ORGANISERS of the Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRSE) exhibition have announced that Kęstutis Sadauskas, director circular economy and green growth DG environment at the European Commission, will formally open the conference at the RAI Amsterdam on April 10.
Representatives from major brands recently added to the conference programme include Per Stoltz (IKEA’s head of resources and waste, sustainability group), John Ortiz (HP Inc’s director of product stewardship), and Eelco Smit (Philips International‘s senior director sustainability). They join a speaker line-up that already included Gilonne Traub (senior research analyst, new plastics economy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation), Gian De Belder (principal scientist – packaging R&D at Procter & Gamble), and Leopold Thorsten (head of international packaging development home care at Henkel).
The conference will begin with a session analysing plastics recycling in Europe. Speakers will review the current state of affairs, the legislative landscape and recycling figures. There will also be updates on the European Union’s Plastics Strategy. Organisers said the following materials focus sessions will explore the challenges, issues and opportunities for mechanical and chemical recycling, with sessions covering PET, PVC and technical plastics.
The second day’s opening conference session will look at technology, innovation and recyclability of plastic products. This will focus on design for recycling and technological developments in collection, sorting, shredding, washing, extrusion and plastics conversion. Day two will also include a polyolefins material focus session. which will examine the status of polyolefin waste streams including high- and low-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), as well as mixed plastics recycling.
The Plastics Recycling Awards Europe ceremony will take place during the show on April 11, where seven awards will be handed out. All the finalists will feature in a display area at the event.
Over 110 companies and industry organisations have already signed up as PRSE exhibitors this year. The event is moving to the larger Hall 7 at the RAI Amsterdam to accommodate extra numbers.
