Athens, November 3, 2025 – The European plastics industry gathered in Athens for Plastainability 2025, a high-level conference focused on the sector’s competitiveness, circularity and long-term sustainability. Organized under the theme of navigating change and industrial transformation, the event brought together leading representatives from European plastics and chemical associations, policymakers and experts in waste management and recycling technologies.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Balancing Sustainability with Industrial Reality
In his opening remarks, Panagiotis Gerontopoulos, President of the Association of Hellenic Plastics Industries (AHPI), stressed the irreplaceable role of plastics in modern life. “Without plastics, contemporary living would not be possible,” he said, highlighting the need for responsible management rather than blanket restrictions.
He also acknowledged the uncertainty the industry is experiencing, a result of shifting regulations, market disruptions and pressure to meet sustainability targets.
Six Strategies to Strengthen Europe’s Plastics Value Chain
Federica Gallicchio, Managing Director of European Plastics Converters (EuPC), outlined a six-point strategy designed to restore balance and competitiveness across the European plastics sector. Her presentation, “Turning the Tide: Six Strategic Actions to Safeguard Europe’s Plastics Sector,” emphasized that Europe must move from crisis response to long-term strategic alignment.
The six actions proposed were:
- Restore fair competition in global and intra-EU markets
- Reduce energy costs to improve industrial parity
- Ensure effective enforcement of existing rules
- Remove regulatory and market fragmentation within the EU
- Unlock innovation and investment by breaking existing bottlenecks
- Enhance Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for a more balanced circular economy
She also underscored that maintaining Europe’s industrial base is essential for achieving environmental and economic sustainability. Without coordinated policies and predictable frameworks, competitiveness erosion will continue.
Europe’s Shrinking Global Share in Plastics Production
Delivering the data-driven session “Plastics – The Fast Facts (2025),” Katharina Schlegel, Circularity Director at Plastics Europe, presented an analytical overview of current trends.
Europe’s plastics production has dropped to its lowest point in twenty years, while China has become the main driver of global growth in circular plastics. Although circular plastics now account for around 8-9 % of global output, Europe’s contribution has stagnated.
Schlegel noted that Europe’s regulatory ambition remains unmatched globally, but industrial performance has not kept pace. This disconnection, she warned, could weaken Europe’s influence in shaping sustainable materials markets.
Competitiveness Challenges Across the Chemicals Industry
Among other speakers George Kapantaidakis, Director of Industrial Policy at CEFIC, broadened the discussion to include Europe’s wider chemical sector. He highlighted that the competitiveness of the European chemical industry remains well below pre-crisis levels (2014-2019 average), pressured by weak demand, high energy costs and geopolitical uncertainty.
During the first half of 2025, European gas prices were on average three times higher than in the U.S., keeping EU producers at a clear disadvantage. The EU27’s chemical sector capacity utilization stands at 74.6 %, roughly 9.5 % below pre-crisis levels, reflecting continued underperformance compared to both historical and U.S. averages.
Trade data further underscore the strain: the EU27’s chemicals trade surplus fell to € 20.1 billion in early 2025, down 17 % from the previous year due to rising import pressure. Kapantaidakis noted that recovery prospects remain uncertain, as weak global demand and rising trade barriers continue to weigh on output and investment confidence.
A Call for a Coherent European Framework
Across all sessions, one consistent theme emerged: the need for coherence. Plastainability 2025 highlighted the urgent requirement for aligned European policies that balance environmental goals with industrial viability. Speakers agreed that Europe must safeguard its capacity to innovate and manufacture advanced materials, ensuring that the transition to circularity strengthens, rather than weakens, its industrial foundation.
Pack-Lab attended Plastainability 2025 to engage with these developments and report on the strategic direction of Europe’s packaging and plastics industries. The event, held for the 3rd year in a row, once again proved to be a central platform for dialogue, collaboration and policy discussion.
