{"id":10163,"date":"2025-11-10T08:30:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T05:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/?p=10163"},"modified":"2025-11-10T10:32:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T07:32:45","slug":"plastainability-2025-europe-plastics-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/plastainability-2025-europe-plastics-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastainability 2025: Europe\u2019s Plastics Sector Confronts Strategic Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Athens, November 3, 2025<\/strong> &#8211; The European plastics industry gathered in Athens for <em>Plastainability 2025<\/em>, a high-level conference focused on the sector\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/plastainability-2025-europe-plastics-challenges\/#Balancing_Sustainability_with_Industrial_Reality\" >Balancing Sustainability with Industrial Reality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/plastainability-2025-europe-plastics-challenges\/#Six_Strategies_to_Strengthen_Europes_Plastics_Value_Chain\" >Six Strategies to Strengthen Europe\u2019s Plastics Value Chain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/plastainability-2025-europe-plastics-challenges\/#Europes_Shrinking_Global_Share_in_Plastics_Production\" >Europe\u2019s Shrinking Global Share in Plastics Production<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/plastainability-2025-europe-plastics-challenges\/#Competitiveness_Challenges_Across_the_Chemicals_Industry\" >Competitiveness Challenges Across the Chemicals Industry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/plastainability-2025-europe-plastics-challenges\/#A_Call_for_a_Coherent_European_Framework\" >A Call for a Coherent European Framework<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Balancing_Sustainability_with_Industrial_Reality\"><\/span><strong>Balancing Sustainability with Industrial Reality<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his opening remarks, <strong>Panagiotis Gerontopoulos<\/strong>, President of the Association of Hellenic Plastics Industries (AHPI), stressed the irreplaceable role of plastics in modern life. \u201cWithout plastics, contemporary living would not be possible,\u201d he said, highlighting the need for <em>responsible management<\/em> rather than blanket restrictions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also acknowledged the uncertainty the industry is experiencing, a result of shifting regulations, market disruptions and pressure to meet sustainability targets.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Six_Strategies_to_Strengthen_Europes_Plastics_Value_Chain\"><\/span><strong>Six Strategies to Strengthen Europe\u2019s Plastics Value Chain<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Federica Gallicchio<\/strong>, Managing Director of <strong>European Plastics Converters (EuPC)<\/strong>, outlined a six-point strategy designed to restore balance and competitiveness across the European plastics sector. Her presentation, <em>\u201cTurning the Tide: Six Strategic Actions to Safeguard Europe\u2019s Plastics Sector,\u201d<\/em> emphasized that Europe must move from crisis response to long-term strategic alignment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The six actions proposed were:<\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Restore fair competition<\/strong> in global and intra-EU markets<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reduce energy costs<\/strong> to improve industrial parity<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ensure effective enforcement<\/strong> of existing rules<\/li>\n<li><strong>Remove regulatory and market fragmentation<\/strong> within the EU<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unlock innovation and investment<\/strong> by breaking existing bottlenecks<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhance Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)<\/strong> for a more balanced circular economy<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also underscored that maintaining Europe\u2019s industrial base is essential for achieving environmental and economic sustainability. Without coordinated policies and predictable frameworks, competitiveness erosion will continue.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-10164\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_3197-1024x545.jpg\" alt=\"Plastainability 2025 - panel of discussion\" width=\"1024\" height=\"545\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_3197-1024x545.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_3197-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_3197-768x408.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_3197-1536x817.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_3197-2048x1089.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Europes_Shrinking_Global_Share_in_Plastics_Production\"><\/span><strong>Europe\u2019s Shrinking Global Share in Plastics Production<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Delivering the data-driven session <em>\u201c<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/knowledge-hub\/plastics-the-fast-facts-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><em>Plastics &#8211; The Fast Facts (2025)<\/em><\/a><em>,\u201d<\/em> <strong>Katharina Schlegel<\/strong>, Circularity Director at <strong>Plastics Europe<\/strong>, presented an analytical overview of current trends.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Europe\u2019s 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 <strong>8-9 % of global output<\/strong>, Europe\u2019s contribution has stagnated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Schlegel noted that <em>Europe\u2019s regulatory ambition remains unmatched globally, but industrial performance has not kept pace.<\/em> This disconnection, she warned, could weaken Europe\u2019s influence in shaping sustainable materials markets.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Competitiveness_Challenges_Across_the_Chemicals_Industry\"><\/span><strong>Competitiveness Challenges Across the Chemicals Industry<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among other speakers<strong> George Kapantaidakis<\/strong>, Director of Industrial Policy at <strong>CEFIC<\/strong>, broadened the discussion to include Europe\u2019s wider chemical sector. He highlighted that the competitiveness of the European chemical industry remains well below pre-crisis levels (2014-2019 average), pressured by <strong>weak demand, high energy costs and geopolitical uncertainty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the first half of 2025, European gas prices were on average <strong>three times higher than in the U.S.<\/strong>, keeping EU producers at a clear disadvantage. The EU27\u2019s <strong>chemical sector capacity utilization stands at 74.6 %<\/strong>, roughly <strong>9.5 % below pre-crisis levels<\/strong>, reflecting continued underperformance compared to both historical and U.S. averages.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trade <a href=\"https:\/\/cefic.org\/resources\/cefic-chemical-trends-report-q2-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">data<\/a> further underscore the strain: the EU27\u2019s chemicals trade surplus fell to <strong>\u20ac 20.1 billion in early 2025<\/strong>, down 17 % from the previous year due to rising import pressure. Kapantaidakis noted that <strong>recovery prospects remain uncertain<\/strong>, as weak global demand and rising trade barriers continue to weigh on output and investment confidence.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Call_for_a_Coherent_European_Framework\"><\/span><strong>A Call for a Coherent European Framework<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Across all sessions, one consistent theme emerged: the need for coherence. <em>Plastainability 2025<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pack-Lab attended <em>Plastainability 2025<\/em> to engage with these developments and report on the strategic direction of Europe\u2019s packaging and plastics industries. The event, held for the 3<sup>rd<\/sup> year in a row, once again proved to be a central platform for dialogue, collaboration and policy discussion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Athens, November 3, 2025 &#8211; The European plastics industry gathered in Athens for Plastainability 2025, a high-level conference focused on the sector\u2019s 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&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":10164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,546,541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","category-corporate-updates-en","category-industry-trends-reports-en","category-28","category-546","category-541","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10163"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10169,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10163\/revisions\/10169"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}