Page 42 - Plastics News April 2020

EuPC calls for single-use plastics directive US Work force, new business, trade top concerns
postponement for tool makers

uPC The association representing Europe's plastics U.S. mold makers face challenges, but for the first time
Econverters, EuPC (Brussels / Belgium has called in several years, the need for a younger work force
for single-use showed a very slight decline, failing to hit 100 percent.
The most recent survey by the American Mold Builders
plastics directive
Association shows new business development,
postponement in
profitability and foreign competition also are top
face of Covid-19 /
concerns. The association released its AMBA Business
a s i t c l a i m s
Forecast Report on Feb. 2. In a webinar five days later,
H y g i e n i c
AMBA Executive Director Troy Nix and Omar Nashashibi,
consequences of
a Washington lobbyist AMBA hired last year to help
banning SUPs are
reinstate tariffs on injection molds from China,
not taken into
addressed the issues facing mold makers in 2020. The
account and has survey, conducted Dec. 13-Jan. 5, got responses from
s e n t a n o p e n 113 executives at mold builders—87 percent of them
letter to the European Commission requesting a recast smaller shops with less than $15 million in sales. Nix
or postponement of implementation of the single-use said 80 percent of respondents make injection molds.
plastics (SUP) directive. Signed by EuPC managing Most are in the Midwest.Attracting younger tool makers
director Alexandre Dangis and President Renato does remain a priority, as the mold making work force
Zelcher, the letter emphasises that the commission did ages. But the priorities are changing, according to the
not take into consideration the hygienic consequences survey. AMBA said 93 percent of respondents reported
of banning or reducing single-use plastics when that building an industry work force is a primary
drafting and rapidly pushing through the legislation, challenge. But for the first time in three years, that
but instead “only reflected on littering aspects.” number did not hit 100 percent. And 15 percent said
“Today and tomorrow we are and will be in a
completely different world where hygiene and
consumer health will be the number one priority for all
of us,” they state, adding that it is time to consider
adjusting strategies for Europe and the world,
particularly regarding the use of plastics.
Furthermore, free circulation of certain plastic
products is necessary for hygiene, health and safety,
such as for food-contact materials, personal protective
equipment and medical supplies. Single-use plastics
are not easily substitutable and offer unique
advantages when it comes to ensuring hygiene, says
the EuPC. The coronavirus pandemic is underscoring
employment levels declined in first quarter of 2020 vs.
the importance of SUPs, and demand for certain types the fourth quarter of 2019—which Nix said was the
of packaging has risen across Europe and other regions highest proportion since AMBA began doing the survey in
of the world. The EuPC is asking for a postponement of 2011.At the same time, 46 percent of mold makers said
the deadline for the implementation of the SUP generating new business is a challenge, 13 percent
directive for at least one year at the national level and higher than in last year's AMBA Business Forecast
to lift bans on some disposable items. This will allow EU Report. And maintaining profitability grew to 20
member states more time to focus on urgent measures percent of respondents, after just 7 percent last year.
in the fight against Covid-19, such as the distribution of Also getting 20 percent: Continuous improvement to
SUPs for emergency situations. become more efficient.

APRIL 2020 39 Plastics News