The plastics industry continues to be impacted by the global spread of the new coronavirus, with interrupted supply chains affecting production and trade show organizers on high alert.
New Hope Network postponed its Natural Products Expo West, originally scheduled for March 3-7 in California, after days of frequent updates on the effect of coronavirus on the event.
Berry Global Inc. and other plastics suppliers had planned to be exhibitors at the expo.
"Though we were looking forward to the show, the health and safety of exhibitors and attendees is the highest priority," a Berry Global spokesperson told Plastics News in an email.
"Since the international situation on COVID-19 started in late January, New Hope and our sister companies around the world have been guided by local government and health authority advice, as well the views of the communities we serve, in making decisions about our portfolio of events," New Hope said in a news release March 3.
"Some of our partners strongly advocated continuing with the show as planned. Some of our partners wanted the show, but not now, and some just wanted a straight-forward cancellation."
New Hope expects to announce new dates for the expo by mid-April, it said in the release, and still intends to hold its Natural Products Expo East, as scheduled, in September in Pennsylvania.
The Inspired Home Show, the International Housewares Association's annual home and housewares market, planned for March 14-17, announced March 2 that the show was off, after the group had said on Feb. 28 that the show would continue without China-based companies.
Organizers currently have no plans to postpone the Interpack processing and packaging trade fair in Germany.
"As of now there are no cancellations related to corona virus from Interpack exhibitors," a spokesman for Messe Düsseldorf, Sebastian Pflügge said in an email to Plastics News. "We take the concerns of our customers, guests and partners regarding the coronavirus very seriously. … There are no intentions to postpone the trade fair. We will re-evaluate the situation in good time in consultation with health authorities and partners in order to make the appropriate decisions."
Exhibitors and visitors can expect a "high level" of hygiene, safety and medical care at the Düsseldorf trade fair grounds, he said.
"Messe Düsseldorf is closely monitoring current developments and is in direct contact with the health authorities," Pflügge said in the email. "There are clearly defined procedures for looking after anyone on the premises of the trade fair grounds who suddenly develops symptoms of a serious disease."
