German plastics packaging producers have shown continued optimism for business growth in the second quarter of 2018, according to a recent survey.
Some 40 percent of companies questioned by the German plastic trade association (IK), said they expected to see an increase in sales, with exports gaining momentum among a quarter of respondents.
Good economic growth in the European Union has been cited as the main contributor to the positive forecast, even as almost half of all companies are forecasting higher raw material prices for the second quarter.
The IK survey also revealed that the topic of recycling was becoming increasingly important for customers, particularly the use of recycled material in packaging.
The poll also found that customers are now more interested in the use of plastics from renewable resources.
By contrast, the survey found that the topics of marine litter and the EU plastics strategy only play “a minor role” for customers.
In response to the results of the survey, IK General Manager, Ulf Kelterborn, said the use of recycled material in packaging could be promoted more strongly, especially in the non-food area.
“Despite the public commitment of many customer industries to use more recycled material in plastic packaging, it has only been implemented in a few cases,” he noted.
He added that a “a clear increase in the use of recyclates” would be very welcome particularly against the backdrop of recent environmental policies and targets by the EU.
