Page 44 - Plastics News Issue December 2024
P. 44
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Bhupender Yadav underscored the significance recycling practices for essential materials like
of adopting circular economy practices at all steel and plastics.
stages—from product design to end-of-life man-
agement. He mentioned various government The conference also saw the launch of the sec-
policies aimed at improving waste management, ond edition of NCEF, which aims to guide indus-
including the Plastic Waste Management Rules tries in developing sustainable business models
and E-Waste Management Rules. through lifecycle assessments and circular prin-
ciples. The event recognized nearly 50 compa-
Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and nies for excellence in waste-to-worth practices,
Urban Affairs, discussed the transformative po- with Grand Awardees including Schindler India
tential of waste-to-worth principles and the Na- Pvt Ltd and Blue Planet Environmental Solutions
tional Circular Economy Framework (NCEF) as a India Pvt Ltd. The conference brought together
roadmap for sustainable urban development. over 300 delegates, facilitating discussions on
governance, technology innovations, and sus-
Baldeo Purusharth from the Department of tainable growth opportunities in waste manage-
Economic Affairs highlighted the importance of ment. This gathering reaffirmed India's commit-
grassroots solutions in achieving a circular econ- ment to leading global sustainable development
omy, advocating for recognition of contribu- initiatives.
tions from individuals without formal expertise.
Masood Mallick, Chairman of CII's National Com- Source:- Business Standard
mittee on Waste to Worth Technologies, stated
that achieving net-zero goals requires innovative
Falling EU competitiveness threatens circu-
lar plastics transition
ew data confirms further decline in Eu- sumer plastics also dropped by 7.8%, reaching
ropean plastics manufacturing and re- 7.1 Mt. These figures contrast with a 3.4% global
Ncycled plastics production drops for first increase in plastics production and mean that
time Europe’s share of the global market has further
declined to 12%. Whilst Europe has maintained a
Brussels, 18 November 2024 positive trade balance in value terms, in tonnage
terms it became a net importer of plastics resins
Plastics Europe’s latest data on the health of the in 2022 and plastic finished goods in 2021, and
European plastics system highlights a steeper- exports of plastics resins fell by 25.4% between
than-expected downturn in the production of 2020 and 2023.
plastics and, for the first time, in mechanically
recycled plastics production in 2023 in Europe. Europe’s eroding competitiveness threatens our
industry’s circular plastics transition. Plastics are
Compared to 2022, total EU plastics production essential for the European economy, supplying
saw a sharp decline of 8.3%, falling to 54 Mt, while multiple industries with applications in almost
production of mechanically recycled post-con- every sector, including healthcare, automotive,
44 PLASTICS NEWS December 2024
