cross-sector approaches.
Pollutec, a key venue for implementing the circular economy and its application to plastics!
Are you interested? Do you want to be part of the thematic focus? Visit our website or contact us at the following address: anne-gaelle.courty-ahmed@reedexpo.fr
