BAD HOMBURG, GERMANY — Two European packaging associations — France's Elipso and Germany-based IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V. (IK) — met this week to highlight difficulties in polymer sourcing in Europe.
Together, the associations' members use more than 6.5 million tons of polymers and yet face problems with volatile prices, ageing production tools, frequent production stops and "forces majeures" for production breakdowns and emergency maintenances, as well as insufficient investments.
The two groups say they will work together to ensure more robust sourcing of materials, from both European and non-European manufacturers.
"Innovation in plastic raw materials remains a necessity in order to address the requests of the downstream market for improved competitive solutions and reduced environmental impacts," says a joint statement.